Unit 1 : The Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies:
Definition, scope and importance (2 Lectures)
2 : Natural Resources :Renewable and non-renewable resources :
Natural resources and associated problems.
a) Forest resources : Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies. Timber extraction, mining,
dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.
b) Water resources : Use and over-Utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts and
water, dams-benefits and problems.
c) Mineral resources : Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral
resources, case studies.
d) Food resources : World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of
modern agricultu
• Urban problems related to energy
• Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management
• Resettlement and rehabilitation of people ; its problems and concerns. Case studies.
• Environmental ethics : Issues and possible solutions.
• Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust.
Case studies.
• Wasteland reclamation.
• Consumerism and waste products.
• Environment Protection Act.
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
• Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act
• Wildlife Protection Act
• Forest Conservation Act
• Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation.
• Public awareness.
(7 lectures)
Unit 7 : Human Population and the Environment
• 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.
• Case Studies.
Unit 8 : Field work
• Visit to a local area to document environmental and river forest grassland hill mountain.
• Visit to a local polluted site – Urban / Rural / Industrial / Agricultural
• Study of common plants, insects, birds.
• Study of simple ecosystems-pond, river, hill slopes, etc. (Field work Equal to 5 lecture hours)