ENVIRONMENT STUDIES

Credit Units:04 Course Code: BTBEV10101

Course Objective
• To enlighten the masses about the importance of the
protection and conservation of environment.
• control of human activities which has an adverse
effect on environment.
• Adaptation of eco friendly technologies in all
sectors.
Module 1

The Multidisciplinary Nature

of Environmental Studies

•Definition
•Scope
•Importance
•Need for Public Awareness
What is Environment ?
“Everything out side me is Environment”
•Definition 1
Everything which surrounds an individual may collectively be
termed as the Environment.
can be the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is
surrounded.

•Definition 2
The complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate,
soil, and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological
community and ultimately determine its form and survival.
 Boring

“A person’s environment consists of the sum total of

the stimulation which he receives from his
conception until his death.”

It can be concluded from the above definition that

Environment comprises various types of forces such
as physical, intellectual, economic, political, cultural,
social, moral and emotional. Environment is the sum
total of all the external forces, influences and
conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour
and the growth, development and maturation of
living organisms.
Douglas and Holland

“The term environment is used to describe, in the

aggregate, all the external forces, influences and
conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour
and the growth, development and maturity of living
organisms.”
Scope
Components of Environment
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Lithosphere
• Biosphere
 Atmos

Bio

? Hydro Litho
Atmosphere
The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases,
surrounding the earth:
1. It sustains life on the earth.

2. It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.

3. It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space

and a major portion of the electromagnetic radiation
from the sun.

4. It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared

radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and radio waves. (0.14 to
40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolate
waves below about 300 nm.

• The atmosphere is composed of nitrogen and oxygen.

Besides, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases.
Classification of Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources ie oceans,
seas, lakes, rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and
ground water.

• Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the

oceans,
• About 2% of the water resources is locked in the polar
icecaps and glaciers.
• Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-
rivers, lakes streams, and ground water fit to be used
for human consumption and other uses.
Lithosphere
• Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth.
• It consists of minerals occurring in the earth’s crusts
and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and
water.

Crust
Upper Mantel
Mantel
Outer Core
Inner Core
Biosphere

• Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and

their interactions with environment, viz atmosphere,
hydrosphere and lithosphere
Elements of Environment
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical,
biological and cultural elements inter-related in various ways,
individually as well as collectively.
Physical elements
• Physical elements are as space, landforms, water
bodies, climate soils, rocks and minerals.
• They determine the variable character of the human
habitat, its opportunities as well as limitations.
Biological elements
• Biological elements such as plants, animals,
microorganisms and men constitute the biosphere.
Cultural elements
• Cultural elements such as economic, social and
political elements are essentially manmade features,
which make cultural milieu.
 ENV STUDIES: IMPORTANCE

• The environment studies enlighten us, about the

importance of protection and conservation of
our indiscriminate release of pollution into the
environment.
• At present a great number of environment
issues, have grown in size and complexity day by
day, threatening the survival of mankind on
earth. We study about these issues besides and
effective suggestions in the Environment
Studies.
1. Environment Issues Being of International
Importance: It has been well recognised that environment issues like
global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and
biodiversity are not merely national issues but are global issues and hence
must be tackled with international efforts and cooperation.

2. Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development :

Development, in its wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth,
Transportation Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has
become phased out in the developed world. The North, to cleanse their
own environment has, fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories of
South. When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the
environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither
practicable nor desirable, even if developing world follows that.

3. Explosively Increase in Pollution : World census reflects

that one in every seven persons in this planted lives in India. Evidently
with 16 per cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land
area, there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land.
Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems like deficiency
of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and damage of soil
structure.
4. Need for An Alternative Solution
It is essential, specially for developing countries to find alternative paths to an
alternative goal. We need a goal as under:
•A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally
sound and sustainable development.
•A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
•A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over-
consuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.
5. Need To Save Humanity From Extinction
It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from extinction. Consequent to our
activities constricting the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name
of development.
6. Need For Wise Planning of Development
Our survival and sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of
the product have all to by synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of
development our actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the
environment and development.
7. Misra’s Report

Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:

•Holism
•Ecosystem
•Succession
•Conversation.

Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In

hierarchical levels at which interacting units of ecology are
discussed, are as under:

Individual<population<community<ecosystem<biome<biosphere.
Misra (1991) has recognized four basic requirements of
environmental management as under:

•Impact of human activities on the environment,

•Value system,
•Plan and design for sustainable development,
•Environment education.

Keeping in view the of goal of planning for environmentally

sustainable development India contributed to the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit” held at Rio de
Janciro, the Capital of Brazil, 3rd-14th June, 1992.
 •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 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.
 WHY NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
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.

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 recognize 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 Urbanization:
Nearly 27 per cent Indians live in urban areas. Urbanization and
industrialization 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 Pollution:

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.
Take Care of your Environment