Environmental planning

Environmental Planning
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Front Desk Architects and Planners Forum

Environmental Planning
Urban planners & Managers play a critical role in ensuring that urban
areas are able to function sustainably. Since resources are finite,
addressing environmental issues insufficiently has severe
consequences: health hazards, loss of biodiversity, and ultimately, a
lower quality of life. Internationally UN recognizes this issue and
conduct following important conference / commission on
environmentally sensitive urban planning & development.
1. UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference)
1972
2. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) Brundtland
Commission 1987
3. United Nations Conference on Environment & Development (UNCED)
Earth Summit- AGENDA 21 ,1992
4. 25 principles of Rio Declaration 1992
5. Millennium Summit of the UN, 2000, 8 MDG
6. United Nations Sustainable Development Summit New York 2015 17 SDGhttp://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

UN Conference on the Human Environment
(Stockholm Conference) 1972
United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm
Conference) was an international conference convened under United Nations
auspices held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5-16, 1972. It was the UN's
first major conference on international environmental issues, and marked a
turning point in the development of international environmental politics.
26 Principles of the Stockholm Declaration:
1. Human rights must be asserted, apartheid and colonialism condemned
2. Natural resources must be safeguarded
3. The Earth's capacity to produce renewable resources must be maintained
4. Wildlife must be safeguarded
5. Non-renewable resources must be shared and not exhausted
6. Pollution must not exceed the environment's capacity to clean itself
7. Damaging oceanic pollution must be prevented
8. Development is needed to improve the environmenthttp://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED) Our Common Future
The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED),
also called the Brundtland Commission was an international
commission that discussed and devised strategies for protecting the
environment and promoting sustainable development.
The Brundtland Commission published its final report, Our Common
Future, in 1987. Our Common Future stated that governments could not
address environmental protection separately from related crises, such
as economic development and energy production.
Our Common Future also outlined a blueprint for dealing with these
interlocking crises simultaneously. It define Sustainable Development
as:
“development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs”
The findings and proposals of Our Common Future have shaped
international environmental policy for the last two decades.

UNCED Earth Summit- AGENDA 21 ,1992
United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Earth Summit
held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, in 1992
Agenda 21 addresses the pressing problems of today and also aims at
preparing the world for the challenges of the next century. objectives of
Agenda 21 will require a substantial flow of new and additional financial
resources to developing countries, in order to cover the incremental costs for
the actions they have to undertake to deal with global environmental
problems and to accelerate sustainable development. In the implementation
of the relevant programme areas identified in Agenda 21, special attention
should be given to the particular circumstances facing the economies in
transition.
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development is a set of 25
principles that recognize the importance of preserving the environment and
set forth international guidelines for doing so.

Rio Declaration 1992
Goal: Establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the
creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key societies and people,
Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all
and protect the integrity of the global environment and developmental
system.
25 principles of Rio Declaration
PRINCIPLE 1 : Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable
development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony
with nature
PRINCIPLE 2 : States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit
their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental
policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their
jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other
States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

Millennium Summit of the
UN, 2000, MDG
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
were eight international development goals
for the year 2015
1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. To achieve universal primary education
3. To promote gender equality and empower
women
4. To reduce child mortality
5. To improve maternal health
6. To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other
diseases
7. To ensure environmental sustainability
8. To develop a global partnership for
development http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

United Nations Sustainable Development
Summit 2015 New York
The 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) are :
 No Poverty
 Zero Hunger
 Good Health and Well-being
 Quality Education
 Gender Equality
 Clean Water and Sanitation
 Affordable and Clean Energy
 Decent Work and Economic
Growth
 Industry, Innovation, and
Infrastructure
 Reducing Inequality
 Sustainable Cities and
Communities
 Responsible Consumption and
Production
 Climate Action
 Life Below Water
 Life On Land
 Peace, Justice, and Strong
Institutions
 Partnerships for the Goals.

Environmental concerns in urban settlement
Due to unsustainable consumption and production patterns, loss of
biodiversity, pressure on ecosystems, pollution, natural and human-made
disasters, create need to achieve sustainable development and monitoring
impact of cities on the environment :
1. Extent of urban sprawl
2. Available green spaces
3. Number of private and public vehicles
4. Population using public modes of transportation
5. Population using hybrid and electric modes of transportation
6. Effectiveness of urban planning and zoning regulations and instruments
in main cities

