Environment Studies

L 2 C 2

Teachers Continuous Evaluation: 100 marks. NUES — all evaluation is done by the concerned teacher.

Course outcomes

• Environmental Studies course will provide necessary information and knowledge about the various aspects of environment, ecosystems and related biodiversity
• Students will be able to learn and understand about the availability and sustainable use of resources, environmental problems and their short term and long term impacts to humans
• Course will help them to learn about environmental policies and protocols, social issues and role of human in conservation and protection of environment
• Overall, course will help students to develop skills and ability of understanding environment - human relationship

Unit I

Fundamentals: The Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies: Definition, components, scope and importance, need for public awareness; Ecosystems: Concept, Structure and function of an ecosystem, energy flow in ecosystems, food chain, food web, ecological pyramids, ecological succession; Introduction to types, characteristics features, structure and function of different ecosystems including forest, grassland, desert and aquatic ecosystem; Biodiversity: Introduction to biodiversity-definition, genetics, species, ecosystem diversity, biogeographical classification of India, value of biodiversity-consumptive uses, productive, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values, biodiversity at global, national and local level, India as a mega diversity nation, endangered and endemic species of India, hot spots of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity –habitat loss, poaching of wild life, man wildlife conflicts and conservation of biodiversity-in-situ and ex-situ conservation. [16 Hrs]

Unit II

Renewable and Non-renewable Resources: Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources-green fuel. Water Resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal people, case studies Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and over-grazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. Role of individual in conservation of natural resources, Resource Management-Sustainable development. [8 Hrs]

Unit III

Environmental Pollution: (a) Air Pollution: Types of pollutants, source, effects, sink & control of primary pollutants–CO, NOX, HC, SOx and particulates, effect of pollutants on man & environment: photochemical smog, acid rain and global warming, CO2 Sequestration. (b) Water Pollution: Classification of Pollutants, their sources, waste water treatment (domestic and industrial). (c) Soil Pollution: Composition of soil, classification and effects of solid pollutants and their control. (d) Solid Waste Management: Classification, waste treatment and disposal methods; compositing, sanitary land filling, thermal processes, recycling and reuse methods. (e) Hazardous wastes -Classification, radioactive, biomedical & chemical, treatment and disposal-Physical, chemical and biological processes. (f) Marine Pollution: Causes, effects and control of marine pollution, coastal zone management (g) Thermal pollution: Causes, effects and control of marine pollution, coastal zone management. Disaster Management: Floods, earth quake, cyclone and landslides. [8 Hrs]

Unit IV

Evironmental Policies, Human Population and Environment Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents, case studies; Some important Environmental laws, issues involved in enforcement of environment legislations, Green bench; carbon footprint, Montreal and Kyoto Protocol, conservation of Biological Diversity, The Chemical Weapons Convention, Environment Impact Assessment; population growth and variation among nations, Impacts on environment and human health, human right, Tribal people and rights, Human and wildlife conflicts in Indian context, Environmental ethics; Role of government and non government organizations in public awareness and environment improvement. [13 Hrs]

References

• A textbook of environmental studies, R. Gadi, S. Rattan, S. Mohaptra, Kataria Publication, 2014.
• Elements of environmental sciences & engineering, P. Meenakshi, PHI Learning Pvt Ltd, 2014.
• Basics of Environment and Ecology, A. kaushik & C.P. Kaushik, New Age International Publishers, 2010.
• Fundamental concepts in environmental studies, D.D. Mishra, S Chand & Co. Ltd., 2008.
• Textbook of environmental studies, E. Barucha, UGC, 2005. 6. Environmental studies, B. Joseph, Tata McGraw- Hill Publishing Company Ltd., 2005