CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface to the Second Edition iv
Preface to the First Edition vi
Acknowledgements vii
Vision viii
Core Module Syllabus for Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses
of all Branches of Higher Education x
Unit 1: The Mult idisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies 1
1.1 Definition, Scope and Importance 1
1.1.1 Definition 1
1.1.2 Scope 1
1.1.3Importance 4
1.2 Need for Public Awareness 7
1.2.1 Institutions in Environment 8
1.2.2 People in Environment 12
Unit 2: Natural Resources 15
2.1 Introduction 15
2.2 Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources 20
2.2.1 Natural Resources and Associated Problems 21
2.2.2 Renewable Resources 23
2.3 Role of an Individual in the Conservation of Natural Resources 51
2.4 Equitable Use of Resources for Sustainable Lifestyles 52
Unit 3: Ecosystems 54
3.1Concept of an Ecosystem 54
3.1.1Understanding Ecosystems 55
3.1.2Resource Utilisation 56
3.2 Structure and Functions of an Ecosystem 56
3.3 Producers, Consumers and Decomposers 57
3.4 Energy Flow in the Ecosystem 58
3.4.1 The Water Cycle 58
3.4.2 The Carbon Cycle 59
3.4.3 The Oxygen Cycle 60
3.4.4 The Nitrogen Cycle 61
3.4.5 The Phosphorus Cycle 62
3.4.6 The Sulphur Cycle 62
3.4.7 The Energy Flow 63
3.4.8 Integration of Cycles in Nature 64
3.5 Ecological Succession 65
3.6Food Chains, Food Webs and Ecological Pyramids 65
3.6.1 The Food Chains 65
3.6.2 The Food Webs 66
3.6.3 The Ecological Pyramids 66
3.7 Introduction, Types, Characteristic Features, Structure and
Functions 68
3.7.1 Forest Ecosystems 69
3.7.2 Grassland Ecosystems 74
3.7.3 Desert Ecosystems 77
3.7.4 Aquatic Ecosystems 79
3.8 Degradation of Ecosystems 83
Unit 4: Biodiversity 85
4.1 Introduction 85
4.1.1 Genetic Diversity 86
4.2.2 Species Diversity 86
4.3.3 Ecosystem Diversity 87
4.2Biogeographic Classification of India 87
4.3Value of Biodiversity 89
4.3.1 Consumptive Use Value 89
4.3.2 Productive Use Value 90
4.3.3 Social Values 91
4.3.4 Ethical and Moral Values 92
4.3.5 Aesthetic Value 92
4.3.6 Option Value 92
4.4 Biodiversity at Global, National and Local Levels 92
4.5 India as a Mega-Diversity Nation 93
4.6 Hotspots of Biodiversity 94
4.7 Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat Loss, Poaching of Wildlife,
Human-Wildlife Conflicts 96
4.8 Endangered and Endemic Species of India 99
4.8.1 Common Plant Species 100
4.8.2 Common Animal Species 104
4.9 Conservation of Biodiversity: In Situ and Ex Situ 109
4.9.1 In situ Conservation 109
4.9.2 Ex situ Conservation 113
Unit 5: Pollution 118
5.1 Definition , 118
5.2 Air Pollution 119
5.2.1 The History of Air Pollution 119
5.2.2 Structure of the Atmosphere 120
5.2.3 Types and Sources of Air pollution 121
5.2.4 Control Measures for Air Pollution 128
5.3 Water Pollution 130
5.3.1 Causes of Water Pollution 131
5.3.2 The State of India's Rivers 135
5.3.3 Control Measures for Water Pollution 136
5.4 Soil Pollution 136
5.4.1 Causes of Soil Degradation 138
5.5 Marine Pollution 142
5.5.1 Pollution Due to Organic Wastes 142
5.5.2 Effects of Marine Pollution 146
5.6 Noise Pollution 147
5.6.1 Effects of Noise Pollution 148
5.6.2 Noise Control Techniques 149
5.7 Thermal Pollution 149
5.7.1 Effects 149
5.7.2 Control Measures 150
5.8 Nuclear Hazards 150
5.9 Solid Waste Management: Causes, Effects and Control Measures of
Urban and Industrial Waste 152
5.9.1 Characteristics of Municipal Solid Waste 153
5.9.2 Vermicomposting 156
5.9.3 Hazardous Waste 157
5.10Role of an Individual in the Prevention of Pollution 160