Policies for Environment
Policies to protect environment in India
1. Environment Protection Act, 1986
2. National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and
Development, 1992
3. Policy Statement for the Abatement of Pollution, 1992
4. National Environment Policy, 2006
5. Vision Statement on Environment and Health
Environment Protection Act, 1986
In the wake of Bhopal tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) under article 253 of the constitution. The purpose of the
Act is to act as an “umbrella” legislation designed to provide a frame work for Central
government co-ordination of the activities of various central and state authorities
established under previous laws, such as Water Act & Air Act. The potential scope of the
Act is broad, with “environment” defined to include water, air and land and the inter-
relationships which exist among water, air and land, and human beings and other living
creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property. Environment protection rules were alsohttp://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and
Development, 1992
The National Conservation Strategy and the Policy Statement on Environment and
Development are in response to the need for laying down the guidelines that will help to
weave environmental considerations into the fabric of our national life and of our
development process. It talks about the nature and dimensions of the environmental
problems, actions taken in response to the problems and lists out priorities and
strategies for action. It also views development policies from environmental perspectives
and the support policies and systems required.
Policy Statement for the Abatement of Pollution, 1992
The objective of this document is to integrate environmental considerations into
decision-making at all levels. To achieve this, the document lays down steps to be taken
to prevent pollution at source, encourage, develop and apply the best available
practicable technical solutions.

National Environment Policy, 2006
A diverse developing society such as India provides numerous challenges in the
economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental arenas. All of these coalesce in
the dominant imperative of alleviation of mass poverty, reckoned in the multiple
dimensions of livelihood security, health care, education, empowerment of the
disadvantaged, and elimination of gender disparities. The present national policies for
environmental management are contained in the National Conservation Strategy and
Policy Statement on Environment and Development 1992, Policy Statement on
Abatement of Pollution 1992, National Agriculture Policy 2000, National Population
Policy 2000 and National Water Policy, 2002 have also contributed towards
environmental management. All of these policies have recognized the need for
sustainable development in their specific contexts and formulated necessary strategies
to give effect to such recognition. The National Environment Policy seeks to extend the
coverage, and fill in gaps that still exist, in light of present knowledge and accumulated
experience. It does not displace, but builds on the earlier policies. Sustainable
development concerns in the sense of enhancement of human well-being, broadly
conceived, are a recurring theme in India’s development philosophy.

Vision Statement on Environment and Health
The purpose of vision document was to evolve a strategy of health-risk reduction arising
from environment pollution would help the implementing agencies to revise the
environmental and industry specific actions. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
had constituted a Committee on Environment and Health in July, 1999 and the report
was submitted in May, 2000. The Report of the “Committee on Environment and Health”
brought out issues requiring attention of various stakeholders. The “Conference on
Environmental Health” organized by Ministry of Environment and Forests in November,
2002 also brought out thrust areas and action points that need to be implemented for
protection of public health.
The environment in which we live greatly influences our health. The household,
workplace, outdoor and indoor environments may pose risks to health in a number of
different ways. The poor quality of air which we may breathe, the contaminated water
we may drink and the surroundings in which we live, determine our quality of life. While
the genetic factors may also be responsible for causing diseases but the environmental
factors play much more active role in contracting various diseases. The key purpose of
this Vision Statement on Environment and Human Health is to evolve a strategy for
health risk reduction. http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

Sustainable Development
WCED 1987 says Sustainable Development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs
Sustainable
development, or
sustainability, has
been described in
terms of three
spheres, dimensions,
domains or pillars,
i.e. the environment,
the economy and
society.

Environmental Survey
Environmental survey of the development
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) are conducted for environmental consideration of the
development .
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is an initial impact assessment
by using existing data and site reconnaissance survey. IEE will be applied
for evaluation of the alternative choice and development concepts to
select the most appropriate plan.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the
likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking
into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health
impacts, both beneficial and adverse.

Environmental Survey Data
Major environmental parameters / data to be considered in survey.
1. Physical: topography, geology, soil types, surface and ground water
condition, watershed condition, pollution levels etc.
2. Biological: terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, types flora and fauna,
environmentally sensitive wetlands wetlands, prime agricultural land etc
3. Socio‐economic: demography, development needs and potential,
infrastructure facilities, economic activities etc.
4. Cultural: location and state of archeological, historical, religious sites
Environmental Attributes : Variables that represent characteristics of the
environment are defined as attributes, and changes in environmental attributes
provide indicators of changes in the environment .

Environmental Attributes
 Air
 Diffusion factor
 Particulates
 Sulfur oxide
 Hydrocarbons
 Nitrogen oxide
 Carbon monoxide
 Photochemical oxidants
 Hazardous toxicants
 Odor
 Water
 Aquifer safe yield
 Flow variations
 Oil Radioactivity
 Suspended solids
 Thermal pollution
 Acid and alkali
 Biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD)
 Dissolved oxygen (DO)
 Dissolved solids
 Nutrients Toxic compounds
 Aquatic life
 Fecal coliform
 Land
 Soil stability
 Natural hazard
 Land use patterns

Environmental Attributes
 Ecology
 Large animals
 Predatory Birds
 Small game
 Fish , Shell fish
 Threatened species
 Sound
 Physiological effects
 Psychological effects
 Communication effects
 Performance effects
 Social behavior effects
 Human aspect
 Life styles
 Psychological needs
 Physiological systems
 Community needs
 Economics
 Regional economic stability
 Public sector review
 Per capita consumption
 Resources
 Fuel resources
 Nonfuel resources
 Aesthetics

