FST 205/2045 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (OLD)
Unit-I
The Multi disciplinary nature of Environment studies. Definition Scope and importance, Need for public awareness.
Unit-II
Natural Resources.
Renewable and non-renewable resources.
Natural resources and associated problems,
a- Forest resources; use and over-exploitation. Deforestation. Case studies. Timber extraction. Mining. dams and their effects on forest and tribal people.
b- Water resources; use and over-utilization of surface and ground water floods drought, conflicts over water, dams benefits and problems.
c- Mineral resources; use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.
d- Food recourses; world food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticides problems, water logging, salinity, case studies.
e- Energy resources’ growing energy need. Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, case studies.
f- Land resources; land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides. Soil erosion and desertification.
- Role of an individual in conservation of natural recourses.
- 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 weds and ecological pyramids.
- Introduction types characteristics feature, structure and function of following ecosystems:-
Forest ecosystems.
Grassland ecosystems.
Desert ecosystems.
Aquatic ecosystems(pond, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries).
Unit-IV
Biodiversity and its Conservation
- Introduction- Definition; gemetics, species and ecosystems diversity.
- Biogeographically classification of India.
- Value of biodiversity; consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values.
- Biodiversity at Global level, National and local levels.
- India as a mega-diversity nation.
- Hot-spot 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 conservation of biodiversity.
Unit-V
Environmental Pollution
Definition; Causes, Effect and control measures of ;-
Air pollution, Water pollution, Soil pollution, Marine pollution, Noise pollution, Thermal pollution, Nuclear pollution.
Soil waste management: Causes effected 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 Issue 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 concern, Case studies.
- Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust, Case studies.
- Wasteland reclamation.
- Consumerism and waste product.
- Environment protection act.
- Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
- Wildlife protection Act.
- Forest Conservation Act.
- Public Awareness.
Unit-VII
Human Population and the Environment
- Population growth, variation among nations.
- Population explosion- Family Welfare program.
- Environment and Human Health.
- Human Right.
- Value Education
- HIV/AIDS.
- Women and Child Welfare.
- Role of information Technology in Environment and Human Health.
- Case studies.
Unit-VII
- Visit to a local area to document environmental assets -river/forest/grassland/hill/mountain.
- Visit to local pollute site-Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agriculture.
- Study of common plants. Insects. Birds.
- Study of simple ecosystems-pond, river. Hill slopes, etc.
- Assignment. Herbarium etc.