Unit 1: MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: Definition, scope and importance, Need for public awareness. Unit 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 forest and tribal people. b) Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflicts over 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 agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies. e) Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources. Case studies. f) Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification. � Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. � Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles. Unit 3: ECOSYSTEMS � Concept of an ecosystem IV � Structure and function of an ecosystem. � Producers, consumers and decomposers. � Energy flow in the ecosystem. � Ecological succession. � Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids. � Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystem: - a. Forest ecosystem b. Grassland ecosystem c. Desert ecosystem d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries) Unit 4: BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION � Introduction � Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity. � Biogeographical classification of India � Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values � Biodiversity at global, National and local levels. � India as a mega-diversity nation V � Hot-sports of biodiversity. � Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts. � Endangered and endemic species of India � Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity. Unit 5 : ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DEFINITION � Cause, effects and control measures of :- a. Air pollution b. Water pollution c. Soil pollution d. Marine pollution e. Noise pollution f. Thermal pollution g. Nuclear hazards � Solid waste Management : Causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes. � Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. � Pollution case studies. � Introduction to Risk Assessment, Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides. Unit 6: SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT � From Unsustainable to Sustainable development � 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. Unit 7: HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT � Population growth, variation among nations. � Population explosion � Family Welfare Programme. VII � 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, assets 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)