Environmental Survey Techniques
 Sampling strategies
 Random sampling
 Cluster sampling
 Stratified sampling
 Line transects
 Data collection methods
 Visual
 Camera “trapping”
 GIS
 Instrumental technique
 Chemical analysis
(through mechanical
device)
 Data Analysis
Stratified sampling Line transects
Random sampling Cluster sampling

Benefit of environmental concerns in urban
planning analysis
The benefits of considering environmental factors in planning analysis include
the following:
• Planning agencies can avoid or at least minimize environmental impacts as
they relate to network investment decisions;
• Projects that jointly meet both planning purposes and enhancement of
environmental quality can be identified more easily when environmental
factors are considered;
• Identifying sensitive environmental areas or regions can provide an important
context for much broader community development planning;
• Environmental sensitivities as they relate to project characteristics can be
carried through all steps of planning, thus resulting in better projects, or at least
better mitigation strategies;
• Needs and purpose justification required in project development can be
provided earlier in the process when environmental factors are considered;

Land Suitability Analysis (LSA)
Land Suitability Analysis (LSA) is a GIS-based process applied to determine
the suitability of a specific area for considered use, i. e. it reveals
the suitability of an area regarding its intrinsic characteristics (suitable or
unsuitable). Also this analysis involved with considering wide rages of criteria
including environmental, social and economic factors. Land suitability analysis is
used for different types of applications:
• identification of suitable locations of urban development
• prediction of future land-use changes
• organization of green spaces
• development of natural wastewater treatment systems
• enhancement of crop production
• biomass production
• research on ecosystems
• sanitary landfills
• coastal areas http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

Carrying capacity
Carrying capacity of and park or any area has two component :
1. Environment carrying capacity
2. Social Carrying capacity
Environment carrying capacity
The carrying capacity of the environment
represents the maximum number of
individuals of a particular species that an area
can support indefinitely without degrading
population gradually increase to the
maximum size that available resources will
support—the environment’s carrying capacity
Thereafter, the population fluctuates around
this size with good and bad cycles

Urban Carrying capacity
Carrying
capacity
Environmental
and ecological
institutional
Public Perception
Urban Facilities
PUBLIC PERPETUAL CARRYING
CAPACITY : The awareness which
level of public awareness, generally
includes human attitudes, values,
behavior, habits etc.
INSTITUTIONAL CARRYING
CAPACITY : will be governed by the
governmental structure financial
structure, stability, economy and
cultural limits on environmental
decision making, etc
URBAN FACILITY CARRYING
CAPACITY : Housing supply sewage
,Housing, water supply, sewage,
waste treatment, road network,
railway networks, health care,
educational facilities, employment
facilities, etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL CARRYING
CAPACITY : of an urban area
are soil, slope, vegetation,
wetlands, scenic resources,
natural hazards, air and
water quality, and energy
availability, etc.

Vulnerability Analysis
Vulnerability is a term commonly used to describe a weakness or flaw in a system; its
susceptibility to a specific threat and harmful event. There have been many efforts to
use the concept across different fields which are often location or sector specific
Definitions of vulnerability
Common to most is the concept that vulnerability is a function of the exposure and
sensitivity of a system to a climate hazard, and the ability to adapt to the effects of the
hazard.
From a social point of view, vulnerability is defined as the exposure of individuals or
collective groups to livelihood stress as a result of the impacts of such environmental
change or climate extremes
Vulnerability to climate change is generally understood to be a function of a range of
biophysical and socioeconomic factors. It is considered a function of wealth, technology,
education, information, skills, infrastructure, access to resources, and stability and
management capabilities

Vulnerability Analysis
(Vulnerability assessment)
Vulnerability analysis is the process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing (or
ranking) the vulnerabilities in a system.
Taken from A framework for vulnerability analysis in sustainability science by turner

Environmental Resources
Environmental natural resources are products of nature rather than products of industry.
Examples include: ores, fossil fuels, land, water and timber.
Society uses these resources to produce goods and services demanded by consumers.
Thus, decisions made by society (agriculture, other industries, the public, etc.) affect the
quantity and quality of natural resources.
Types of Environmental resources :
Renewable Resources – if properly managed, these resources can provide inputs to our
economic system indefinitely (forests, fish, water, wildlife, sun light, etc.)
Nonrenewable Resources – a finite stock exists (ores, coal, oil, gas, etc.), Society must
conserve or find substitutes.
Biotic resources - The Biotic natural resources are the ones that come from the
ecosphere (organic and living materials). These include resources such as animals,
forests (vegetation), and other materials obtainable from them.
Abiotic resources - The abiotic natural resources are the ones that come from non-
organic and non-living materials. Examples of abiotic natural resources are water, land,
air and heavy metals like iron, copper, silver, gold, and so on.

