Environment

The word environment is derived from the French word ‘environner’ which
means to ‘encircle or surround’.
 Thus our environment can be defined as “the social, cultural and physical
conditions that surround, affect and influence the survival, growth and
development of people, animals and plants”
 This broad definition includes the natural world and the technological
environment as well as the cultural and social contexts that shape human
lives.

 It includes all factors (living and non-living) that affect an individual

organism or population at any point in the life cycle; set of circumstances
surrounding a particular occurrence and all the things that surrounds us.
Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies
 The Environment studies is a multi-disciplinary science because it
comprises various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical
science, life science, agriculture, public health, sanitary engineering etc.

 It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. It studies about

the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical and biological
species in the air, water, soil and the effect of from human activity upon these.
 As the environment is complex and actually made up of many different
environments like natural, constructed and cultural environments,
environmental studies is inter disciplinary in nature including the study of
biology, geology, politics, policy studies, law, religion engineering, chemistry
and economics to understand the humanity’s effects on the natural world.

 This subject educates the students to appreciate the complexity of

environmental issues and citizens and experts in many fields.
 By studying environmental science, students may develop a breadth of the
interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields
that enables them to facilitate the definition and solution of environmental
problems.
 https://www.slideshare.net/VijayP7/environmental-studies-environmental

http://environner.blogspot.com/p/unit-1-definition-of-environment.html

Scope of Environmental Studies

Environmental studies as a subject has a wide scope. It includes a large
number of areas and aspects, which may be summarized as follows:
 Natural resources- their conservation and management

 Ecology and Biodiversity

 Environmental pollution and control
 Human population and environment

 Social issues in relation to development and environment

Importance of Environmental Studies

 The importance of environmental studies is that, the current trend of

environmental degradation can be reversed if people of educated communities
are organized, empowered and experts are involved in sustainable
development.

 Environmental factors greatly influence every organism and their activities.

 At present a great number of environmental issues, have grown in size and

complexity day by day, threatening the survival of mankind on earth. These
issues are studied besides giving effective suggestions in the environment
studies.

 The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection

and conservation of our natural resources, indiscriminate release of pollution
into the environment etc. Environment studies have become significant for
the following reasons:

1. Environment issues being of international importance: It has been well

recognized that environment issues like global warming, ozone depletion, acid
rain, marine pollution and loss of biodiversity are not merely national issues
but are global issues and hence must be tackled with international efforts and
cooperation.

2. Problems cropped in the wake of development: Development, in its wake

gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation Systems,
Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased out in the
developed world. The North, to cleanse their own environment has, fact fully,
managed to move ‘dirty’ factories to South. When the West developed, it did
so perhaps in ignorance of the environmental impact of its activities. Evidently
such a path is neither practicable nor desirable, even if developing world
follows that.

3. Explosively increase in pollution: World census reflects that one in every

seven persons in this planet lives in India. Evidently with 16 per cent of the
world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area, there is a heavy
pressure on the natural resources including land. Agricultural experts have
recognized soils health problems like deficiency of micronutrients and organic
matter, soil salinity and damage of soil structure.

4. Need for an alternative solution: It is essential, especially for developing

countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as
under: (1) A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an
environmentally sound and sustainable development. (2) A goal common to
all citizens of our earth. (3) A goal distant from the developing world in the
manner it is from the overconsuming wasteful societies of the “developed”
world.

5. Need to save humanity from extinction: It is incumbent upon us to save

the humanity from extinction. Consequences to our activities cause
destructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in the name of
development.

6. Need for wise planning of development: Our survival and sustenance

depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the product have all to
be synchronized with the ecological cycles in any plan of development. Our
actions should be planned ecologically for the sustenance of the environment
and development.

7. To realize that environmental problems are global

Environmental science lets you recognize that environmental problems such
as climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rains, and
impacts on biodiversity and marine life are not just national problems, but
global problems as well. So, concerted effort from across the world is needed
to tackle these problems.
8. To understand the impacts of development on the environment
It’s well documented and quantified that development results in Industrial
growth, urbanization, expansion of telecommunication and transport
systems, hi-tech agriculture, and expansion of housing. Environmental
science seeks to teach the general population about the need for
decentralization of industries to reduce congestion in urban areas.
Decentralization means many people will move out of urban centres to reduce
pollution resulting from overpopulation. The goal is to achieve all this
sustainably without compromising the future generation’s ability to satisfy
their own needs.

9. To discover sustainable ways of living

Environmental science is more concerned with discovering ways to live more
sustainably. This means utilizing present resources in a manner that
conserves their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t
have to outlaw living luxuriously, but it advocates for creating awareness
about the consumption of resources and minimizing unnecessary waste. This
includes minimizing household energy consumption, using disposals to
dispose of waste, eating locally, recycling more, growing your own food,
drinking from the tap, conserving household water, and driving your car less.
10. To utilize natural resources efficiently
Natural resources bring a whole lot of benefits to a country. A country’s
natural resources may not be utilized efficiently because of low-level training
and a lack of management skills. Environmental science teaches us to
use natural resources efficiently by:
 Appropriately putting into practice environmental conservation
methods
 Using the right tools to explore resources
 Adding value to our resources
 Making sure machines are maintained appropriately
 Thorough training of human resources
 Provision of effective and efficient supervision
 Using the right techniques to minimize exploitation
 To understand the behavior of organisms under natural conditions
Behavior is what organisms manifest to respond to, interact with, and control
their environment. An animal exhibits behavior as the first line of defense in
response to any change of environment.

