ACADEMIC LESSON PLAN FOR II SEMESTER (2017)

SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

SUBJECT CODE : ETEN-114
Total teaching weeks in semester : 15
Total lectures : 30
Total tutorial : 15
L T P
2 1 3

S.No. Topics to be covered L T

Sessional Exam
UNIT – 1 : Environmental Studies: Ecosystems, Bio-diversity and
its Conservation
1 (i)The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies-Definition, 1 1
scope and importance of Environmental Studies. Biotic and a biotic
component of environment, need for environmental awareness.

2 (ii)Ecosystems 1
Concept of an ecosystem, structure and function of an ecosystem,
producers, consumers and decomposers, energy flow in the
ecosystem. Ecological succession, food chains, food webs and
ecological pyramids
3 Introduction, types, characteristic features, structures and function of the 1 1
following ecosystem:
(a) Forest ecosystem
(b) Grassland ecosystem
(c) Desert ecosystem
(d) Aquatic ecosystem (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries).

4 (iii) Bio-diversity and its Conservation 1

Introduction to biodiversity —definition: genetic, species and ecosystem
diversity, Bio-geographical classification of India, Value of
biodiversity: Consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic
and option values.
5 Biodiversity at global, national and local levels, India as a mega- 1
diversity nation, Hot-spots of biodiversity.
6 Threats to biodiversity : Habitat loss, Poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife 1 1
conflicts, rare endangered and threatened species(RET)endemic species
of India, method of biodiversity conservation: In-situ and ex-situ
conservation

UNIT – II: Natural Resources: problems and prospects

7 Renewable and Non-renewable Natural Resources, Concept and 1

definition of Natural Resources and need for their management.

1
8 Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies, 1 1
timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forest and tribal
people.

9 Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, 1 1

floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems,
Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management.
.
10 Mineral resources: Uses and exploitation, environmental effects of 1 1
extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.

11 Food resources: World food problems, changes causes by agriculture 1

and over-grazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide
problems, water logging, salinity, case studies.

12 Energy resources: Growing energy needs and renewable energy 1 1

sources.

13 Non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, urban 1

problems related to energy, case studies.

14 Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced 1

landslides, soil erosion and desertification.

Unit 1 and 2 to be covered till sessional exam

UNIT III: Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control

15 (i) Chemistry of Environment 1 1

(a) Green Technology
Principles of Green technology, Zero Waste Technology, Green
Chemistry & Its basic principles.

16 Atom Economy, Green Methodologies. clean development mechanisms

(CDM), concept of environmental impact assessment. 1

17 (b) Eco-Friendly polymers 1 1

Environmental degradation of polymers, Biodegradable and Photo-
biodegradable polymers.

18 Hydrolysis & Hydrobiodegradable polymers, Biopolymers & 1

Bioplastics.

29 polylactic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, polycaprolactone., Concept of 1

bioremediation
20 Environmental Pollution: Definition, types, causes, effects and 1 1

2
 control measures of
(a) Air pollution. (b) Acid rain, global warming and smog.
21 (c)Water pollution (d) Thermal Pollution 1 1

22 (e)Soil pollution , (f) Marine pollution (g) Noise pollution (h) Nuclear 1
Hazards

23 (i)Solid waste and its management: causes, effects and control 1

measures of urban and industrial waste. (j) Pollution case studies
24 Chemical toxicology- 1
Terms related to toxicity, Impact of chemical (Hg,As) on environment.
25 Impact of chemicals (Cd, Cr, Pb) on environment. 1 1

UNIT IV: Disaster Management, Social Issues, Human

Population and the Environment
26 (i) Disaster Management 1 1
Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and land-slides,
Nuclear accidents and holocaust, case studies.

27 (ii) Social Issues, Human Population and the Environment 1 1

Sustainable development, Climate change and ozone layer depletion
28 Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions, Consumerism and 1
waste products, Wasteland reclamation. Population growth, problems of
urbanisation
29 Environment Protection Act, 1986; Air (Prevention and Control of 1 1
Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1974; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Environmental management system standards-ISO 14000 1
30 series.