COURSE OUTCOMES

CO1: Identifying key environmental treaties, conventions, statutes, and regulatory frameworks at national and international levels.
CO2: Describing the objectives and significance of environmental laws in the protection and preservation of ecosystems.
CO3: Analyzing the effectiveness of legal instruments in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainability.
CO4: Applying environmental laws and policies to real-world scenarios to evaluate their impact on ecological conservation efforts

COURSE CONTENT

UNIT I

Introduction to environmental studies and Ecosystem- Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development, What is an ecosystem? Structure and function of ecosystem; Energy flow in an ecosystem: food chains, food webs and ecological succession. Case studies of the following ecosystems, Forest ecosystem, Grassland ecosystem, Desert ecosystem, Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

UNIT II

Natural Resources: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources; Biodiversity and Conservation- Land resources and land use change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification, Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests, biodiversity and tribal populations, Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts over water (international & inter-state), Energy resources: Renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, growing energy needs, case studies, Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; Biogeographic zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots, India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Endangered and endemic species of India, Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-‐wildlife conflicts, biological, invasions; Conservation of biodiversity: In-‐situ and Ex-‐situ conservation of biodiversity, Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value.

UNIT III

Environmental Pollution, Policies & Practices Environmental pollution: types, causes, effects and controls; Air, water, soil and noise pollution, Nuclear hazards and human health risks, Solid waste management: Control measures of urban and industrial waste, Pollution case studies, Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human communities and agriculture, Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act; Wildlife Protection Act; Forest Conservation Act. International agreements:Montreal and Kyoto protocols and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Nature reserves, tribal populations and rights, and human wildlife conflicts in Indian context. 

UNIT IV

Human Communities and the Environment Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare, Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies, Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclones and landslides, Environmental movements: Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan. Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental conservation, Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles in Delhi)

Field work: Visit to an area to document environmental assets: river/ forest/ flora/fauna, etc. Visit to a local polluted site-Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural.Study of common plants, insects, birds and basic principles of identification. Study of simple ecosystems-‐pond, river, Delhi Ridge, etc.