ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

ENVIRONMENT
Environment refers to the sum of all conditions which
surround man at a given point in space and time - C.C. Park

The term environment is used to describe, in aggregate, all the

external forces, influences and conditions, which affect the life,
nature, behavior, growth, development and maturity of living
organisms - Douglas and Holland

The word environment is derived from the French word

“environ” meaning “encompass” “encircle” etc. It is believed
to have been introduced into the subject by biologist Jacob Van
Erkul in the early 1900
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Multi-disciplinary science comprising
Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Life sciences, Agriculture,
Engineering, Geology, Astronomy, Anthropology,
Economics, Statistics, Computers, etc,.

WHY?????!!!!!!!
• Systematic understanding
• Highly interdisciplinary
• Holistic
• To overcome environmental crisis
 ELEMENTS OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment

Physical Biological Cultural

Plants Economical
Land Animals Social
Air Water Humans Political
Microbes
SCOPE
• Our surroundings were originally a natural landscape such as a forest,
a river, a mountain, a desert, or a combination of these elements.
• ‘Mother Nature’ - Our dependence on nature is so great that we can’t
live without protecting the earth’s environmental resources.
• Respect for nature and all living creatures.
• Technological innovations - led to rapid economic growth but also led
to environmental degradation.
• Depletion of natural resources such as water, minerals, petroleum
products, wood, etc.
• Exhaustion of Non-renewable resources, such as minerals and oil.
• Renewable resources, such as timber and water.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
IMPORTANCE OF EVS

Enlightens – Protection & Conservation

Significant for following reasons
 Environmental issues is of international importance
 Explosive increase in pollution
 Need for alternative solution
 Need to save humanity from extinction
 Need for wise planning of development
Major Environmental Problems

 Global Warming
 Ozone Layer Depletion
 Acid Rain
 Deforestation
 Loss of Biodiversity
 Water Pollution
 Desertification
 Waste Disposal
 Rapid Population Growth
 Depletions of Non-Renewable Energy Resources
 Food and Water Shortage
Need for Public Awareness
 To understand natural and man-made environment are

interdependent

 To understand the consequences of Environmental

Degradation

 Every individual's duty to protect environment

 Environmental consciousness to be propagated

 Importance of reformative measures to be taken

 Mass media such as newspapers, radio, television, strongly

influence public opinion

• Can join as a Member:
• Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology
(ANERT)
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
• Delhi Greens (NGO)
• Environmentalist Foundation of India
• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• Discussions with friends and relatives – saving paper, water, etc.
• Practice - 3Rs principle of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Join local movements that support environmental activities
• Practice and promote good civic sense
• Take part in events organized on World Environment Day, Wildlife
Week, etc.
• Spend time with Nature
Objectives of Environmental Education

International Conference, Tbilisi, USSR (1977)

Awareness : Environment & its allied problems

Knowledge : Basic understanding and associated problems
Attitude : Concern and motivation to protect
Evaluation : Environmental measure & educational program
Skill : Identifying & Solving
Participation : Sense of responsibility
Environmental Education: GOALS
 To promote exchange of ideas and information
 To develop teaching materials for formal education sector
 To encourage NGOs for promoting awareness
 To promote environmental education through educational and
research institutes
 To ensure training and manpower development in
environmental education
 To mobilize people's awareness for the preservation and
conservation of environment
Formal Environmental Education in India
• In Schools: Through text books, audio-visual and field visits
• In Colleges & University
M.Sc., Ph.D. in Environmental Science
M.E. and M.Tech. in Environmental Engineering
PG diploma in Environmental Management
• Environmental Appreciation Course
IGNOU & MOEF - 3 months awareness course
• In Management and Business Schools
Managers can introduce environmentally sound practices
Institutions in Environment
• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-I), New Delhi
• Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi
• CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras
• Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad
• Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research
(BVIEER), Pune
• Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora
• Kalpavriksh, Pune
• Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),
Coimbatore
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
• Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
Non-Formal Environmental Education
 National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC)
• Introduced in 1986, multi-media campaign
• Financial assistance to NGO's / Schools / Institutions to
conduct awareness program
• Activities - Seminars, workshops, camps, rallies,
exhibitions, debates, street theater, planting of trees,
cleaning public area etc..
 Eco Clubs of National Green Corps
• To sensitize school students
• Eco-clubs - 100 schools in every district
• Training to teachers
Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment
(GLOBE)
• India joined in 2000
• Students of GLOBE collect data about environmental
parameters to explain various hypothesis
• Students interact with GLOBE scientist
• Students participate in workshops
Mass Awareness
• Focused on rural areas
• Doordarshan telecast environmental based programs /
documentaries / commercials
Other awareness program
• Green Olympiad by TERI - 80000 students for Russia, UAE and
India
• Awareness activities on Environment Day (June 5) - ATREE
• Quiz programs
• Tribal get educated
People in Environment
1. Charles Darwin - ‘Origin of Species’
2. Ralph Emerson - dangers of commerce to our environment
3. Henry Thoreau – Wilderness
4. John Muir – Sequoia trees
5. Rachel Carson – Pesticide effects
6. EO Wilson – Diversity of Life
• Salim Ali’s – SACON – Fall of Sparrow
• Indira Gandhi – The Wildlife Protection Act
• S P Godrej – Wildlife Conservation
• M S Swaminathan – Agriculture
• Madhav Gadgil – Ecologist
• M C Mehta – Leading Environmental Lawyer - protecting the Taj Mahal, cleaning up
the Ganges River, initiating Government to implement environmental education
• Medha Patkar – Tribal people welfare
• Sunderlal Bahugna – Chipko Movement