The document discusses the multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies, emphasizing its role in understanding and addressing ecological issues. It highlights the importance of public awareness and education in tackling environmental challenges, and outlines the various types of natural resources, their classifications, and the consequences of their depletion. Additionally, it mentions notable institutions and individuals in the field of environmental conservation, alongside the significance of ecosystems and the energy flow within them.

1. Multidisciplinary Nature
of Environmental Studies
(Dr.) Mirza Salman Baig
Assistant Professor (Pharmaceutics)
AIKTC, School of Pharmacy,New Panvel
Affiliated to University of Mumbai (INDIA)

2. Definition
• Environmental Studies deals with
every aspect that affects a living
organism.
• It is essentially a Multidisciplinary
approach that bring about an
appreciation of our natural world and
human impact on its integrity.
• It is an applied science as it seeks
practical solution to environment
related problems

3. Importance
• To clarify the idea that what is to
be done in the environmental context.
• To bring awareness and knowledge
about environment in individuals and
social groups.
• To make them participate in solving
the real- time environmental
problems.

4. Importance
Environmental
Values
Direct
values
Indirect
values
Fuel,
food
Timber Wetland,
Flood
resistance
Fresh air,
O2

5. Scope of EVS
• Include science and social studies
• Our landscape in which we leave is mountain,
river, forest etc. which is modified by humans.
• Due to increase in population these resources are
getting depleted gradually
• But our needs like food, water depend on
existance of natural landscape in good condition
• If we continue to use natural resourses in
uncontrolled manner it will affect nature
negatively.... hence... there is need of...

6. Scope of Environmental Science
• Conservation of nature and natural
resources.
• Conservation of biological diversity.
• Control of environmental pollution.
• Stabilization of human population and
environment.
• Social issues in relation to development
and environment.
• Development of non-polluting renewable
energy system and providing new
dimension to nature’s security.

7. Scope of Environmental Science
• There is a need to understand make
ourselves aware of our natural assets and get
concerned about our environment and
sustainable utilize the resources.
• Scope of environmental studies is very wide
and nearly covers some aspects of every
major discipline (biology, chemistry, physics,
geography, resource management, economy,
etc.)

8. Objectives
•Awareness
•Knowledge
•Attitude
•Skill
•Participation

9. Need for Public Awareness
• Stress on natural resources and
quality of life due to development
activities and rapid urbanization.
• Deterioration the air and water
quality, high noise level, increasing
vehicular emission, etc.
• Protecting our environment is
economically more viable than
cleaning it up once it is damaged

10. Need for Public Awareness
• Pollution of different types (soil, air,
water) is growing day by day
• Awareness of these problem is
necessary to develop seance of
responsibility and ethics among
people
• This will help to tackle the
challanges related to environment

11. Institutions in
Environment

12. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS),
Mumbai
– An NGO founded in 1883.
– Wildlife policy building, research, popular
publications and peoples action have been
unique features of this multifaceted society.
– Works towards conservation of wildlife
species and ecosystems.
– Publications: HORNBILL, journal on natural
history, Salim Ali handbook on birds, JC
Daniel’s book on Indian reptiles, SH Prater’s
book of Indian mammals and PV bole’s book
of Indian trees.
– Assisting government in framing of wildlife
related laws.
– ‘SAVE THE SILENT VALLEY’ campaign.

13. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-I),
New Delhi
– Initiated in 1969 in Mumbai and
then moved to new Delhi with
several branch offices all over India.
– Wildlife education and awareness.
– Organizes nature clubs of India
program for children.
– Works as a think tank and lobby
force for environment and
development issues.

14. Center for Science and Environment
(CSE), New Delhi
– Organizing campaigns, holding
workshops/conferences and producing
environment related publications are some
of its activities.
– It published ‘State of India’s Environment’,
the first of its kind to be produced as a
Citizen’s Report on the Environment.
– It publishes popular magazine ‘DOWN TO
EARTH’ a Science and Environment
fortnightly.
– It is also involved in publication of material
in the form of books, posters, video films
and also conducts workshops and
seminars on biodiversity related issues.

15. Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and
Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore
– Dr.Salim Ali wished to support a group of
committed conservation scientists on
permanent basis and that dream became
a reality only after his demise.
– It is an independent organization and is
based at Coimbatore since 1990.
– It has instituted a variety of field
programs that have added to the
country’s information on our threatened
biodiversity.

16. People in Environment

17. Salim Ali
– He has written several great books
including the famous ‘Book of Indian
Birds’.
– His autobiography,’Fall of a Sparrow’
should be read by every nature
enthusiast.
– He was our country’s leading
conservation scientist and influenced
environmental policies in our country for
over 50 years.

18. Indira Gandhi
- As a PM, she has played a highly significant role in
the preservation of India’s wild life.
– It was during her period as a PM, that the network
of protected areas (Pas) grew from 65 to 298!.
– The Wildlife Protection Act was formulated during
the period when she was PM and the Indian Board
for Wildlife was extremely active as she
personally chaired all its meetings.
– India gained a name for itself by being a major
player in CITES and other International
Environmental Treaties and Accords during her
tenure.

19. MS Swaminathan
– One of India’s foremost agricultural scientists
and has also been concerned with various
aspects of biodiversity conservation both of
cultivars and wild biodiversity.
– Founder of the MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation in Chennai, which does work on the
conservation of biological diversity.

20. Madhav Gadgil
– A well known ecologist in India.
– His interests range from broad ecological
issues such as developing Community
Biodiversity Registers and conserving sacred
groves to studies on the behavior of mammals,
birds and insects.

21. Natural resources

22. RESOURCES
• Any thing, which is useful man, or
can be transformed into a useful
product or can be used to produce a
useful thing, can be referred as
‘resources’.
• Example: rocks, minerals, soil, rivers,
plants & animal.

23. NATURAL RESOUCES
• Materials that come from the Earth.
• Something useful for humans need to
survive.
• Those resources that are drawn
directly from the nature and used
without modifications are called
Natural Resources.
• E.g.: air, water, minerals etc.

24. TYPES
• On the basis renewability
•  Renewable
•  Non-renewable

25. RENEWABLE RESOURCES
• There are some resources that cannot be
exhausted and are available in plentiful.
• These can be easily replenished through
natural processes in different ecosystems
and are often known as renewable natural
resources.
• For example, sunlight and wind are two
examples of renewable natural resources.

26. NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES
• These are those resources which are not
renewed/replenished and are affected by
human activity
• Non renewable resources are exhaustible
and are extracted faster than the rate at
which they formed.
• For e.g. fossil fuels.

27. INEXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCES
• It is a natural resource that will never
run out so if we take advantage of
the greatest natural resources will
not be depleted and will continue to
exist, such as water, sunlight, tidal
energy, ocean energy and wind
energy.
• Wind power technology is one of
inexhaustible resources examples.

28. DEPLETION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES

29. • Resource depletion is the
consumption of a resource faster
than it can be replenished.
• Over a period of time, many of our
natural resources are being depleted.
• Many activities of human society are
responsible for this degradation of
the environment.
• Agricultural practises such as
indiscriminate use of fertilizers and
pesticides contaminate the soil.

30. • Urbanisation, overpopulation,
increase in use of carbon monoxide
producing automobiles, deforestation,
deterioration of water resources are
all factors contributing to this
depletion.
• Depletion of natural resources refers
to the exhaustion of raw materials
within a region.
• Natural resources are getting
depleted at a faster rate than they
are produced or renewed by nature.