Environmental Resources Scale
Type of scale in Environmental natural Resource Management are :
TEMPORAL SCALE : Change within natural systems occurs at different rates. Analysis
should focus on the interactions between the slow and fast phenomena and monitoring
should focus on long-term, slow changes in structural variables.
Process scales may be episodic (e.g., rainfall), cyclical (e.g., rainy season, long-term
rainfall cycle), stochastic with a certain recurrence interval (e.g., a 1-in-10-year drought
occurrence), ephemeral (e.g., stream flow) or continual (e.g., groundwater movement).
SPATIAL SCALE : Process scales exhibit spatial extent (e.g., the area over which the
rainfall occurred), space period (e.g., the area over which a certain rainy season occurs),
and correlation space (e.g., the area over which the 1-in-10-year drought left its mark).
Dominant processes and physical laws change with scale.
INSTITUTIONAL SCALE : The assignment of jurisdiction over particular assets and
functions across a spectrum of issues, which may range from local to global. Jurisdictions
imply boundaries, which may be spatial or resource-specific, overlapping or nested in
larger systems.

Soil Resource
Soils are a membrane that cover much of the terrestrial surface on Earth. Soil is made up
of organic materials and mineral materials. The mineral materials come from the
weathering of rocks below the soil, or glacial till. Organic material comes from
decomposing leaves, sticks, branches falling from above. A poorly developed soil, which
we often call a young soil, tends to have less organic material than a more developed or
mature soil.
Soils provide a variety of ecosystem services, such as supporting plant life and purifying
water. There are five factors that determine the properties of soils. These are called the
soil-forming factors.
1. Parent material
2. Climate
3. Topography
4. Biota (organisms)
5. Time

Soil Resource
Parent material is the rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are
derived. Different soil types arise from different parent material.
Climate is the long-term accumulation of weather events, such as temperature and
rainfall, in a given environment. And climate is an important soil-forming factor. Climate
will have large effects on soil formation in some cases. For example, soils do not develop
rapidly in very cold temperatures due to slow decomposition of organic matter and lack
of movement, for example, when the soil is frozen.
Topography is another soil-forming factor. Topography is the surface slope and
arrangement of a landscape. Soils that form on steep slopes are subject to erosion or
sometimes more drastic material movements, such as landslides. Soils that form at the
bottom of steep slopes are constantly accumulating material from higher elevations,
making them quite deep.
Biota (Organisms) : Plants remove nutrients from soil and release elements and organic
acids that speed the chemical weathering of soils and the rocks below the soils. Animals
that tunnel and borough can, for example, mix soil, distributing mineral and organic
material uniformly throughout a particular horizon. Termites and earthworms are other
examples of organisms that influence soil, sometimes in drastic ways. And humans are
organisms that impact soil. http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

Soil Resource
Time is the last soil-forming
factor. Soils require time to
develop. As soils age, they
develop a variety of
characteristics, such as greater
depth, different kinds of organic
matter concentrations, and so
on
As soils form, they develop
characteristic layers, or horizons.
The composition of these different
horizons depends largely on the
soil-forming factors that we just
described.
Soil profile diagram

Soil Profile
The O horizon, also called the organic horizon, is a layer of organic material,
such as leaves, needles, and twigs, all in various stages of decomposition. The
O horizon is most pronounced in forest soils and some grasslands.
The A horizon is present in soils that are naturally or artificially mixed. Also
known as topsoil, the A horizon is a zone of organic material and mineral
material that have been mixed together by earthworms, by a plow, or by some
other means.
The E horizon is a zone of leaching or eluviation that forms under the O
horizon, or less often under the A horizon. When present, it always appears
above the B horizon, and it's only found in forests. Iron, aluminum, and
dissolved organic acids from the overlying horizons are transported through and
removed from the E horizon and then deposited in the B horizon.
The B horizon is commonly known as subsoil and is composed primarily of
mineral material with much smaller amounts of organic material. If there are
nutrients in the soil, they will be present in the B horizon.
The C horizon is the least weathered soil horizon, and it's very similar to the
underlying parent material. 6

Soil characteristics
Most soil consists of weathered inorganic rock
material. The relative amounts of different sizes
and types of rock particles or grains determines the
texture of the soil. The three main types of rock
grains found in soil are: sand, silt and clay. Sand
grains have the largest grain sizes (0.05 - 2.0 mm)
of the three. Silt particles are fine-grained (0.05-
0.002 mm) and clay particles are very fine-grained
(<0.002 mm). Sand grains give soil its gritty feel,
and clay particles make it sticky.
Soils are named according to where their sand silt and clay composition plots on a soil
structure triangle. Various regions of the triangle are given different names. A typical
loam soil is made up of about a 20:40:40 mixture of clay, silt and sand. If the
percentage of sand is a little higher, the soil is called a sandy loam, and if the
percentage of silt is a little higher the soil is a silty loam. The texture of the soil
determines its porosity and permeability. Soil porosity is a measure of the volume of
pore spaces between soil grains per volume of soil and determines the water and air
(oxygen) holding capacity of

