The document provides an overview of environmental studies, including its scope, importance, multidisciplinary nature, and key institutions and figures involved in the field in India. It notes that environmental studies examines the interrelationships between organisms and their surrounding environment. It also discusses the need for public awareness of environmental issues and some suggested activities for further engagement.

1. Prepared by
Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Physiology
MSSSoA
CUTM
Odisha

2. Environment
French word
Environner
encircle or
surrounding.

3.  Environment is a complex of many variables, which
surrounds man as well as the living organisms.
 Environmental studies describe the interrelationships
among organisms, the environment and all the factors,
which influence life on earth, including atmospheric
conditions, food chains, the water cycle, etc. It is a basic
science about our earth and its daily activities,

4. Scope of environmental studies

5.  The study creates awareness among the people.
 Knowledge about ecological systems and cause
and effect relationships.
 Necessary information about biodiversity
richness
 The potential dangers to the species of plants,
animals and microorganisms in the environment.

6.  To understand the causes and consequences due to natural
and main induced disasters .
 Pollutions and measures to minimize the effects.
 Enables one to evaluate alternative responses to
environmental issues.
 The study enables environmentally literate citizens .
 Exposes the problems of over population, health, hygiene &
Role of arts, science and technology in eliminating/
minimizing the evils from the society

7.  To identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-
friendly skills and technologies to various environmental
issues.
 Teaches the citizens the need for sustainable utilization of
resources .
 Enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the
multiple uses of environment.

8. Importance of
environmental studies

9.  World population is increasing at an alarming rate especially
in developing countries.
 The natural resources in the earth is limited.
 Methods and techniques of exploiting natural resources are
advanced.
 Over exploitation of resources-No resources for future
generation.

10.  Unplanned exploitation pollution.
 Pollution and degraded environment health of all
living things on earth .
 combined responsibility and appropriate actions for the
deteriorating environment.
 Education and training are needed to save the biodiversity and
species extinction.

11.  Urban area, coupled with industries, is major sources of
pollution.
 Number and area existing under protected area should be
increased.
 People to adapt appropriate activities and pursue sustainable
development.
 Motivates students to get involved in community action, and to
participate in various environmental and management projects.

12.  It integrates different approaches of the humanities , social
sciences, biological sciences and physical sciences and
applies these approaches to investigate environmental
concerns.
 Environmental study is a key instrument for bringing about
the changes in the knowledge, values, behaviors and lifestyles
required to achieve sustainability and stability within and
among countries.

13. Multidisciplinary Nature of
Environmental Studies

14.  Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an
organism.
Its components include -
1. Biology 9. Economics
2. Geology 10. Statistics
3. Chemistry 11. Philosophy
4. Physics
5. Engineering
6. Sociology
7. Health
8. Anthropology

15. Multidisciplinary Nature of
Environmental Science
Ex:Air Pollution

17. Need for public awareness

18.  Natural resources are dwindling and our environment is being
increasingly degraded by human activities.
 Our thought- Government should do.
 But if we go on endangering our environment, Government can not
perform all these clean-up functions.
 we must all take part & it must become a part of all our lives.
 This can only be made possible through mass public awareness.

19.  Mass media strongly influence public opinion.
 If each of us feels strongly about the environment, the press
and media will add to our efforts.
 Politicians always respond positively to a strong publicly
supported movement.
 We are living on spaceship earth with a limited supply of
resources.
 Each of us is responsible for spreading this message to as
manypeople as possible.

20. Suggested further activities

21.  Join a group to study nature, such as WWF(World Wide Fund
for Nature) or BNHS(Bombay Natural History Society) or
another environmental group.
 Begin reading newspaper articles and periodicals such as
‘Down to Earth’, WWF-I newsletter, BNHS Hornbill
Sanctuary magazine, etc.
 Taking up the cause of environmental issues during
discussions with friends and relatives.
 Practice and promote issues such as saving paper, saving
water, reducing use of plastics, practicing the 3Rs principle of
reduce, reuse, recycle, and proper waste disposal.

22.  Join local movements that support activities such as saving
trees in your area, go on nature treks, recycle waste, buy
environmentally friendly products.
 Practice and promote good civic sense.
 Take part in events organized on World Environment Day,
Wildlife Week, etc.
 Visit a National Park or Sanctuary, or spend time in whatever
nature you have near your home.

23. Institutions in environment
 There have been several Government and Nongovernment
organizations that have led to environmental protection in our
country.
 They have led to a growing interest in environmental
protection and conservation of nature and natural resources.

24. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai:
 It was founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest
non-governmental organizations in India engaged in
conservation and biodiversity research.
 It supports many research efforts through grants, and
publishes a popular magazine called the Hornbill and also an
internationally well-known the Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society.

25. World Wide fund for nature- India (WWF-1), New Delhi:
 The WWF-1 was initiated in 1969 in Mumbai, after which
the headquarters were shifted to Delhi with several State,
divisional and Project offices spread across India.
 In the early years it focused attention on wildlife education
and awareness.
 It runs several programs, including the nature clubs of India
program for school children and works as a think –tank and
lobby force for environmental and development issues.

26. CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras:
 The CPR EEC was set up in 1988.
 It conducts a variety of programs to spread environmental
awareness and creates an interest in conservation among the
general public.
Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad:
The Centre for Environment Education,Ahmedabad was initiated in
1989.
 It has a wide range of programs on the environment and produces a
variety of educational material.

27. Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Institute of Environment
Education & Research, Pune
 It was established in 1993.
 This is part of the Bharati Vidyapeeth deemed University.
 Its major focus is to spread the message of the need for pro-
environmental action in society at large through a dual
strategy of formal and non –formal integrated activities.
 BVIEER is a one of a kind institution that caters to the need
of Environment Education at all levels - PhD, M.Sc and
Diploma.

28. Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),
Coimbatore
 It is a national centre for information, education and research in
ornithology and natural history in India.
 This institution was Dr. Salim ali’s dream, which became a reality
only after his demise and was named in honor of Salim Ali, the
leading pioneer of ornithology in India.
 Its mission is "To help conserve India’s biodiversity and its
sustainable use through research, education and peoples’
participation, with birds at the centre stage".

29. Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun:
 This Institution was established in 1982, as a major training
establishment for Forest Officials and Research in Wildlife
Management.
 Its most significant publication has been ‘Planning A Wildlife
Protected Area Network for India’ (Rodgers and Panwar,
1988).

30. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) is an institution set up by the
Government of India
 In 1887 to survey the plant resources of the Indian empire.
 The Botanical Survey was formally instituted on 13 February
1890 under the direction of Sir George King, who had been
superintendent of Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta since 1871.
 King became the first ex-officio Director of BSI.
 Presently, it has nine regional centre.
 It carries out surveys of plant resources in different regions. It
monitors botanical resources by analyzing their occurrence,
distribution, ecology, economic utility, conservation, environment
impact, etc.

31.  People in Environment
 There are several internationally known environmental
thinkers.
 Among those who have made landmarks, the names that are
usually mentioned are Charles Darwin, Ralph Emerson, Henry
Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopald, Rachel Carson and EO
Wilson.
 Each of these thinkers looked at the environment from a
completely different perspective.

32.  Charles Darwin: wrote the origin of species, which brought
to light the close relationship between habitats and species.
 Ralph Emerson: spoke of the dangers of commerce to our
environment way back in the 1840s.
 Henry Thoreau in the 1860s wrote that the wilderness
should be preserved after he lived in the wild for a year.
 He felt that most people did not care for nature and would sell
it off for a small sum of money.

33.  John Muir is remembered as having saved the great ancient
sequoia trees in California’a forests.
 In the 1890s he formed the Sierra club, which is a major
conservation NGO in the USA.
 Aldo Leopold: was a forest official in the US in the 1920s. He
designed the early
 policies on wilderness conservation and wildlife management. He
was considered the father of wildlife ecology and a true Wisconsin
hero.
 His book, ‘A Sand County Almanac’ is acclaimed as the century's
literary landmark in conservation, which guided many to ‘live in
harmony with the land and with one another’.

34.  In the 1960s Rachel Carson published several articles that
caused immediate worldwide concern on the effects of
pesticides on nature and mankind.
 She wrote a well known book called ‘Silent Spring’ which
eventually led to a change in Government policy and public
awareness.
 EO Wilson: is an entomologist who envisioned that
biological diversity was a key to human survival on Earth.
 He wrote ‘Diversity of life’ in 1993, which was awarded a
prize for the best book published on environmental issues.

35.  There are several individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the
environmental history of our country.
 To name a few with their significant contributions Goes as follows:
 Salim Ali: was an Indian ornithologist and naturalist, Known as the
"birdman of India",
 Salim Ali was among the first Indians to conduct systematic bird surveys
across India.
 He was instrumental in creating the Bharatpur bird sanctuary (Keoladeo
National Park) and prevent the destruction of what is now the Silent
Valley National Park.
 He was awarded India's second highest civilian honour, the Padma
Vibhushan in 1976.
 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.

36. Other eminent persons include
 Smt. Indira Gandhi
 S P Godrej
 M. S. Swaminathan
 Madhav Gadgil
 M. C. Mehta
 Anil Agarwal
 Medha Patkar
 Sunderlal Bahuguna