Environmental Studies (Theory)

Paper Code: 
24AENV100
Credits: 
02
Periods/week: 
02
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

The course will enable the students to

  1. To provide students with a clear understanding of environmental concerns and to follow sustainable development practices
  2. To Analyse concepts and methods from ecological and physical sciences and their application in environmental problem-solving.
Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning Outcome

 (at course      level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course

Code

  Course

 Title

  24AENV

100

 

 

 

Environmental Studies

(Theory)

 

CO43.Develop a comprehensive   understanding of various ecological processes and environmental issues

CO44. Evaluate the holistic issues related to natural resources and sustainable 

development

CO45. Develop critical thinking for shaping strategies for environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity, social equity and sustainable  development

CO46. Evaluate the consequences of human actions on the environment and ways to prevent the deterioration of the environment

CO47. Reflect critically the roles, responsibilities, and identities of human beings as citizens, consumers and environmental actors in a complex, interconnected world.

CO48.Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures,

Discussions,

PowerPoint

Presentations,

Informative videos

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, presentations, Field trips

Quiz, Poster

Presentation,

PowerPoint

Presentations, Individual and

group projects,

Open Book

Tests

Semester End

Examination

 

 

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 land use change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.
  • Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on the environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations.
  • Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and groundwater, 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 Issues                                                                                                 

  • 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, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides
  • Role of women in Environmental Conservation
  • 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:
  • Belsare, D. K. (2007). Introduction to Biodiversity. APH Publishing Corporation.
  • Pandey, B. N. (2003). Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Ecology. Ashish Publishing House
  • 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.
  • Santra, S. (2011). Environmental Science. New Central Book Agency Pvt. Ltd.
  • Sharma, P. D. (2008). Ecology and Environment. Rastogi Publications.
REFERENCES: 

SUGGESTED READINGS

  1. Wang, Y. (2014). Encyclopedia of Natural Resources 2 Vol. Taylor and Francis.
  2. De, A. K. (2003). Environmental Chemistry (5th Ed.). New Age Intl. (p) Ltd.
  3. Miller, G. T. (2013). Environmental Science. Cengage Larning.
  4. Prabu, P. (2009). Ecology and environmental Science. Avinash Paperbacks.
  5. Singh, S. (1991). Environmental Geography. Prayag Pustak Bhawan.

e- RESOURCES

  1. Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses https:// www.ugc.ac.in/ oldpdf/modelcurriculum/env.pdf
  1. Environmental Issues at Local, Regional and Global Level https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345674317_ENVIRONMENTAL_ISSUES_LOCAL_REGIONAL_AND_GLOBAL_ENVIRONMENTAL_ISSUES
  2. Environmental Movements https://www.arsdcollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Environment-Movement-in- India_HRGE-BA-II.pdf

JOURNALS

  1. Journal of Environmental Sciences Biodiversity and Conservation
  2. Environmental Science and Pollution Research
  3. Conservation Biology
Academic Year: 
2024-25
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