Natural Resource Conservation and Management

Paper Code: 
ENV- 122
Credits: 
5
Contact Hours: 
75.00
Objective: 

The course lays emphasis on equitable and efficient distribution of natural resources and its management for sustainable development

12.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Natural Resources
  •       Definition and classification(based on continual utility, origin and Utility)
  •       Natural resources and associated problems(Population explosion, urbanization industrialization)
  •      Conservation and equitable use  of Natural Resources for Sustainable Development
15.00
Unit II: 
Water Resource

  •    Sources of fresh water:  surface water and ground water.

  •       Importance and availability of fresh water

  •     Causes of water stress: population expansion, urbanization, industrialization, over utilization,  pollution

  •     Methods of water conservation: Watershed Management and rain water harvesting methods

  •     Traditional methods of water conservation in Rajasthan(Talab/Bandhis, Johads, Baoris/Jhalaras, water temples/step wells, Kunds)

15.00
Unit III: 
Mineral Resources and Mine land Reclamation
  • Types and uses of mineral resources: Metallic and non metallic
  • Mineral wealth of Rajasthan(Marble,Mica,Copper)
  • Environmental impact of exploitation, processing and smelting of minerals
  • Types of mine reclamation practices; Revegetation of mine spoils through plant fertilization and related practices
15.00
Unit IV: 
Land Resources

 

  • Soil profile and classification
  •  Soil degradation(Physical and Chemical)
  •  Methods of Soil conservation
  •  Forest resources of India(Types and forest cover)
  • Causes of forest degradation
  •  Forest conservation measures: Sacred groves, National Forest Policy, Forest Act, Joint Forest Management
  •  Types and classification of Deserts
  • Causes of desertification
18.00
Unit V: 
Energy Resources

 

  • Energy resources and their exploitation
  • Conventional energy resources: fossil fuels-coal, oil and natural gas, Hydroelectric power, nuclear energy
  • Non-conventional energy resources: Ocean thermal energy conversion, wind, tidal, geothermal energy, biomass, solar energy
  • Alternate Energy sources: hydrogen ,fuel cells, alcohol, petroplants, biodiesel,  biogas
Essential Readings: 
  1. Botkin, Daniel, B. and Edward,K.A.( 1997). Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet. 6th ed. John Wiley and Sons, USA
  2. Carless and Jennifer (1993). Renewable Energy : A Concise Guide to Green Alternative, Walker, New York
  3. Enger, E.D. and Smith, B. F. (2006). Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships 11th ed. McGraw Hill Inc., USA
  4. John,F. M.( 1984). Energy and the Environment, 2nd Edition, McGraw Hill, New York
  5. Malcolm, H. L., Gibbs and James P. (2006). Fundamentals of Conservation Biology. 3rd ed. Wiley-Blackwell
  6. Santra, S.C. (2005). Environmental Science (2nd Ed.). New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd, Kolkata, India
Academic Year: 
2018-2019
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