CORE MODULE SYLLABUS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES FOR UNDER GRADUATE COURSES OF ALL BRANCHES OF HIGHER EDUCATION Unit

1 The multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies Definition, scope and importance, Need for public awareness Unit 2 Natural Res ur!es" Renewable and non - renewable resources: Natural resources and associated problems. #a$ F rest res ur!es" Use and over - exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber xtraction, minin!, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people. #%$&ater res ur!es" Use and over - utili"ation of surface and !round water, floods, drou!ht, conflicts over water, dams - benefits and problems. #!$Mineral res ur!es" Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extractin! and usin! mineral resources, case studies. #'$ F ' res ur!es" #orld food problems, chan!es caused by a!riculture and over!ra"in!, effects of modern a!riculture, fertili"er - pesticide problems, water lo!!in!, salinity, case studies. #e$Ener() res ur!es" $rowin! ener!y needs, renewable and non % ren ewable ener!y sources, use of alternate ener!y sources, case studies. #*$Lan' res ur!es: &and as a resource, land de!radation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. 'uitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles. Unit + E! s)ste,s "(oncept of an ecosystem ,)tructure and function of an ecosystem, *roducers, consumers and decomposers, ner!y flow in the ecosystem colo!ical succession,+ood chains, food webs and ecolo!ical pyramids ,ntroduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the followin! cosystem: a. +orest ecosystem b.$rassland ecosystem c.Desert ecosystem d.-'uatic ecosystems .ponds, streams, la/es, rivers, ocean estuaries0 Unit Bi 'i.ersit) an' its ! nser.ati n 1 ,ntroduction % Definition: !enetic, species and ecosystem diversity 1 2io!eo!raphical classification of ,ndia 1 3alue of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical aesthetic and

option values 1 2iodiver sity at !lobal, national and local levels 1,ndia as a me!a - diversity nation 1 4ot - spots of biodiversity 1Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poachin! of wildlife, man wildlife conflicts 1 ndan!ered and endemic species of ,ndia 1 (onservation of biodiversity: ,n - situ and ex - situ conservation of biodiversity Unit / nvironmental *ollution Definition 1 (auses, effects and control measures of: a. -ir pollution b. #ater pollution c. )oil pollution d. 5arine pollution e. Noise pollution f. Thermal pollution !. nuclear pollution 1 )olid waste mana!ement: (auses, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes. 1 Role of an individual in prevention of pollution 1 *ollution case studies 1 Disaster mana!ement: floods, earth'ua/e, cyclone and landslides .6 &ectures0 Unit 0 S !ial Issues an' t1e En.ir n,ent 1 +rom unsustainable to sustainable development 1 Urban problems and related to ener!y 1 #ater conservation, rain water harvestin!, watershed mana!ement 1 Resettlement and rehabilitation of people7 its problems and concerns. (ase studies. 1 nvironmental ethics: ,ssues and possible solutions 1 (limate chan!e, !lobal warmin!, acid rain, o"one layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust. (ase studies. 1 #asteland reclamation 1 (onsumerism and waste products 1 nvironmental *rotection -ct 1 -ir .*revention and (ontrol of *ollution0 -ct 1 #ater .*revention and control of *ollution0 -ct 1 #ildlife *rotection -ct 1 +orest (onservation -ct 1 ,ssues involved in enforcement of environmental le!islation 1 *ublic awareness Unit 2 Hu,an 3 4ulati n an' t1e En.ir n,ent 1 *opulation !rowth, variation amon! nations 1 *opulation explosion % +amily #elfare *ro!rammes 1 nvironment and human health 1 4uman Ri!hts 1 3alue ducation 1 4,3 8 -,D) 1 #omen and (hild #elfare 1 Role of ,nformation Technolo!y in nvironment and 4uman 4ealth

1 (ase )tudies Unit 5" Fiel' & r6 1 3isit to a local area to document environmental assets river8forest8!rassland8hill8mountain 1 3isit to a local polluted site % Urban 8 Rural 8 ,ndustrial 8 -!ricultural 1 )tudy of common plants, in sects, birds 1 )tudy of simple ecosystems pond, river, hill slopes, etc .+ield wor/ e'ual to 9 lecture hours0