Environmental Studies

Paper Code: 
24AENV200
Credits: 
2
Contact Hours: 
30.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
  • To provide students with a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices
  • To analyse concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in environmental problem-solving.

 

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcome

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course

title

24AENV200

Environmental Studies

(Theory)

Upon completion of the paper, the student will:

CO91: Develop a comprehensive

understanding of various ecological

processes and environmental

issues.

CO92: Evaluate the holistic

issues related to natural

resources and sustainable

development.

CO93: Develop critical thinking for

shaping strategies for

environmental protection and

conservation of biodiversity, social

equity and sustainable

development.

CO94: Evaluate the consequences

of human actions on the

environment and ways to prevent

the deterioration of the

environment.

CO95: Reflect critically the roles,

responsibilities, and identities of

human beings as citizens,

consumers and environmental

actors in a complex,

interconnected world.

CO96: Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures,

Discussions,

PowerPoint

Presentations,

Informative videos

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning

assignments,

,

presentations, Field

trips

Quiz, Poster

Presentation,

PowerPoint

Presentations,

Individual and

group projects,

Open Book

Tests

Semester End

Examination

 

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
  • 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 land use change; Land degradation, soil erosion and
  • desertification.
  • Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on the environment, forests,
  • biodiversity and tribal populations.
  • Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and groundwater, floods, droughts
  • Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate
  • energysources, 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.

Names of International and National agencies related to biodiversity conservation

8.00
Unit IV: 
Environmental Issues
  • 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, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides
  • Role of women in Environmental Conservation
  • Environmental movements: Chipko, Silent Valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan
  • Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmentalconservation
  • Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi)

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Belsare, D. K. (2007). Introduction to Biodiversity. APH Publishing Corporation.
  • Pandey, B. N. (2003). Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Ecology.
  • Ashish Publishing House
  • Agarwal, K. C. (2001). Environmental Biology. Bikaner: Nidhi Publication Ltd.
  • Barucha, E. (2004). The Biodiversity of India. Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
  • Bhatia, A. L., & Kohli, K. S. (2015). Ecology and Environmental Biology. RBD
  • publishing house.
  • Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
  • Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.

 

References: 

Suggested Readings:

  • ·         Wang, Y. (2014). Encyclopedia of Natural Resources 2 Vol. Taylor and Francis.
  • ·         De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th Ed.). New Age Intl. (p) Ltd.
  • ·         Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning.
  • ·         Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks.
  • ·         Singh, S. (1991). Environmental Geography. Prayag Pustak Bhawan.

E-Resources:

Journals:

  • ·         Journal of Environmental Sciences
  • ·         Biodiversity and Conservation
  • ·         Environmental Science and Pollution Research
  • Conservation Biology 
Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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