If you want to know if a soil will produce a large crop yield or produce healthy trees, you
can examine soil texture and soil chemical properties. The texture of a soil is determined
by the percentages of sand, silt, and clay it contains.
Soil texture affects porosity. Porosity is how quickly a soil drains. Sand particles, the
largest of the three components, pack together loosely, allowing for more water to pass
through in a sandy soil. Clay particles, the smallest of the three components, pack
together tightly, making it difficult for roots to penetrate the soil and for water to pass
through the soil. The best agricultural soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, allowing for
balanced water drainage and nutrient retention. A loam is 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20%
clay.
Cation exchange capacity CEC is the ability of a particular soil to adsorb and release
cations. Cations are positively charged ions. Clays, one of the components of soil, have
negatively charged outer surfaces. And the positively charged cations are attracted to
the negatively charged outer surfaces of clays. The CEC of a soil is largely dependent on
the amount and types of clay particles that are present. Soils with higher CECs may have
more cations present in the soil, meaning they are better able to retain nutrients in the
soil and release these nutrients to plants. 6

Base saturation (BS) is another important chemical property to understand.
Base saturation is the proportion of soil bases to soil acids, expressed as a
percentage. The soil bases are calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. The
first three of these are essential for plant growth. The soil acids are aluminum and
hydrogen and are detrimental to plant growth.
So the base saturation is the ratio of soil bases to the sum of soil bases and
soil acids. And typically, this is expressed as a percent. Thus, when growing
crops or trees, soils with high CEC and good base saturation are most likely to
promote high productivity
Soil biological properties are important to consider, as well. A diverse group of
organisms inhabit soils and play vital roles in the cycling of materials in soil. 80%
to 90% of life in soils is fungi, bacteria, and protozoan. Other organisms may
include rodents, earthworms, slugs, snails, and insects.

Water resource
Water is an abundant substance on earth and covers 71% of the earth's surface. Earth's
water consists of 3% freshwater and 97% saltwater. All living organisms require water
in order to live. In fact, they are mostly comprised of water. Water is also important for
other reasons: as an agent of erosion it changes the morphology of the land; it acts as a
buffer against extreme climate changes when present as a large body of water, and it
helps flush away and dilute pollutants in the environment.
Freshwater comprises only about three percent of the earth's total water supply and is
found as either surface water or groundwater. Surface water starts as precipitation.
That portion of precipitation which does not infiltrate the ground is called runoff.
Runoff flows into streams and lakes.
The drainage basin from which water drains is called a watershed. Precipitation that
infiltrates the ground and becomes trapped in cracks and pores of the soil and rock is
called groundwater. If groundwater is stopped by an impermeable barrier of rock, it can
accumulate until the porous region becomes saturated. The top of this accumulation is
known as the water table. Porous layers of sand and rock through which groundwater
flows are called aquifers.

Water resource
Most freshwater is locked up in frozen glaciers or deep groundwater where it is not
useable by most living organisms. Only a tiny fraction of the earth's total water supply is
therefore usable freshwater. Still, the amount available is sufficient to maintain life
because of the natural water cycle. In the water cycle, water constantly accumulates,
becomes purified, and is redistributed. Unfortunately, as human populations across the
globe increase, their activities threaten to overwhelm the natural cycle and degrade the
quality of available water.
Agricultural water use
Agriculture is the single largest user of water in the world. Most of that water is used
for irrigating crops. Irrigation is the process of transporting water from one area to
another for the purpose of growing crops. The water used for irrigation usually comes
from rivers or from groundwater pumped from wells. The main reason for irrigating
crops is that it increases yields. It also allows the farming of marginal land in arid
regions that would normally not support crops. There are several methods of irrigation:
flood irrigation, furrow irrigation, drip irrigation and center pivot irrigation.

Water resource
Domestic and industrial water use : Water is important for all types of industries (i.e.,
manufacturing, transportation and mining). Manufacturing sites are often located near
sources of water. Among other properties, water is an excellent and inexpensive
solvent and coolant. Many manufactured liquid products have water as their main
ingredient. Chemical solutions used in industrial and mining processes usually have an
aqueous base. Manufacturing equipment is cooled by water and cleaned with water.
Water is even used as a means of transporting goods from one place to another in
manufacturing. Nuclear power plants use water to moderate and cool the reactor core
as well as to generate electricity. Industry would literally come to a standstill without
water.
Control of water resources : Households and industry both depend on reliable supplies
of clean water. Therefore, the management and protection of water resources is
important. Constructing dams across flowing [[river]s] or streams and impounding the
water in reservoirs is a popular way to control water resources. Dams have several
advantages: they allow long-term water storage for agricultural, industrial and domestic
use; they can provide hydroelectric power production and downstream flood control.
However, dams disrupt ecosystems, they often displace human populations and
destroy good farmland, and eventually they fill with silt.

