Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with

the environment in the interests of solving complex problems. Environmental studies brings together the principles
of the physical sciences, commerce/economics and social sciences so as to solve contemporary environmental
problems. It is a broad field of study that includes the natural environment, the built environment, and the sets of
relationships between them. The field encompasses study in basic principles of ecology and environmental science,
as well as associated subjects such
as ethics, geography, anthropology,policy, politics, law, economics, philosophy, sociology and social
justice, planning, pollution control and natural resource management.[1] There are also many degree programs in
Environmental Studies including the Master of Environmental Studies and the Bachelor of Environmental Studies.

Ecology is that part of environmental studies in which we study about organisms, plants and animals and their
relationship or interdependence on other living and non living environment. The scope of ecological study includes:
1. It deals with the study of flow of energy and materials in the environment.

Environment literally means Surrounding in which we are living. Environment includes all those things on which we
are directly or indirectly dependent for our survival, whether it is living component like animals, plants or non living
component like soil, air water.

Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment as the sum total of water, air and land, their
interrelationship among themselves and with the human beings, other living beings and property.”

Ecology and Scope of Ecological Studies:

Ecology is that part of environmental studies in which we study about organisms, plants and animals and their
relationship or interdependence on other living and non living environment.

The term ‘Ecology’ is derived from Greek word ‘Oekologue’ which is composed of two words:

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(a) ‘Oekos’ means surrounding

(b) ‘Logs’ means study on a whole ecology means ‘Study of surrounding’

The scope of ecological study includes:

1. It deals with the study of flow of energy and materials in the environment.

2. It deals with the study of nature and its function.

3. It deals with the exchange of various materials between the biotic and abiotic components of environment. E.g.,
Biogeochemical cycles.

Meaning Of Environmental Studies:

Environmental studies are the scientific study of the environmental system and the status of its inherent or induced
changes on organisms. It includes not only the study of physical and biological characters of the environment but
also the social and cultural factors and the impact of man on environment.

Objectives and Guiding Principles of Environmental Studies:

According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives of environmental studies are:

(a) Creating the awareness about environmental problems among people.

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(b) Imparting basic knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.
(c) Developing an attitude of concern for the environment.

(d) Motivating public to participate in environment protection and environment improvement.

(e) Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals in identifying and solving environmental problems.

(f) Striving to attain harmony with Nature.

According to UNESCO, the guiding principles of environmental education should be as follows:

(a) Environmental education should be compulsory, right from the primary up to the post graduate stage.

(b) Environmental education should have an interdisciplinary approach by including physical, chemical, biological
as well as socio-cultural aspects of the environment. It should build a bridge between biology and technology.

(c) Environmental education should take into account the historical perspective, the current and the potential
historical issues.

(d) Environmental education should emphasise the importance of sustainable development i.e., economic
development without degrading the environment.

(e) Environmental education should emphasise the necessity of seeking international cooperation in environmental
planning.

(f) Environmental education should lay more stress on practical activities and first hand experiences.

Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies:

The disciplines included in environmental education are environmental sciences, environmental engineering and
environmental management.

(a) Environmental Science:

It deals with the scientific study of environmental system (air, water, soil and land), the inherent or induced changes
on organisms and the environmental damages incurred as a result of human interaction with the environment.

(b) Environmental Engineering:

It deals with the study of technical processes involved in the protection of environment from the potentially
deleterious effects of human activity and improving the environmental quality for the health and well beings of
humans.

(c) Environmental Management:

It promotes due regard for physical, social and economic environment of the enterprise or projects. It encourages
planned investment at the start of the production chain rather than forced investment in cleaning up at the end.

It generally covers the areas as environment and enterprise objectives, scope, and structure of the environment,
interaction of nature, society and the enterprise, environment impact assessment, economics of pollution, prevention,
environmental management standards etc.

The importance’s of environmental studies are as follows:

1. To clarify modern environmental concept like how to conserve biodiversity.

2. To know the more sustainable way of living.

3. To use natural resources more efficiently.

4. To know the behaviour of organism under natural conditions.

5. To know the interrelationship between organisms in populations and communities.

6. To aware and educate people regarding environmental issues and problems at local, national and international
levels.

Need of Public Awareness about Environment:

In today’s world because of industrialization and increasing population, the natural resources has been rapidly
utilised and our environment is being increasingly degraded by human activities, so we need to protect the
environment.

It is not only the duty of government but also the people to take active role for protecting the environment, so
protecting our environment is economically more viable than cleaning it up once, it is damaged.

The role of mass media such as newspapers, radio, television, etc is also very important to make people aware
regarding environment. There are various institutions, which are playing positive role towards environment to make
people aware regarding environment like BSI (Botanical Survey of India, 1890), ZSI (Zoological Survey of India,
1916), WII (Wild Life Institute of India, 1982) etc.

