Unit 1: Introduction to environmental studies

·         Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies;

·         Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.

Unit 2: Ecosystems

·         What is an ecosystem? Structure and function of ecosystem; Energy flow in an ecosystem: food chains, food webs and ecological succession. Case studies of the following eco systems :

a)    Forest ecosystem

b)    Grassland ecosystem

c)    Desert ecosystem

d)    Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Unit 3: 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 environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations.

·         Water: Use and over-­‐exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts over water (international & inter-­‐state).

·         Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies.

Unit 4: Biodiversity and Conservation

·         Levels of biological diversity : genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; Biogeographic zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots

·         India as a mega-­‐biodiversity nation; 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.

·         Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value.

Unit 5: Environmental Pollution

·         Environmental pollution : types, causes, effects and controls; Air, water, soil and noise pollution

·         Nuclear hazards and human health risks

·         Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste.

• Pollution case studies.

Unit 6: Environmental Policies & Practices

·         Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture

·         Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act; Wildlife Protection Act; Forest Conservation Act. International agreements: Montreal and Kyoto protocols and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

·         Nature reserves, tribal populations and rights, and human wildlife conflicts in Indian context.

Unit 7: 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, earthquake, cyclones and landslides.

·         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).