Minerals resource
The earth's crust is composed of many kinds of rocks, each of which is an aggregate of
one or more minerals. In geology, the term mineral describes any naturally-occurring
solid substance with a specific composition and crystal structure. A mineral's
composition refers to the kinds and proportions of elements making up the mineral.
The way these elements are packed together determines the structure of the mineral.
More than 3,500 different minerals have been identified. There are only 12 common
elements (oxygen , silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, Magnesium, sodium, potassium,
titanium, hydrogen, manganese, phosphorus) That occur in the earth's crust. They have
abundances of 0.1 percent or more. All other naturally occurring elements are found in
very minor or trace amounts.
Silicon and oxygen are the most abundant crustal elements, together comprising more
than 70 percent by weight. It is therefore not surprising that the most abundant crustal
minerals are the silicates (e.g. olivine, Mg2SiO4), followed by the oxides (e.g. hematite,
Fe2O3).
Other important types of minerals include: the carbonates (e.g. calcite, CaCO3) the
sulfides (e.g. galena, PbS) and the sulfates (e.g. anhydrite, CaSO4). Most of the
abundant minerals in the earth's crust are not of commercial value. 6

Biological resource
The needs of humans and the living organisms and processes that comprise the
biosphere are inextricably connected. Because of this connection the proper
management of biological resources requires that genetic diversity and suitable
habitats be maintained. There is a growing realization that diversity in biological
systems is fundamental to agricultural production and food security. Unfortunately, the
diversity of plants and animals and of the habitats in which they live is currently being
drastically reduced. The predominant methods used in agriculture are seriously eroding
the genetic diversity of plants and livestock. The variety of species and genes of living
organisms -- and the habitats and ecosystems in which those organisms live -- are
important resources that must be utilized in a sustainable fashion through
conservation. Conservation is not just a matter of protecting wildlife in nature reserves.
It also involves safeguarding the natural systems that purify water, recycle nutrients,
maintain soil fertility, yield food, and protect genetic diversity.

Food resource
The three major sources of food for humans are:
 croplands,
 rangelands
 fisheries.
Croplands provide the bulk of human food. Even though there are thousands of edible
plants in the world, only four staple crops (wheat, rice, corn and potatoes) account for
most of the caloric intake of humans. Some animals raised for meat, milk and eggs (e.g.
cattle, pigs, poultry) are also fed grain from croplands. Rangelands provide another
source of meat and milk from grazing animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats). Fisheries
provide fish, which are a major source of animal protein in the world, especially in Asia
and coastal areas. For mainly economic reasons, the diets of most people in the world
consist of staple grains. As people become more affluent, they tend to consume more
meat, eggs, milk and cheese.
There are two types of food production: traditional agriculture and industrialized
agriculture. Industrialized agriculture is known as high input agriculture because it
utilizes large amounts commercial fertilizers, pesticides, water and fossil fuels.

Non-Renewable Energy resource
Sufficient, reliable sources of energy are a necessity for industrialized nations. Energy is
used for heating, cooking, transportation and manufacturing. Energy can be generally
classified as non-renewable and renewable. Over 85% of the energy used in the world is
from non-renewable supplies. Most developed nations are dependent on non-
renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and nuclear power. These
sources are called non-renewable because they cannot be renewed or regenerated
quickly enough to keep pace with their use. Some sources of energy are renewable or
potentially renewable. Examples of renewable energy sources are: solar, geothermal,
hydroelectric, biomass, and wind. Renewable energy sources are more commonly by
used in developing nations.
Industrialized societies depend on non-renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels are the
most commonly used types of non-renewable energy. They were formed when
incompletely decomposed plant and animal matter was buried in the earth's crust and
converted into carbon-rich material that is useable as fuel. This process occurred over
millions of years. The three main types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Two
other less-used sources of fossil fuels are oil shales and tar sands.

Non-Renewable Energy resource
Coal : Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the world with an estimated reserve of
one trillion metric tons. Most of the world's coal reserves exist in Eastern Europe and
Asia, but the United States also has considerable reserves. Coal formed slowly over
millions of years from the buried remains of ancient swamp plants. During the
formation of coal, carbonaceous matter was first compressed into a spongy material
called "peat," which is about 90% water. As the peat became more deeply buried, the
increased pressure and temperature turned it into coal.
Crude oil or liquid petroleum, is a fossil fuel that is refined into many different energy
products (e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, heating oil). Oil forms underground in rock
such as shale, which is rich in organic materials. After the oil forms, it migrates upward
into porous reservoir rock such as sandstone or limestone, where it can become
trapped by an overlying impermeable cap rock. Wells are drilled into these oil
reservoirs to remove the gas and oil. Over 70 percent of oil fields are found near
tectonic plate boundaries, because the conditions there are conducive to oil formation.