In today’s world because of industrialization and increasing population, the natural resources has been rapidly
utilized and our environment is being increasingly degraded by human activities, so we need to protect the
environment.

The importance of environmental studies are as follows:

1. To clarify modern environmental concept like how to conserve biodiversity.

2. To know the more sustainable way of living.

3. To use natural resources more efficiently.

4. To know the behavior of organism under natural conditions.

5. To know the interrelationship between organisms in populations and communities.

6. To aware and educate people regarding environmental issues and problems at local, national and
international levels.

It is not only the duty of government but also the people to take active role for protecting the environment, so
protecting our environment is economically more viable than cleaning it up once, it is damaged.

NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

It is essential to make the public aware of the formidable consequences of the Environmental Degradation, if not
retorted and reformative measures undertaken, would ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : DEFINITION, SCOPE AND
IMPORTANCE 5 result in the extinction of life. We are facing various environmental challenges. It is essential to get
the country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts may be eco-friendly. Some of these challenges are
as under:

1. Growing Population A population of over thousands of millions is growing at 2.11 per cent every year. Over 17
million people are added each year. It puts considerable pressure on its natural resources and reduces the gains of
development. Hence, the greatest challenge before us is to limit the population growth. Although population
control does automatically lead to development, yet the development leads to a decrease in population growth
rates. For this development of the women is essential.
2. Poverty India has often been described a rich land with poor people. The poverty and environmental
degradation have a nexus between them. The vast majority of our people are directly dependent on the nature
resources of the country for their basic needs of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40% of our people are still
below the poverty line. Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend upon the resources
of their immediate surroundings. Thus, the challenge of poverty and the challenge environment degradation are
two facets of the same challenge. The population growth is essentially a function of poverty. Because, to the very
poor, every child is an earner and helper and global concerns have little relevance for him.

3. Agricultural Growth The people must be acquainted with the methods to sustain and increase agricultural
growth with damaging the environment. High yielding varities have caused soil salinity and damage to physical
structure of soil.

4. Need to Ground water It is essential of rationalizing the use of groundwater. Factors like community wastes,
industrial effluents and chemical fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface water and affected quality of
the groundwater. It is essential to restore the water quality of our rivers and other water bodies as lakes is an
important challenge. It so finding our suitable strategies for consecration of water, provision of safe drinking water
and keeping water bodies clean which are difficult challenges is essential.

5. Development And Forests Forests serve catchments for the rivers. With increasing demand of water, plan to
harness the mighty river through large irrigation projects were made. Certainly, these would submerge forests;
displace local people, damage flora and fauna. As such, the dams on the river Narmada, Bhagirathi and elsewhere
have become areas of political and scientific debate. Forests in India have been shrinking for several centuries
owing to pressures of agriculture and other uses. Vast areas that were once green, stand today as wastelands.
These areas are to be brought back under vegetative cover. The tribal communities inhabiting forests respects the
trees and birds and animal that gives them sustenance. We must recognise 6 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE the role of
these people in restoring and conserving forests. The modern knowledge and skills of the forest deptt. should be
integrated with the traditional knowledge and experience of the local communities. The strategies for the joint
management of forests should be evolved in a well planned way.

6. Degradation of Land At present out of the total 329 mha of land, only 266 mha possess any potential for
production. Of this, 143 mha is agricultural land nearly and 85 suffers from varying degrees of soil degradation. Of
the remaining 123 mha, 40 are completely unproductive. The remaining 83 mha is classified as forest land, of
which over half is denuded to various degrees. Nearly 406 million head of livestock have to be supported on 13
mha, or less than 4 per cent of the land classified as pasture land, most of which is overgrazed. Thus, our of 226
mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is degraded to varying degrees. Water and wind erosion causes further
degradation of almost 150 mha This degradation is to be avoided.

7. Reorientation of Institutions The people should be roused to orient institutions, attitudes and infrastructures, to
suit conditions and needs today. The change has to be brought in keeping in view India’s traditions for resources
use managements and education etc. Change should be brought in education, in attitudes, in administrative
procedures and in institutions. Because it affects way people view technology resources and development.

8. Reduction of Genetic Diversity Proper measures to conserve genetic diversity need to be taken. At present most
wild genetic stocks have been disappearing from nature. Wilding including the Asiatic Lion are facing problem of
loss of genetic diversity. The protected areas network like sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves are
isolating populations. So, they are decreasing changes of one group breeding with another. Remedial steps are to
be taken to check decreasing genetic diversity.

9. Evil Consequences of Urbanisation Nearly 27 per cent Indians live in urban areas. Urbanisation and
industrialisation has given birth to a great number of environmental problem that need urgent attention. Over 30
percent of urban Indians live in slums. Out of India’s 3,245 towns and cities, only 21 have partial or full sewerage
and treatment facilities. Hence, coping with rapid urbanization is a major challenge.
10. Air and water Population Majority of our industrial plants are using outdated and population technologies and
makeshift facilities devoid of any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of cities and industrial areas
that have been identified as the worst in terms of air and water pollution. Acts are enforced in the country, but
their implement is not so easy. The reason is their implementation needs great resources, technical expertise,
political and social will. Again the people are to be made aware of these rules. Their support is indispensable to
implement these rules.

What is the Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies?

Scope means coverage, end aimed at purpose, intention, outlook, purview and sphere of observation.

The scope of environmental studies is vast and wide. Sky is its limit and ocean is its depth. What is not covered in
environmental studies shall take years and years yet to think as how to cover. Studies reveal that during the past, few
decades there has been fundamental change in the attitude of man towards environment. There was a time when
environment meant only sanitation and health.

Today, the environment is conceived in its totality and a holistic approach is designed while planning a better quality
of life stressing upon sustainable development.

Who will not agree with this fact that human activities have been changing with greater speed and velocity. Our
number population-wise is increasing fast. In India the populations were only 34.7 crores in 1951 and today, are
more than 100 crores.

This is the story of human population. What about animals and other organisms. Are they same? No not at all. On
account of this reason human activities have been drastically changing the ecological balance of practically every
component of the environment.

This makes the importance and scope of the study of environment wider in volume and deeper in depth. However,
what mainly conversed in the study of environment is discussed below one by one; the details of which shall be
ascertainable in the subsequent chapters for the convenience of readers.

(i) Environmental studies Teaches us deforestation and forest conservation

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Increasing population, along with widespread poverty, has generated pressure on our natural resources. Of the 329 m
ha. of the total land area in the country, it is estimated that about 174 m. ha. Is degraded, this consists of agricultural
as well as non-agricultural lands and forest resources.

The forest resources are threatened due to overgrazing and other forms of exploitation, both for household and
commercial needs, encroachments, unsustainable practices like unscientific cultivation and development activities.

This leads to increasing destruction and degradation of forests and tree lands. Environmental science teaches how
forest can be conserved. National afforestation and Eco-development programmes provide methods of forest wealth
conservation, because trees and plants are the life and blood of human civilization.

They have served and are serving man-kind in various ways from the days of yore (ancient times). Medha Patkar
and Sunder Lai Bahuguna, the leader of the Chipko Movement, (a movement started to stop the cutting of forests)
rightly pointed out that preservation of trees and plants alone can save the human species from environmental
pollution.

The first and foremost advantage of forests is that they absorb carbon dioxide, provide water and control soil
erosion. To save trees is to save civilization.

(ii) Environmental Studies teach us Diversified Ecologies

Conservation ecology deal with the application of ecological principles to the proper management of resources
leading to sustained yields of useful resources to human welfare. Resource ecology deals with the renewable and
non-renewable resources and their judicious management.

Pollution ecology deals with problems associated with the movements of pollutants in the environment,
environmental deterioration and the maintenance of its cleanliness. System ecology deals with the analysis and
modeling of ecological systems. Radiation ecology is concerned with radio-active substances, radiation and the
environment. Paleoecology deals with organisms and their environment in the geological past.

Environmentalists teach disposal of the dead by burning. Provision of gas or electric crematoria has been made in all
major town and cities. Planting of trees is an integral part of school and college education. No student should be
given his degree or diploma unless he or she produces a certificate of having planted and nurtured at least ten or
twenty trees during his/her student’s life.

We must understand the nature of human cells and the nature of plants cells which provide nourishment and around
which animals and man have evolved. It is the quality of plant life on which the quality of human life depends.

Ecological health depends upon keeping the surface of earth rich in humus (rotten vegetation) and minerals so that it
can provide a foundation of healthy plant and animal life. Ecological stability leads to good health prosperity and
cultural stability.

When the trees are in plenty there is a natural cycle involving the trees and the soil. In the trees drop their leaves
returning them to the earth where they decompose. A complex mixture

of bacteria and fungi inhabit the soil. These microbes play an extremely important role in the biochemistry of the
soil.

It is a well known fact that after the deforestation, it is impossible for us to have plant food grown without the help
of artificial fertilizers for the millions of people in our country and suffering from the consequences thereof.

The most important measures of population control is to grow more and more trees in the hills and foothills, plains
and in clusters (groups) in the fields everywhere and every corner of the country on a war-footing. The symbolic
rituals of getting a few trees planted by visiting dignitaries (VIPs) here and there, is of no use.