Friday, November 30, 2007

(CE 05239) ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

UNIT - I
Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies: Definition, Scope and
Importance – Need for Public Awareness.
UNIT - II
Natural Resources : Renewable and non-renewable resources – Natural resources
and associated problems – Forest resources – Use and over – exploitation,
deforestation, case studies – Timber extraction – Mining, dams and other effects on
forest and tribal people – Water resources – Use and over utilization of surface and
ground water – Floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams – benefits and problems
- 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 overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture,
fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies. - Energy resources:
Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources use of
alternate energy sources. Case studies. Land resources: Land as a resource, land
degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. Role of an
individual in conservation of natural resources. Equitable use of resources for
sustainable lifestyles.
UNIT - III
Ecosystems : Concept of an ecosystem. - Structure and function of an ecosystem.
- Producers, consumers and decomposers. - Energy flow in the ecosystem -
Ecological succession. - Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. -
Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following
ecosystem:
a. Forest ecosystem
b. Grassland ecosystem
c. Desert ecosystem
d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)
UNIT - IV
Biodiversity and its conservation : Introduction - Definition: genetic, species and
ecosystem diversity. - Bio-geographical classification of India - Value of biodiversity:
consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values - .
Biodiversity at global, National and local levels. - . India as a mega-diversity nation
- Hot-sports of biodiversity - Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife,
man-wildlife conflicts. - Endangered and endemic species of India - Conservation
of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.
UNIT - V
Environmental Pollution : Definition, Cause, effects and control measures of :
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Marine pollution
e. Noise pollution
f. Thermal pollution
g. Nuclear hazards
Solid waste Management : Causes, effects and control measures of urban and
industrial wastes. - Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. - Pollution case
studies. - Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.
UNIT - VI
Social Issues and the Environment : From Unsustainable to Sustainable
development -Urban problems related to energy -Water conservation, rain water
harvesting, watershed management -Resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its
problems and concerns. Case Studies -Environmental ethics: Issues and possible
solutions. -Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear
accidents and holocaust. Case Studies. -Wasteland reclamation. -Consumerism
and waste products. -Environment Protection Act. -Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act. -Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act -Wildlife Protection
Act -Forest Conservation Act -Issues involved in enforcement of environmental
legislation. -Public awareness.
UNIT - VII
Human Population and the Environment : Population growth, variation among
nations. Population explosion - Family Welfare Programme. -Environment and
human health. -Human Rights. -Value Education. -HIV/AIDS. -Women and Child
Welfare. -Role of information Technology in Environment and human health. -Case
Studies.
UNIT - VIII
Field work : Visit to a local area to document environmental assets River /forest
grassland/hill/mountain -Visit to a local polluted site-Urban/Rural/industrial/
Agricultural Study of common plants, insects, birds. -Study of simple ecosystemspond,
river, hill slopes, etc.
TEXT BOOK:
1. Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses by Erach
Bharucha for University Grants Commission.

No comments: