UEN001 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

 

Definition and Scope: Importance, Public awareness and education.

Natural Resources: Introduction, Renewable and non-renewable, Forest, water, mineral, food, energy and land resources, Individual and conservation of resources, Equitable use of resources.

Ecosystems: Concept, Structure, Function, Energy flow, Ecological succession, Forest, grassland, desert and aquatic ecosystems - Introduction, characteristic features, structure and function.

Biodiversity: Genetic, Species and ecological diversity, Biogeographical classification of India, Value and hot spots, Biodiversity at global, national and local levels, India as mega-biodiversity nation, Threats to biodiversity, Endangered and endemic species of India, Conservation of Biodiversity, Endangered and endemic species, Conservation of biodiversity.

Pollution: Definition, Causes, effects and control measures of the pollution – Air, soil, Noise, Water, Marine and Thermal and Nuclear Pollution, Solid waste management, Role of Individual in Prevention of Pollution, Pollution case studies, Disaster management.

Social Issues: Sustainable development, Water conservation, Environmental ethics, Climatic change, Wasteland reclamation, Environmental protection acts and issues.

Human Population and the Environment: Population growth, Environment and human health, Human rights, HIV/AIDS, Value education, Women and child welfare, IT in human health and environment, Case studies.

Text Books

1.      Bharucha, E., Textbook of Environmental Studies, Universities Press (2005).

2.      Chapman, J.L. and Reiss, M.J., Ecology- Principles and Application, Cambridge University Press (LPE) (1999).

3.      Joseph, B., Environmental Studies, Tata McGraw-Hill (2006).

 

Reference Books

1.      Miller, G.T., Environmental Science- Working with Earth, Thomson (2006).

2.      Wright, R.T., Environmental Science-Towards a sustainable Future, Prentice Hall (2008) 9^th ed.