Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies

1 Our Environment

  1. Concept of Environment
  2. Components and Types of Environment
  3. Human-Environment Relationship
  4. Concept of Sustainability and Sustainable Development
  5. Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies
  6. Importance of Environmental Studies

2 Ecosystems

  1. What is an Ecosystem?
  2. Components of the Ecosystem
  3. Trophic Levels
  4. Ecosystem Functioning
  5. Nutrient Cycles
  6. Ecological Succession
  7. Ecosystem and Human Intervention

3 Major ecosystem

  1. Forest Ecosystem
  2. Grassland Ecosystem
  3. Desert Ecosystem
  4. Aquatic Ecosystem
  5. Aquatic Organisms
  6. Freshwater Ecosystem
  7. Marine Ecosystem
  8. Estuaries

4 Land and water resources

  1. Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
  2. Renewable Water Resources
  3. Over Exploitation of Surface and Groundwater
  4. Degradation of Water Sources
  5. Floods and Droughts
  6. Conservation and Management of Water Resources
  7. Non-renewable Land Resource
  8. Processes Involved in the Soil Formation
  9. Changes Caused by Agriculture and Overgrazing
  10. Land Degradation
  11. Land Use Planning and Management

5 Forest resources

  1. Forest as a Resource
  2. Deforestation: Causes and Consequences
  3. Impact of Mining and Dam Building on Environment
  4. Effect on Tribal Population and their Rights
  5. Conservation and Management of Forest Resources

6 Biodiversity- value and services

  1. Defining Biodiversity
  2. Levels of Biodiversity
  3. The Biogeographic Zones of India
  4. Biodiversity Hot Spots
  5. India: A Mega-Biodiversity Country
  6. Use Values of Biodiversity

7 Energy resources

  1. Energy as Resource
  2. The Carrying Capacity of the Earthโ€™s Energy Base
  3. Energy Demand due to Population Growth and Industrialisation
  4. Future Energy Needs and Conservation
  5. Development of Non-Polluting Energy Systems in India

8 Biodiversity- threats and conservation

  1. Causes of Biodiversity Loss
  2. Humanโ€“Wildlife Conflict
  3. Poaching of Wild Life
  4. Biological Invasion
  5. Need for Conserving Biodiversity
  6. Conservation of Biodiversity

9 Environmental pollution and hazards

  1. What is Pollution?
  2. Causes of Environmental Pollution
  3. Air Pollution
  4. Water Pollution
  5. Soil Pollution
  6. Noise Pollution

10 Waste management

  1. Hazardous Wastes
  2. Toxic Versus Hazardous
  3. Concept of Waste Management
  4. Disposal of Waste
  5. Waste Management in India
  6. Effects of Improper Waste Disposal

11 Global environmental issues

  1. Global Warming and Climate Change
  2. Ozone Layer Depletion
  3. Acid Rain

12 Environmental legislation

  1. Current Status
  2. Issues in Enforcement
  3. Institutional Arrangement for Monitoring and Enforcement

13 Human communities and environment

  1. Human Population Growth
  2. Human Health and Welfare
  3. Natural Disaster
  4. Preparedness for Disaster Management
  5. Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People: Problems and Concerns
  6. Case Studies and Peopleโ€™s Movement

14 Environmental ethics

  1. Ethical Use of Natural Resources
  2. Three Views about Nature
  3. Attitudes Towards Nature
  4. Environmental Equity
  5. Environmental Justice
  6. Environmental Racism
  7. Religious Teachings about Environment
  8. Environmental Communication and Awareness
  9. Collective Actions