So, critical look at organism’s behavior can offer insightful information about
animal’s needs, dislikes, preferences, and internal conditions providing that
your evaluation of those observations firmly hinge on knowledge of species’-
natural behavior.

11. To shed light on contemporary concepts such as how to conserve

biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The present rate of biodiversity loss
is at an all-time high. Environmental science aims to teach people how to
reverse this trend by:

 Using sustainable wood products

 Using organic foods
 Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle
 Purchasing sustainable seafood
 Supporting conservation campaigns at local levels
 Conserving power
 Minimizing the consumption of meat
 Utilizing eco-friendly cleaning products
 To understand the interrelationship between organisms in population
and communities
Organisms and humans depend on each other to get by. Environmental
science is important because it enables you to understand how these
relationships work.
For example, humans breathe out carbon dioxide, which plants need for
photosynthesis. Plants, on the other hand, produce and release oxygen to the
atmosphere, which humans need for respiration.

Animal droppings are sources of nutrients for plants and other

microorganisms. Plants are sources of food for humans and animals. In short,
organisms and humans depend on each other for survival.
12. To learn and create awareness about environmental problems at
local, national and international levels
Environmental problems at local, national, and international levels mostly
occur due to lack of awareness. Environmental science aims to educate and
equip learners with the necessary environmental skills to pass to the
community in order to create awareness. Environmental awareness can be
created through social media, creating a blog dedicated to creating awareness,
community-centred green clubs, women forums, and religious podiums.

Need for public awareness

1. Growing Population: A population of over thousands of millions is growing

at 2.11 per cent every year. Over 17 million people are added each year. It
puts considerable pressure on its natural resources and reduces the gains of
development. Hence, the greatest challenge before us is to limit the population
growth. Although population control does automatically lead to development,
yet the development leads to a decrease in population growth rates.

2. Poverty: India has often been described a rich land with poor people. The
poverty and environmental degradation are mixed with one another. The vast
majority of our people are directly dependent on the nature resources of the
country for their basic needs of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40% of
our people are still below the poverty line.

3. Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend

upon the resources of their immediate surroundings. Thus, the challenge of
poverty and the challenge of environment degradation are two facets of the
same challenge.

4. Agricultural growth: The people must be made familiar with the methods
to sustain and increase agricultural growth without damaging the
environment. High yielding varieties have caused soil salinity and damage to
physical structure of soil.

5. Need to increase ground water: It is essential of rationalizing the use of

groundwater. Factors like community wastes, industrial effluents, chemical
fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface water and affected quality
of the groundwater. It is essential to restore the water quality of our rivers
and other water bodies. Suitable strategies for conservation of water,
provision of safe drinking water and keeping water bodies clean should be
developed.

6. Development and forests: Forests serve catchments for the rivers. With
increasing demand of water, plan to harness the mighty river through large
irrigation projects were made. Certainly, these would submerge forests;
displace local people, damage flora and fauna. As such, the dams on the river
Narmada, Bhagirathi and elsewhere have become areas of political and
scientific debate. Forests in India have been shrinking for several centuries
owing to pressures of agriculture and other uses. Vast areas that were once
green, stand today as waste lands. These areas are to be brought back under
vegetative cover. The tribal communities inhabiting forests, respects the trees,
birds and animals give them sustenance. We must recognize the role of these
people in restoring and conserving forests. The modern knowledge and skills
of the forest department should be integrated with the traditional knowledge
and experience of the local communities. The strategies for the joint
management of forests should be evolved in a well-planned way.

7. Degradation of land: At present out of the total 329 mha of land, only 266
mha possess any potential for production. Of this, 143 mha is agricultural
land nearly and 85 suffers from varying degrees of soil degradation. Of the
remaining 123 mha, 40 are completely unproductive. The remaining 83 mha
is classified as forest land, of which over half is denuded to various degrees.
Nearly 406 million head of livestock have to be supported on 13 mha, or less
than 4 per cent of the land classified as pasture land, most of which is
overgrazed. Thus, out of 226 mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is degraded
to varying degrees. Water and wind erosion causes further degradation of
almost 150 mha This degradation is to be avoided.

8. Evil consequences of urbanization: Nearly 27% of Indians live in urban

areas. Urbanization and industrialization has given birth to a great number
of environmental problems. Over 30 percent of urban Indians live in slums.
Out of India’s 3,245 towns and cities, only 21 have partial or full sewerage
and treatment facilities. Hence, coping with rapid urbanization is a major
challenge.

9. Air and water pollution: Majority of our industrial plants are using
outdated and pollution causing technologies and makeshift facilities devoid of
any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of cities and industrial
areas have been identified as the worst in terms of air and water pollution.
Acts are enforced in the country, but their implement is not so easy. The
reason is their implementation needs great resources, technical expertise,
political and social will. Again the people are to be made aware of these rules.
Their support is indispensable to implement these rules.

Components of Environment
Structure of Environment

Institutions in Environment

Managing natural resources require efficient institutions at all levels i.e. local,
national, regional and global. Among the large number of institutions that
deal with environmental protection and conservation, a few well-known
organization include government organizations like the BSI and ZSI, and
NGOs like the BNHS, WWF-1, etc.

 The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai

 World Wide fund for nature- India (WWF-1), New Delhi
 Centre or science and environment (CSE), New Delhi
 C.P.R Environmental Education Centre, Madras
 Centre for Environment Education (CEE)
 Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Institute of Environment Education &
Research, Pune
 The Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
 Wild life Institute of India (WII), Dehradhun
 Zoological survey of India (ZSI)
 The madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT)
 Botanical Survey of India (BSI)