ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
COURSE CODE : EVS 3401
This course is designed to develop environmental awareness to the students. It deals with the
natural resources, ecosystems and the impact of human activity on them. This course also
imparts the biodiversity and its conservation. It also sensitizes the students on the environmental
issues and abatement of pollution and gives suggestion for sustenance.
Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
i. Discuss the terminology commonly used in environmental science and to identify
renewable and nonrenewable resources and its proper usage and conservation
ii. Explain the concept , structure, function of ecosystem and to analyze the interaction of
organism at different ecosystem
iii. Evaluate the adverse human impact on abiotic and biotic community and sustainable
strategies to mitigate the impact
iv. Create knowledge on biodiversity and its conservation and utilize advances in
environmental science to resolve issues and anticipate implications.
v. Assess the consequences of environmental disasters and its remedy
1. Introduction to environmental studies: Concept and Scope – importance of
sustainability and sustainable development. The Atmosphere, the Hydrosphere, the
Lithosphere and the Biosphere. Concept of Renewable and Non-renewable resources:
2. Ecology and Ecosystems: Concept of ecology and ecosystem, Structure and function of
ecosystem; Energy flow in an ecosystem; food chains, food webs; Basic concept of
population and community ecology; ecological succession. Characteristic features of the
following- Forest ecosystem - Grassland ecosystem - Desert ecosystem - Aquatic
ecosystems (ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans)
3. Environmental Pollution: Pollution -Definition - Causes, effects and control measures
of - Air pollution - Water pollution -Soil pollution - Marine pollution -.Noise pollution -
Thermal pollution - Nuclear hazards . Solid waste Management: Causes, effects and
control measures. Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. Natural Disasters and
their Management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.
4. Biodiversity and its conservation: Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
Biogeographical classification of India- values Biodiversity at global, National and local
levels. India as a mega-diversity nation - Hot-spots of biodiversity. Endangered and
endemic species of India. Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man
wildlife conflicts.. Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ method of
conservation.
5. Social Issues and the Environment: Water conservation- rain water harvesting,
watershed management. Wasteland reclamation. Afforestation. Management and Wildlife
conservation. Climate change - Greenhouse effect - global warming - acid rain, ozone
layer depletion. Environmental Laws : Environment Protection Act, 1986 ; The Water
Act, 1974, The Air Act, 1981 and The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 , Forest
Conservation Act .Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation. Public
awareness.
