Environmental Studies 2025

Unit I Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources:
Concept of Renewable and non-renewable resource, Natural resources and associated problems: Forest resources: Deforestation, Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects. Water resources: Over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems. Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources. Land resources: Land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification.
Unit II Ecosystem:
Concept of an Ecosystem, Structure and Functions of Ecosystem, Energy flow in the Ecosystem; Ecological Succession, Food Chains, Food webs and Ecological Pyramids, Characteristic Features of the following Ecosystem: Forest Ecosystem, Grassland Ecosystem and Desert Ecosystem, Aquatic Ecosystem (Ponds, Streams, Lakes, Rivers and Ocean Estuaries)
Unit III Biodiversity and its Conservation:
Definition, levels and values of biodiversity; Threats to biodiversity- habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, IUCN categories of threat; Terrestrial and marine hotspots of biodiversity in India; Conservation of Biodiversity – In-situ and Ex-situ conservation; Conservation schemes :Gir lion sanctuary project, Project tiger, Project elephant, Conservation of sea turtles in India. Ecotourism
Unit IV Environment Pollution:
Types, causes, effects, and control – Air, Water, Soil and Noise pollution. Nuclear hazards and human health risks. Solid waste management: Control measure of urban and industrial waste. Climate change global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, and impacts on human communities and agriculture.
Unit V Social Issues and the Environment:
Sustainable Development, Water Conservation, Resettlement and rehabilitation of people. Disaster Management: Floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides. Consumerism and waste products; Environment Protection Act; Air and water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act; Wild life protection Act; Forest conservation Act; Environmental movements (Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan). Environmental ethics. Environmental communication and public awareness.