3rd Semester Foundation Syllabus

 3rd Semester Foundation Syllabus 

SYLLABUS OF ENVIRONMENT STUDIES FOR UNDER GRADUATE FOUNDATION

 COURSE OF THIRD SEMESTER FOR ALL BRANCHES OF

 HIGHER EDUCATION

Unit 1: Nature of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources                                      15 lectures

 

·         Environmental Studies: Definition, scope and importance

·         Renewable and non-renewable resources

·         Natural resources and associated problems

a.    Forest resources: Use and over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies,

Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.

             b.  Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought,                      `                 conflicts over water, dams-benefits and problems.

             c.   Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using `         `                mineral resources, case studies.

             d. Food resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing,

                 effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case       `                studies.

             e. Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy                 `                sources, use of alternate energy sources, case studies.

             f. Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil         `               erosion and desertification

            Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources

Unit 2: Ecosystems and Biodiversity Conservation                                                           15 lectures

 

·         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

a.    Forest ecosystems: Structure and functions

·         Biodiversity: Definition: Genetic. Species and Ecosystem diversity

·         Value of biodiversity: Consumptive use, Productive use. Social, Ethical, Aesthetic and   option values

·         Hotspots of biodiversity

·         Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts

·         Endangered, endemic, exotic species in India

·         Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation

·         Wildlife Protection Act

·         Forest Conservation Act

Unit 3: Environmental Degradation and Management                                                       15 lectures

·         Definition, Causes, effects and control measures of:

           a. Air pollution

           b. Water pollution

           c. Soil pollution

           d. Noise pollution

·         Environmental Protection Act

·         Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act

·         Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act

·         Climate change and global warming

·         Water conservation, Rain water harvesting, Watershed Management

·         Vermicomposting: Definition, Vermicomposting species and importance

·         Disaster management: floods and earthquakes

·         Role of Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB)

Unit 4: Human Population and Social Issues                                                                     15 lectures

 

·         Sustainable Development

·         Environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions

·         Environmental awareness

·         Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA)

·         Demographic structure

·         Population explosion - Family welfare Programme

·         Environment and human health

·         Human Rights

·         HIV/AIDS

·         Women and Child Welfare

 

 

Suggested Books

1. Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses by Erach Bharucha Second edition, 2013 Publisher: Universities Press (India) Private Ltd, Hyderabad.

 

2. Bharucha Erach, Text book on Environmental Studies, UGC, New Delhi

 

3. Borua P.K., J.N.Sarma and others, A Text book on Environmental Studies, Banlata, Dibrugarh.

 

4. Priyasankar Chaudhuri, 2006 Kenchor Jeevan Baichaitra : Kencho Prajukti,, Jyan Bichitra Prakashani, Agartala.

 

5. De A.K., Environmental Chemistry, Wiley Eastern Ltd.

 

6. Environmental Sciences by Daniel B Botkin & Edward A Keller Publisher: John Wiley & Sons.

 

7. Environmental Studies by Anindita Basak,2009 Publisher: Drling Kindersley(India) Pvt. Ltd Pearson

 

8. Environmental Studies by Benny Joseph, TMH publishers.

 

9. Environmental Studies by Dr. Suresh K Dhameja, 2007 Published by : S K Kataria & Sons New Delhi.

 

10. Basics of Environmental Studies by U K Khare, 2011 Published by Tata McGraw Hill.

 

11. Dutta Prasanna, Rofique Ahmed & Sumbit Chaliha, Environmental Studies, Eunika Publication, Jorhat.

 

12. Environment Studies, by Sangram Sinha, Basant Kumar Agarwala, Badal Kumar Datta, Tripura University