Inventory of Natural Resource
A Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) is a document that inventories the natural
resources of an area, collects the data in a usable format and interprets the findings.
The primary purpose of this Natural Resources Inventory is to provide data that can form
a basis for environmental planning; it provides basic data for the preparation of plans,
information to review proposed development plans, and data to assist in completing
environmental assessment.
• Geology and Soils :
• Bedrock and Surficial Geology
• Soils
• Slopes
• Water Resources
• Groundwater and Aquifers
• Watersheds
• Streams and Water bodies
• Floodplains
• Wetlands
• Habitats and Wildlife
• Significant Biodiversity Areas
• Coastal and Shoreline Habitat
• Stream and Riparian Habitat
• Wetland Habitat
• Forests
• Grasslands and Shrublands
• Climate Conditions
• Cultural Resources
• Historic Resources
• Scenic Resources
• Recreation Resources
• Land Use Zoning
• Land Use and Land Cover
• Farmland
• Conservation and Public Lands

Land Resources Assessment
Land resource is the backbone of the economy of a nation and important basic natural
resource for human survival. It comprises the physical environment including climate,
relief, soils, water and vegetation, all of which have influence on Land-use potential
Land Capability & Land Suitability
The land capability is the inherent capacity of land to perform at a given level for general
Land-use, while land suitability is a statement of the adaptability of a given area for a
specific Land-use type.
land capability classification
Sharma H.S (1972) says : land capability classification as a field investigation of soil
properties, slope, degree of soil erosion and changing Land-use patterns which form the
basis for future planning of soil and water conservation
The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use planning (NBSS & LUP), one among
the foremost National Resource Management (NRM) institutes in India
The Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) provides detailed scientific database on
soil and land characteristics to the user departments for watershed based soil and water
conservation planning for Natural Resource Management.

Water Quality Standards (IS 10500-1991)
The BIS drinking water specification (IS 10500:1991) was drawn up in 1983 and its most
recent revision dates back to July 2010 (Amendment No. 3). The standard was adopted
by the Bureau of Indian Standards with the following objectives -
 To assess the quality of water resources, and
 To check the effectiveness of water treatment and supply by the concerned
authorities.
The Central Water Commission present the tolerance limits for inland surface waters for
the various classes of water use. As per ISI-IS: 2296-1982, the tolerance limits of
parameters are specified as per classified use of water depending on various uses of
water. The following classifications have been adopted in India –
Class A: Drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection
Class B: Outdoor bathing
Class C: Drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection.
Class D: Fish culture and wild life propagation
Class E: Irrigation, industrial cooling or controlled waste disposal

Biodiversity
Different species occupy different niches in the web of life. Knowing what species inhabit
an ecosystem, and how many of each kind there are, is critical to understanding that
ecosystem's structure and function, and predicting future changes. biodiversity looks
at the variation of life in a forest, a stream or a patch of soil.
In biodiversity assessment , we look at species richness (how many different species
there are) and relative abundance (the number of organisms each species has). A healthy
ecosystem is a balanced one—with enough predators, prey, producers and decomposers
to keep the food web stable.
There are various methods for the assessment of biodiversity like biodiversity indices,
richness indices, evenness indices, ecosystem indices, biodiversity models for ecosystem
and species ordination techniques etc.
Biodiversity index : are of two types : (1) Dominance Indices, and (2) Information-
Statistic Indices.
Dominance indices are weighted toward the abundance of the commonest species. A
widely used dominance index is Simpson’s diversity index. It takes into account both
richness and evenness

Biodiversity
Information-Statistic Indices:
Information-statistic indices can take into account rare species in a community.
Information- statistic indices are based on the rationale that diversity in a natural system
can be measured in a way that is similar to the way information contained in a code or
message is measured. Example of this are : shannon diversity index , Brillouin Index etc.
Species richness indices: Species richness is a measure for the total number of the
species in a community. However, complete inventories of all species present at a
certain location, is an almost unattainable goal in practical applications
Evenness indices: Evenness expresses how evenly the individuals in a community are
distributed among the different species.

Biodiversity
Frame work for environmental assessment of biodiversity with socio-economic system

Environmental quality
Environmental quality is a set of properties and characteristics of the environment,
either generalized or local, as they impinge on human beings and other organisms. It is a
measure of the condition of an environment relative to the requirements of one or more
species and or to any human need or purpose.
Environmental quality is a general term which can refer to varied characteristics that
relate to the natural environment as well as the built environment, such as air and water
purity or pollution, noise and the potential effects which such characteristics may have
on physical and mental health caused by human activities.
Measuring Environmental quality
1. Air quality
2. Water quality
3. Land quality
4. Built environment quality
5. Socio-demographic quality

Environmental quality
Air quality
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) initiated National Air Monitoring Programme
(N.A.M.P.)
Under N.A.M.P., four air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen as
NO2 and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate
Matter (RSPM/PM10), have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations.
Besides this, additional parameters such as Respirable Lead and other toxic trace metals,
Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Ammonia (NH3) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
are also being monitored in 10 metro-cities of the country, since 1990.
Water Quality
CPCB started National Water Monitoring Programme NWMP in three tiered Global
Environmental Monitoring System GEMS, Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic
Resources System (MINARS) and Yamuna Action Plan (YAP).

