SYLLABUS

UNIT-I

Environmental studies – Nature, scope and importance, need for public awareness; natural resources – renewable and non-renewable resources, use and overexploitation/over-utilization of various resources and consequences; role of an individual in conservation of natural resources; equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.

UNIT-II

Ecosystems – concept, structure and function of an ecosystem; energy flow in the ecosystem; ecological succession; food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids; types of ecosystem – forest ecosystem, grassland ecosystem, desert ecosystem, aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental Pollution – Definition, cause, effects and control measures of different types of pollutions – air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, marine pollution, noise pollution, thermal pollution, nuclear hazards; solid waste management – causes, effects and control measures of urban and industrial wastes; role of an individual in prevention of pollution.

UNIT-III

Social issues and the environment – Sustainable development, urban problems related to energy, water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management; resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problems and concerns; climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust; Wasteland reclamation, consumerism and waste products.

UNIT-IV

Environmental legislation – Environment Protection Act. Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act. Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act.