5.11 Pollution Case Studies 162
5.12Disaster Management: Floods, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Landslides 164
5.12.1 From Management to Mitigation of Disasters 165
Unit 6: Social Issues and the Environment 175
6.1 From Unsustainable to Sustainable Development 175
6.2 Urban Problems Related to Energy 176
6.3 Water Conservation, Rainwater Harvesting, Watershed Management 178
6.3.1 Water Conservation 178
6.3.2 Rainwater Harvesting 179
6.3.3 Watershed Management 181
6.4 Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People: Its Problems and Concerns 181
6.5 Environmental Ethics: Issues and Possible Solutions 182
6.5.1 Resource Consumption Patterns and the Need for Equitable
Utilisation, 182
6.5.2 The Need for Gender Equity 184
6.5.3 Preserving Resources for Future Generations 186
6.5.4The Rights of Animals 186
6.5.5The Ethical Basis of Environment Education and Awareness 186
6.5.6The Conservation Ethics and Traditional Value Systems of India 188
6.6Climate Change, Global Warming, Acid Rain, Ozone Layer Depletion,
Nuclear Accidents And Holocaust 189
6.6.1 Climate Change 189
6.6.2 Global Warming 193
6.6.3 Acid Rain 193
6.6.4Ozone Layer Depletion 195
6.6.5 Nuclear Accidents and Nuclear Holocaust 195
6.7Wasteland Reclamation 196
6.8Consumerism and Waste Products 198
6.8.1 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 200
6.8.2 What can an Individual Do? 201
6.9The Environment (Protection) Act 201
6.10The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 202
6.11The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 204
6.12 The Wildlife Protection Act 205
6.13 Forest Conservation Act 206
6.14 Issues Involved in Enforcement of Environmental Legislation 208
6.14.1 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 209
6.14.2 Citizens Actions and Action Groups 210
6.15 Public Awareness 211
6.15.1 Using an Environmental Calendar of Activities 213
6.15.2 What Can I Do? 213
Unit 7: Human Population and the Environment 220
7.1Population Growth, Variation Among Nations 220
7.1.1 Global Population Growth 221
7.2.Population Explosion: Family Welfare Programme 222
7.2.1Methods of Sterilisation 223
7.2.2Urbanisation 224
7.3Environment and Human Health 226
7.3.1 Environmental Health 227
7.3.2 Climate and Health 229
7.3.3 Infectious Diseases 229
7.3.4 Water-Related Diseases 232
7.3.5 Risks Due to Chemicals in Food 234
7.3.6 Cancer and the Environment 235
7.4 Human Rights 236
7.5 Value Education 236
7.5.1 Environmental Values 237
7.5.2Valuing Nature 240
7.5.3 Valuing Cultures 241
7.5.4 Social Justice 241
7.5.5 Human Heritage 242
7.5.6 Equitable Use of Resources 242
7.5.7 Common Property Resources 242
7.5.8 Ecological Degradation 243
7.6 HIV/AIDS 243
7.7 Woman and Child Welfare 244
7.8 Role of Information Technology in Environment and Human Health 246
Unit 8: Field Work 248
8.1 Visit to a Local Area to Document Environmental Assets:
River/Forest/Grasslands/Hill/Mountain 248
8.2 Visit to a Local Polluted Site 255
8.2.1 Solid Waste Study Site 257
8.2.2Water Pollution Site 258
8.2.3 Air Pollution Site 259
8.3 Study of Common Plants, Insects, Birds 259
8.4 Study of Simple Ecosystems 260
8.4.1 ld Visit to a Forest 262
8.4.2 Visit to a Grassland 268
8.4.3 Visit to a Desert or Semi Arid-Area 268
8.4.4 Visit to an Aquatic Ecosystem 269
8.4.5 Visit to a Hill/Mountain 271
The Need for Sustainable Development and Biodiversity
Conservation for a New Emerging India 273
Multiple Choice Questions 287
Websites 296
Further Reading 298
Index 299