31. Types of Degradation
Types
Erosion Extinction
Deforestation Desertification

32. • DEFORESTATION : Deforestation is the
clearance of forests by logging and/or
burning.
• DESERTIFICATION: Desertification is a
type of land degradation in which a
relatively dry land region becomes
increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies
of water as well as vegetation and wildlife.
• EROSION: Erosion is the action of
exogenic processes (such as water flow or
wind) which remove soil and rock from one
location on the Earth's crust, then
transport it to another location where it is
deposited.

33. KINDS OF RESOURCES
• Forest Resources
• Water Resources
• Mineral Resources
• Soil Resources

34. FOREST RESOURCES
• Forest is an area with a high density of
trees, together with other plants, covering
a large area of land.
• Forests are home to 50% to 90% of earth’s
species.
• These forests not only produce
innumerable material goods, but also
provide several environmental services
which are essential for life.

35. Functions of Forest Resources
• Productive Functions
– Timber, bamboos, food, essential oils
– Latex, medicines etc.
– Conversation of soil and water
– Prevention of drought
– Protection against wind, cold, radiation,
noise .
• Regulative Functions
– Regulate gases and energy

36. WATER RESOURCES
• Water resources are sources of water
that are useful or potentially useful
to humans.
• Uses of water include agricultural,
industrial, household, recreational
and environmental activities.
• Virtually all of these human uses
require fresh water.

37. • Water is an essential natural resource for
sustaining life.
• Water forms 60% of our body weight.
• Water is a renewable and limiting resource.
• About three – fourth of earth’s surface is
occupied by oceans.
• About 97% of the earth’s water is strong
saline.
• The rest 3% is freshwater.
• Pure, usable water on land is only 0.3%.

38. WATER DEPLETION
• It is caused by over exploitation,
excessive use and unequal access to
water among different social groups.
• Increasing population, intensive
industrialization, deforestation and
mismanagement of water resources
have caused a crisis

39. Conservation of Water
• Conservation of water are essential for the
survival of mankind, plants and animals.
This can be achieved by adopting the following
methods:
• Constructing dams and reservoirs to regulate
supply of water to the fields, as well as to enable
generating hydroelectricity.
• Sewage should be treated and only the clear
water should be released into the rivers.
• Industrial wastes (effluents) should be treated to
prevent chemical and thermal pollution of fresh
water.
• Judicious use of water in our day-to-day life.
• Rainwater harvesting should be done by storing
rainwater and recharging groundwater.

40. MINERALS RESOURCES
• Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic,
crystalline solids having a definite
chemical composition and characteristic
physical properties.
• Minerals are exhaustible and non-
renewable.
• Minerals are relatively plentiful.
• Minerals are over used by industries.
• Disposal of minerals have negative effects
on environment.
• Metallic minerals – e.g., iron, copper, silver,
gold
• Non-metallic minerals – e.g., sand, stone,
salt, phosphates

41. USE OF MINIRALS
• The main uses of minerals are as
follows:
• Development of industrial plants and
machinery.
• Generation of energy e.g. coal,
lignite, uranium.
• Construction, housing, settlements.
• Defence equipment weapons,
armaments.
• Transportation means.

42. SOIL (LAND) RESOURCES
• Communication- telephone wires, cables,
electronic devices.
• Medicinal system- particularly in Ayurveda
System.
• Agriculture – as fertilizers, seed dressings
and fungicides (e.g. Zineb: containing zinc,
Maneb: containing manganese etc.).
• Jewellery– e.g. Gold, silver, platinum,
diamond.

43. Contd...
• In the direct words ‘Natural resource in the
form of arable land.’
• Arable land (from Latin arabilis, "able to be
plowed") is land capable of being ploughed
and used to grow crops.
• Land is among the most important natural
resources.
• It covers up only 29% of the earth’s surface
and all parts of the land are not habitable.
• The uneven distribution of population in
different parts of the world is mainly due to
varied characteristics of land and climate.

