Prof. Dr. A.

Kanni Raj
Environmental Science
Syllabus

Unit 1 - Introduction to Environmental Studies & Natural Resources (9h)

Definition, Scope, Importance, Need for public awareness
Forest resources: Use, Effect of their over exploitation, Deforestation, Timber extraction, Mining
Water resources: Surface source, subsurface source (ground), Rainwater harvesting (Methods and merits and simple
layout) floods, drought, Dams : benefits and problems
Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture,
fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, Drainage and their effects
Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy
sources
Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, soil erosion, Desertification and Landslides.
 Syllabus – 1150 CH 103 (continued…)
Unit 2 – Ecosystems and Biodiversity (9h)
Concept of an ecosystem – Structure and function of an ecosystem – Producers, consumers and
decomposers – Energy flow in the ecosystem – Ecological succession – Food chains, food webs and
ecological pyramids – Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the (i)
Forest ecosystem (ii) Aquatic ecosystems (ponds and oceans)
Introduction to Biodiversity – Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity –Value of
biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values –
Biodiversity at local level – India as a mega-diversity nation – Hot spots of biodiversity – criteria for
recognizing hot spots – Biodiversity hot spots in India – Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching
of wildlife - Endangered and endemic species of India – Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ
conservation of biodiversity.
Unit 3 – Environmental Pollution (9h)
Definition – Causes, effects and control measures of: (i) Air pollution (ii) Water pollution (iii) Soil
pollution (iv) Marine pollution (v) Noise pollution (vi) Thermal pollution (vii) Nuclear hazards
 Syllabus – 1150 CH 103 (continued…)
Soil waste Management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes –
Pollution case studies
Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides and tsunami
Unit 4 – Social Issues & The Environment (9h)
From Unsustainable to Sustainable development – Urban problems related to energy – Water
conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management – Resettlement and rehabilitation of
people; its problems and concerns, case studies –Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone
layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust, case studies. – Wasteland reclamation –
Consumerism and waste products – Environment Production Act – Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act – Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act –Forest Conservation Act.
Unit 5 – Human Population & The Environment (9h)
Population growth, variation among nations – Population explosion – Family Welfare Programme –
Environment and human health – Human Rights – Value Education – HIV / AIDS – Women and Child
Welfare – Role of Information Technology in Environment and human health.
Definition : Environment is something that is surrounding us.
We take everything (air, water, food, fibre, light, heat, medicine,
shelter, space, etc) from environment.
Definition : Environmental Science is a study of environment, nature,
natural resources, life forms, non-living things and the inter-relation-
ship between life forms (plants, animals, microbes, humans) and non-
living things (air, water, light, heat, food, fibre, minerals, etc)
Definition : Life, Definition : Non-living, Abiotic, Minerals, Nutrients
Living, Biotic, Biota Climatic Factors, Edaphic Fcators, Environmental
Plants, Animals, Climatic : Light, Rain, T, P, pH, RH, wind, etc.
Microbes, Humans Edaphic : soil composition, organic matter, soil
water, soil air, soil organisms, microclimate, etc
Atmosphere Air
Photosysnthesis, Breathing,
Self purifying, Wind
Hydrosphere Water
Photosynthesis, Solvent, Self
purifying, Our body 60% water
Lithosphere, Geosphere Soil
Rooted Plants, Food for Animals
Biosphere, Ecosphere Life
Plants, Animals, Microbes
 Scope
Of Environmental Studies
Environmental Impact, I=PAT, where P-population, A-affluence (or per
capita consumption), T-Technological impact per unit of consumption
Environmental Studies, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science or Environmental
Engineering has wide scope in large number of areas and aspects, viz,
 Natural Resources : Conservation & Management
 Ecology & Bio-diversity
 Environmental Pollution & Control
 Social Issues in relation to Development & Environment
 Human Population & Environment
 Importance
Of Environmental Science (Sustaining The Earth)
In Short In Detail
 Clarifying ideas  Useful in checking environmental pollution and related solutions.
of Eco-Context.  Helps in maintaining environmental balance.
Awareness and  Helps to gain skills to assess EIA (I=PAT) of human activities. In turn,
knowledge of helps to protect biodiversity.
environment to all  Gives us basic knowledge of environment and associated problems.
(individuals and  Helps to achieve “sustainable development”
social groups).  Helps to educate people regarding their duties towards the
 Making public to protection of the environment.
participate and  Knowledge of environmental science will be applied to the study of
solve Eco-Problems agriculture
 Need for Public Awareness
About Environment (Living in The Environment)
Important to understand that natural environment and man-made environment
are interdependent.
Essential to make the public aware of the formidable consequences of the
“environmental degrdation” (be it local or regional or global)
Performance measures, if undertaken, would result in extinction of life.
Environmental protection is every individuals obligation and duty.
And so, environmental consciousness needs to be propagated at all levels. PM
Indira Gandhi, Agri Scientist M.S.Swaminathan, and other public personalities such
as Salim Ali stressed for public involvement in eco-issues
1947 – Nothing, 1976 - CoI 48A (Protection and improvement of
environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife), 1980 - DoE, 1985 -
MoEF, 2014 – MoEF&CC
 Natural Mahatma M.K.Gandhi – There is enough for
everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s
Resources greed
 Resources are nothing but goods and services provided by environment to us
 It includes forest, water, mineral, food, energy, land, air, plants, animals, etc
 Some are exhausted soon (non-renewable), others would be lasting for longer
period of time.
Renewable Resources (in-exhaustible) – They have the ability to appear
or replenish themselves by recycling, reproduction or replacement., eg,
sun light, soil, water, air, plants, animals, etc.
Non-renewable Resources (exhaustible) – Earth materials, eg, minerals
(gold, iron ore, copper ore, aluminium ore), fossil fuels such as coal, oil
and natural gas, non-minerals (diamond, mica, gems), granites, stones.