Environment Impact Assessment or EIA
Environment Impact Assessment or EIA can be defined as the study to predict the effect
of a proposed activity/project on the environment. A decision making tool, EIA compares
various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which represents the best
combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
EIA systematically examines both beneficial and adverse consequences of the project
and ensures that these effects are taken into account during project design. It helps to
identify possible environmental effects of the proposed project, proposes measures to
mitigate adverse effects and predicts whether there will be significant adverse
environmental effects, even after the mitigation is implemented. By considering the
environmental effects of the project and their mitigation early in the project planning
cycle, environmental assessment has many benefits, such as protection of environment,
optimum utilisation of resources and saving of time and cost of the project.
On 27 January 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF),
Government of India, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an
EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or
modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects listed in Schedule 1 of the
notification. Since then there have been 12 amendments made in the EIA notification of
1994. http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

EIA Notification 2006
The MoEF through Notification number S.O.1533(E), dated 14th September 2006 issued
the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification (EIA Notification 2006).
The notification makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power
plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and
industries including very small electroplating or foundry units to get environment
clearance. However, unlike the EIA Notification of 1994, the new legislation has put the
onus of clearing projects on the state government depending on the size/capacity of the
project.
The salient features of EIA Notification, 2006
(i) The EIA Notification, 2006 has categorized the projects into two categories namely;
Category ‘A’ and Category ‘B’ based on their impact potential.
(ii) Category ‘A’ projects will be appraised at the Central level while Category ‘B’ project
at the State level.
(iii) State level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities and Committees (SEIAAs and
SEACs) have been constituted for the purpose of appraisal of Category ‘B’ projects.

EIA Notification 2006
(iv) The stage of scoping for prescribing terms of reference by the Regulatory Agency for
the EIA studies has been incorporated in accordance with the International practice. It is
expected to improve the quality of EIA thereby improving the quality of decision making
and minimizing the delays.
(v) The public consultation process has been made more structured. It has two
components i.e. comments through correspondence and by public hearing at site.
Provision to videograph the proceedings of the public hearing has been made.
(vi) NOCs from other regulatory agencies such as SPCB etc. are not a pre-requisite for
considering application for environmental clearance.

Components of EIA
The EIA process looks into the following components of the environment.
1. Air environment
1. Quality of ambient air present and predicted.
2. Meteorological data: Wind speed, direction, humidity etc.
3. Quantity of emission likely from project.
4. Impact of the emission on the area.
5. Pollution control desires/air quality standards.
2. Noise
1. Levels of noise present and predicted
2. Strategies for reducing noise pollution.
3. Water environment
1. Existing ground and surface water resources, their quality and quantity within the zone.
2. Impact of proposed project on water resources.

Components of EIA
4. Biological environment
4. Flora and fauna in impact zone.
5. Potential damage (likely) due to project, due to effluents, emissions and landscaping.
6. Biological stress (prediction).
5. Land environment
4. Study of soil characteristics, land use, and drainage pattern, and the likely adverse impact
of the project.
5. Impact on historical monuments and heritage site.

Steps of EIA
Steps in EIA process
EIA involves the steps mentioned below. However, EIA process is cyclical with interaction
between the various steps.
 Screening: The project plan is screened for scale of investment, location and type of
development and if the project needs statutory clearance.
 Scoping: The project’s potential impacts, zone of impacts, mitigation possibilities and
need for monitoring.
 Collection of baseline data: Baseline data is the environmental status of study area.
 Impact prediction: Positive and negative, reversible and irreversible and temporary
and permanent impacts need to be predicted which presupposes a good
understanding of the project by the assessment agency.
 Mitigation measures and EIA report: The EIA report should include the actions and
steps for preventing, minimizing or by passing the impacts or else the level of
compensation for probable environmental damage or loss.
 Public hearing: On completion of the EIA report, public and environmental groups
living close to project site may be informed and consulted.http://www.frontdesk.co.in/forum

Steps of EIA

Steps of EIA
 Decision making: Impact Assessment Authority along with the experts consult the
project-in-charge along with consultant to take the final decision, keeping in mind
EIA and EMP (Environment Management Plan).
 Monitoring and implementation of environmental management plan (EMP): The
various phases of implementation of the project are monitored.
 Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of Mitigation Measures and Environmental
Impact Assessment Report: For every project, possible alternatives should be
identified, and environmental attributes compared. Alternatives should cover both
project location and process technologies.
 Once alternatives have been reviewed, a mitigation plan should be drawn up for the
selected option and is supplemented with an Environmental Management Plan
(EMP) to guide the proponent towards environmental improvements.
 Risk assessment: Inventory analysis and hazard probability and index also form part
of EIA procedures.

Bibliography
1. UNCED Earth Summit- AGENDA 21 ,1992
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
2. http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/RIO_E.PDF
3. World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) Our Common Future
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5987our-common-
future.pdf
4. UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) 1972
https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/CONF.48/14/REV.1
5. http://www.indiaairquality.info/wp-
content/uploads/docs/2003_CPCB_Guidelines_for_Air_Monitoring.pdf
6. https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/AP_Environmental_Science_Online_Course

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