Environment Studies

 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

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.

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

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) 

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)