Environmental Studies

Paper Code: 
24AENV100
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Inspite of the deteriorating status of the environment, study of environment has so far not received adequate attention in our academic programmes. This programme aims at giving students a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices. It will also help to stimulate them to develop their ability to apply their knowledge and adopt a standpoint on environmental issues.

 

6.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Environment and Ecosystem
  • Scope of Environmental Studies and its applications
  • Relationship of Environmental Studies with other subjects (Multidisciplinary nature of Environment)
  • Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.
  • Environmentally important dates and abbreviations
  • Structure and function of an ecosystem
  • Types of Ecosystems and their general characteristics
  • Producers, consumers and decomposers
  • Energy flow in the ecosystem
  • Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
  • Ecological Succession

 

5.00
Unit II: 
Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
  • Land resources and landuse change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.
  • Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations.
  •  Water : Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts
  • Energy resources: Renewable and non renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies
6.00
Unit III: 
Biodiversity and Conservation

•Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity

•India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Biogeographic zones of India

•Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots

•Endangered and endemic species of India

•Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological invasions

•Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity

•Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value

 

8.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Pollution
  • Types, Causes, effects and control measures of : Air pollution; Water pollution; Soil pollution; Noise pollution
  • Pollution case studies
  • Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste.
  • Nuclear hazards and human health risks
  • Global environmental issues: Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture
  • Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act,1986; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980
  • International agreements: Montreal protocol, Kyoto protocol and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
5.00
Unit V: 
Human Communities and the Environment
  • Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare
  • Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies
  • Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclones and landslides
  • Environmental movements: Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan
  • Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental conservation
  • Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi)

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Bharucha Erach, The Biodiversity of India, Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.,    Ahmedabad –380 013, India, Email:mapin@icenet.net
  • Groom, Martha J., Gary K. Meffe, and Carl Ronald Carroll. Principles of Conservation Biology. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates, 2006.
  • Grumbine, R. Edward, and Pandit, M.K. 2013. Threats from India’s Himalaya dams. Science, 339: 36-37.
  • McCully, P. 1996. Rivers no more: the environmental effects of dams (pp. 29-64). Zed Books.
  • McNeill, John R. 2000. Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth Century.
  • Odum, E.P., Odum, H.T. & Andrews, J. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. Philadelphia: Saunders.
  • Pepper, I.L., Gerba, C.P. & Brusseau, M.L. 2011. Environmental and Pollution Science. Academic Press.
  • Rao, M.N. & Datta, A.K. 1987. Waste Water Treatment. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
  • Raven, P.H., Hassenzahl, D.M. & Berg, L.R. 2012. Environment. 8th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Rosencranz, A., Divan, S., & Noble, M. L. 2001. Environmental law and policy in India. Tripathi 1992.
  • Sengupta, R. 2003. Ecology and economics: An approach to sustainable development. OUP.
  • Singh, J.S., Singh, S.P. and Gupta, S.R. 2014. Ecology, Environmental Science and Conservation. S. Chand Publishing, New Delhi.
  • Sodhi, N.S., Gibson, L. & Raven, P.H. (eds). 2013. Conservation Biology: Voices from the Tropics. John Wiley & Sons.

 

Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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