University of Calcutta

Under Graduate Curriculum under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)

Environmental Studies

Semester-2

Total Marks-100(Credit -2)

(50 Theory-MCQ type + 30 Project + 10 Internal Assessment + 10 Attendance) [Marks obtained in this course will be taken to calculate SGPA & CGPA]

Theory

Unit 1

Introduction to environmental studies: 2 lectures

• Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies;

• Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.

Unit 2

Ecology and Ecosystems: 6 lectures

• Concept of ecology and ecosystem, Structure and function of ecosystem; Energy flow in an ecosystem; food chains, food webs; Basic concept of population and community ecology; ecological succession.

• Characteristic features of the following:

a) Forest ecosystem

b) Grassland ecosystem

c) Desert ecosystem

d) Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, wetlands, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Unit 3

Natural Resources

8 lectures

• Concept of Renewable and Non-renewable resources

• Land resources and landuse change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.

• Deforestation: Causes, consequences and remedial measures

• Water: Use and over-exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts over water (international & inter-state).

• Energy resources: Environmental impacts of energy generation, use of alternative and nonconventional energy sources, growing energy needs.

Unit 4

Biodiversity and Conservation: 8 lectures

• Levels of biological diversity: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity;

• Biogeographic zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots

• India as a mega-biodiversity nation; Endangered and endemic species of India

• Threats to biodiversity: Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts, biological invasions;

• Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

• Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic and Informational value.

Unit 5

Environmental Pollution: 8 lectures

• Environmental pollution: concepts and types,

• Air, water, soil, noise and marine pollution- causes, effects and controls

• Concept of hazards waste and human health risks

• Solid waste management: Control measures of Municipal, biomedical and e-waste.

Unit 6

Environmental Policies and Practices: 7 lectures

• Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and their impacts on human communities and agriculture

• Environment Laws: Wildlife Protection Act; Forest Conservation Act. Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act; Environment Protection Act; Biodiversity Act.

• International agreements: Montreal Protocol, Kyoto protocol and climate negotiations; Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

• Protected area network, tribal populations and rights, and human wildlife conflicts in Indian context.

Unit 7

Human Communities and the Environment: 6 lectures

• Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare.

• Case studieson Resettlement and rehabilitation.

• Environmental Disaster: Natural Disasters-floods, earthquake, cyclones, tsunami and landslides; Manmade Disaster- Bhopal and Chernobyl.

• Environmental movements: Bishnois, Chipko, Silent valley, Big dam movements.

• Environmental ethics: Role of gender and cultures in environmental conservation.

• Environmental education and public awareness

Project/ Field work: Equal to 5 lectures

• Visit to an area to document environmental assets: Natural resources/flora/fauna, etc.

• Visit to a local polluted site-Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural.

• Study of common plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals and basic principles of identification.

• Study of ecosystems-pond, river, wetland, forest, estuary and agro-ecosystem.

Total: 50 Lectures

Suggested Reading:

• Asthana, D. K. (2006).Text Book of Environmental Studies. S. Chand Publishing.

• Basu, M., Xavier, S. (2016). Fundamentals of Environmental Studies, Cambridge University Press, India.

• Basu, R. N., (Ed.) (2000). Environment. University of Calcutta, Kolkata.

• Bharucha, E. (2013). Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses. Universities Press.

• De, A.K., (2006).Environmental Chemistry, 6th Edition, New Age International, New Delhi.

• Mahapatra, R., Jeevan, S.S., Das, S. (Eds) (2017). Environment Reader for Universities, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi.

• Masters, G. M., &Ela, W. P. (1991).Introduction to environmental engineering and science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

• Odum, E. P., Odum, H. T., & Andrews, J. (1971).Fundamentals of ecology. Philadelphia: Saunders.

• Sharma, P. D., & Sharma, P. D. (2005).Ecology and environment. Rastogi Publications.