44. Contd...
• The change in the characteristic and
quality of soil which adversely affect its
fertility is called as Degradation.
• Land degradation means:
1) Loss of natural fertility of soil because of
loss of nutrients.
2) Less vegetation cover
3) Changes in the characteristic of soil.
4) Pollution of water resources from the
contamination of soil through which water
sweeps into ground or runoff to the water
bodies.
5) Changes in climatic conditions because of
unbalance created in the environment.

45. Causes of land degradation
• Deforestation
• Soil erosion by wind or water
• Mining
• Industrialization
• Unsustainable Urban agricultural
practices expansion

46. CAUSES OF SOIL EROSION
• RAINFALL- raindrops directly strike the soil
surface and detach the soil particles.
• WIND- transportation of soil and sand
particle by wind by wind is best seen in
deserts and along the seashore.
• BIOTIC FACTORS- grazing by cattle, cutting
down of trees, agricultural activities,
construction of buildings and laying of
roads .

47. Conservation of Soil
• Soil conservation means checking soil erosion
and improving soil fertility by adopting various
methods. Let us know some of these methods.
• Maintenance of soil fertility: The fertility can be
maintained by adding manure and fertilizers
regularly as well as by rotation of crop.
• Make compost from your kitchen waste and use
it for your kitchen garden.
• Reforestation: Planting of trees and vegetation
reduces soil erosion by both water and wind.
• Do not irrigate the plants using a strong flow of
water as it would wash off the soil.
• Better use sprinkling irrigation.

48. Ecosystem

49. Contents
• Concept of ecosystem
• Components of an ecosystem
– Abiotic components
– Biotic components
• Movement of energy and nutrients
– Food chain
– Food webs
– Trophic levels,
– Egological pyramids

50. What is an ecosystem?
• Ecosystem is a region with specific
recognisable landscape such as forest,
grassland, desert etc.
• Biotic/Abiotic components
• There is a great variety of ecosystems
in existence, all of them are
characterized by general structural and
functional attributes
• Aquatic ecosystem, desert ecosystem.

52. Classification
Ecosystem
Biotic Abiotic
Producer
Decomp
oser
Consumer
Primary Secondary
Water,
Soil
Air,
sunlight

53. Structure of Ecosystem
• Inorganic- C,N,CO2
• Organic- Carbohydrate, protein ,fat
• Climate regimes- Temperature,
moisture, light
• Producers- Plants, algae
• Macro consummer- Large animals
• Microconsummer- Saprophytes,
fungi

54. Function
• Energy cycle
• Food chains
• Water cycles
• Evolution
• Oxygen cycle
• Carbon cycle

55. Function

56. Food Chain
• The particular pathway of nutrient
and energy movement depends on
which organism feeds on anther.
Decomposers

58. Food Chain
• Transfer of energy from source in
plant through a series of organisms
by eating and being eaten, constitute
the food chain.
• At transfer a large portion of energy
is lost in form of heat.
• Each step of food web is called
tropic level.

59. Trophic Levels
• A trophic level means a feeding
level.
– First level – all producers
– Second level – all herbivores
– Third level – first level carnivores
– Fourth level – second level carnivores
– So on……..

60. Trophic levels
• Energy and Nutrients passed through the
ecosystem by food chains and webs from
lower trophic level to the higher trophic level.
• However, only 5% to 20% energy and nutrients
are transferred into higher trophic level
successfully.
• For this reason, first trophic level has the
largest number of organisms, and second
trophic level is less than first one; the third
level is less than second level, and so on.

62. Food Web
• There is very largr no. of interlinnked
chains, togther these form food web.
• Disturbances in this due to human
activities cause extinction of spicise.

63. Food Webs

64. Ecological

65. Ecological Pyrimid
• Producer utilize energy directly from
sun and convert it to biomass
• Base of pyramid is made of first
trophic level organism (producers)
• Then Herbivores which eat on plants
• Then Second trophic level organisms,
carnivores
• Then predators third trophic level.

66. Thank You