Environmental Geosciences and Restoration Ecology

Paper Code:

25DENV 701

Credits:

Contact Hours:

60.00

Max. Marks:

100.00

Objective:

Become aware of the degradation of the Earth and the methods of Ecological restoration
Understand geological systems in a better way

Course Outcomes:

Course	Course outcomes	Learning and teaching strategies	Assessment Strategies
Course Code	Course Title
25DENV 701	Environmental Geosciences and Restoration Ecology	Upon completion of the course, students will: CO89: Explain the fundamental theories of origin and evolution of the universe with a special focus on Earth. CO90: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts underlying geosciences, including Earth’s structure, composition and processes CO91: Analyze the geological factors contributing to the occurrence and intensity of natural hazards and assess their social, economic and environmental impacts on communities CO92: Critically evaluate current events and public information related to natural hazards CO93: Evaluate the principles underlying restoration ecology and ecological restoration in local, national and global contexts CO94: Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction	Approach in teaching: Guest lectures, Multimedia presentations, Video presentations, Group discussions Learning activities for the students: Model/Poster Making, Debates, Simulation, Case studies, Field activities	Interactive Lectures, Google Quiz, PowerPoint Presentation, Map preparation, Assignment, Class test, Semester End Examination

Course

Course outcomes

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

25DENV 701

Environmental Geosciences and Restoration Ecology

Upon completion of the course, students will:

CO89: Explain the fundamental theories of origin and evolution of the universe with a special focus on Earth.

CO90: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts underlying geosciences, including Earth’s structure, composition and processes

CO91: Analyze the geological factors contributing to the occurrence and intensity of natural hazards and assess their social, economic and environmental impacts on communities

CO92: Critically evaluate current events and public information related to natural hazards

CO93: Evaluate the principles underlying restoration ecology and ecological restoration in local, national and global contexts

CO94: Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching: Guest lectures,

Multimedia presentations, Video presentations, Group discussions

Learning activities for the students: Model/Poster Making, Debates, Simulation, Case studies, Field activities

Interactive Lectures, Google Quiz, PowerPoint Presentation, Map preparation, Assignment, Class test, Semester End Examination

12.00

Unit I:

Basic Concepts of Geosciences

Environmental Geosciences- fundamental concept
Origin of Universe: Big Bang Theory, Steady State theory, Pulsating Universe theory
Major division of geological time
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift

14.00

Unit II:

Geosciences and Earth Systems

Earth system and biosphere
Interrelationship of various earth systems- geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere
Climate of India, Indian monsoon
Climate of Rajasthan
El-nino and La-nina
Drought
Tropical cyclones and western disturbances

12.00

Unit III:

Earth Processes and Geological Hazards

Earth Processes: Cycle in the Earth system
Catastrophic Geological Hazards
- Floods
- Landslides
- Earthquakes
- Volcanoes
- Avalanche

12.00

Unit IV:

Ecological Restoration

· Objectives of Ecological Restoration

· Need for Restoration

· Principles and guidelines of Restoration

10.00

Unit V:

Planning and Implementation of Ecological Restoration

Steps for restoration: Developing the Plan; Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting
National and International restoration projects

Essential Readings:

· Siddhartha, K. (2018). The Earth’s Dynamic Surface-A book of Geomorphology. Kitab Mahal, Allahabad.

· Singh, S. (2006). Physical Geography. Pravalika Publications, Allahabad.

· Keller, E.A. (2011). Introduction to Environmental Geology (5th edition). Pearson Prentice Hall.

· Krishnan, M. S. (1982). Geology of India and Burma. CBS Publishers and Distributors.

· Margaret A. Palmer, Joy B. Zedler, and Donald A. Falk (2016). Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Island Press, Washington, DC

· Holl, Karen D. (2020). The Primer of Ecological Restoration. Island Press, Washington, DC

SUGGESTED READINGS

· Hudson, T. (2017). Living with Earth: An Introduction to Environmental Geology. Routledge.

· Duff, P. M. D., and Duff, D. (Eds.). (1993). Holmes' Principles of Physical Geology. Taylor and Francis.

· Gupta, A. K., Anderson, D. M., Pandey, D. N., and Singhvi, A. K. (2006). Adaptation and human migration, and evidence of agriculture coincident with changes in the Indian summer monsoon during the Holocene. Current Science 90: 1082-1090.

· Leeder, M., and Arlucea, M.P. (2005). Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences. Blackwell Publishing.

· Pelletier, J. D. (2008). Quantitative Modeling of Earth Surface Processes (Vol. 304). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Chicago

· Riley Ann L. (2016): Restoring Neighbourhood streams: Planning, Design, and Construction.

Island Press, Washington, DC

e-RESOURCES

· Continental Drift Theory https://drive.google.com/file/d/10_nlyDpkA8tYjaOYrXgUMlIxNxygyMXd/view

· Evidence of Plate Tectonics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9_TIf2navc

· Indian Monsoon and Its Variability

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228538389_The_Indian_monsoon_and_its_variabil ity

· The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/littonc/PDFs/682_SERPrimer.pdf

· Ecological Restoration Guidelines for British Columbia https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fia/documents/restorationguidelines.pdf

JOURNALS