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Environment Studies
Paper Code:
AENV 100
Credits:
02
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)
References:
- 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.
- Thapar, V. 1998. Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent.
- Warren, C. E. 1971. Biology and Water Pollution Control. WB Saunders.
- Wilson, E. O. 2006. The Creation: An appeal to save life on earth. New York: Norton.
- Agarwal, K.C. Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd. Bikaner.
- Singh, R.B., Thakur, D.K. and Chauhan, J.P.S., RBD publications, Jaipur
- Townsend C., Harper J, and Michael Begon, Essentials of Ecology, Blackwell Science
- Odum, E.P. Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA.
- Santra S.C., Environmental Science, New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
- Singh Savindra, Environmental Geography, Prayag Pustak Bhawan
- Belsare D.K., Introduction to Biodiversity, APH Publishing Corporation
- Prabu P.C., Ecology and environmental Science, Avinash Paperbacks
- Bhatia A.L., Kohli K.S, Ecology and Environmental Biology, RBD
- Miller G.T., Environmental Science, Cengage Learning
- Srivastava K.P., An Introduction to Environmental Studies, Kalyani Publishers
- Sharma P.D., Ecology and Environment, Rastogi Publications
- Rajagopalan R.,Environmental Studies, Oxford Press
Academic Year:
