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Environmental Science
Paper Code:
AENV100
Credits:
2
Contact Hours:
30.00
Max. Marks:
100.00
Objective:
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
- 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
- Names of International and National agencies related to biodiversity conservation
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)
Essential Readings:
- 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.
- De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th Ed.). New Age Intl. (p) Ltd.
- Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning.
- Odum, E. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology. W.B. Saunders Co. USA.
- Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks.
- Rajagopalan, R. (2005). Environmetnal Studies. Oxford University Press.
- Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
- Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.
Academic Year:
