introduction to environmental studies

1. Introduction to Environmental
studies
•Definition
•Components
•Multidisciplinary nature
•Scope
•Importance
•Public awareness
•Institutions
•People

2. Definition
Anything and everything which surrounds us i.e. all living beings
or biotic components (microbes, plants and animals) and
non-living or abiotic components (air, water, sunlight etc.) present
in the nature, form the environment

3. Components of Environment
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Lithosphere
• Biosphere

4. Atmosphere Hydrosphere

5. Lithosphere Biosphere

6. Life science
Earth science
•Geology
•Chemistry
•Physics
Applied
science
•Engineering
•Statisitics
•Computer Science
Social
studies
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• Economics
•Philosophy
•History
•Physical
geography
•Biology
•Health
•Anthropology
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IS
MULTIDISCIPLINARY A broad understanding of
multiple disciplines is required!
1. Understanding the issue:
Life science and
Earth Sciences
2. Designing a solution : Applied
Sciences
3. Implementation : Social
sciences

7. SCOPE
1. Understanding the landscape
• Forest dwellers : Deforestation/relocation due to mining/dams
• Rural communities : Droughts/floods/reduced agricultural productivity
• Urban communities : Pollution/ excess solid waste/unsanitary habitation
2. Natural resources
• Renewable/non renewable
• Sustainable development : Use the interest, not the capital!
3. Individual role and responsibility
• Overpopulation
• Modern consumerism
• Reuse/reduce/recycle

8. IMPORTANCE
• Environment is the ultimate source of all raw materials required for individual
sustenance and smooth functioning of the society.
• Without conserving the limited natural resources and maintaining the quality of the
environment, all life support systems would collapse.
• Loss of quality in all spheres of the environment will affect different sections of the
society differently, deepening the social divide.
If poor; you loose. If rich; well, you still loose anyway, just a bit later!

9. WHY DO WE REQUIRE PUBLIC AWARENESS?
To induce behaviour modification ultimately leading to:-
• Reduced waste at source
• Increased vigilance towards defaulters
• Strong public opinion about pro or anti-environmental policies
• Stronger participation with NGOs for clean-up projects
• Improved participation in local waste management initiatives, rainwater harvesting
systems, plantation drives.
• Change in consumer behaviour leading to more investment in environmentally safe
products.
• More investment in green technology sector.

10. NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
• Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.
• Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
• Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai
• World Wide Fund for Nature, New Delhi
• Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi
• CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras
• Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad
• Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Pune
• Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore.

11. PEOPLE IN ENVIRONMENT
Charles Darwin
• Origin of Species (Theory of Evolution)
Ralph Emerson
• Spoke about the dangers of commerce for the environment (1840s)
Henry Thoreau
• Spoke about the preservation of wilderness (1860s)
John Muir
• Saved the great ancient sequoia tress in California, formed Sierra club (1890s)
Aldo Leopold
• Designed early policies on wilderness conservation and wildlife management (1920s)
Rachel Carson
• Silent Spring (1960s). Caused worldwide concern for pesticide use, leading to change in
Governmental Policies and public awareness.
E.O. Wilson
• Diversity of life (1993), envisioned link between biological diversity and human survival on
earth(1993)

12. Salim Ali
• Book of Indian Birds, Fall of a Sparrow
Indira Gandhi (during her tenure)
• Network of Protected Areas grew from 65 to 298.
• Wildlife Protection Act was formulated.
• Personally chaired all meetings of Indian Board for Wildlife.
• India became a major player in CITES and other international Environmental Treaties and
accords
S.P. Godrej
• Supported wildlife conservation and nature awareness programs and major advocate for
wildlife in India.
MS Swaminathan
• Conservation of cultivars and wild plant biodiversity.
Madhav Gadgil
• Community Biodiversity Registers, conservation of sacred groves, studies on mammalian, avian
and insect behaviour.

13. MC Mehta
• Filed PILs for protection of Taj Mahal, Cleaning up Ganges, banning coastal Shrimp farming,
environmental education in schools and colleges.
Anil Agrawal
• State of India’s Environment (1982, report)
Founded the Centre for Science and Environment
Medha Patkar
• Tribal rights activist ( Andolan?)
Sunderlal Bahugna ( Movement?)
• Apart from his effirts to protect the forests of
Garhwal, he also opposed the formation of the Tehri Dam.
Mr. S. Bahugna, Dehradun
(February, 2016)

14. Honourable mentions:
Amrita Devi
• Spearheaded the first Chipko andolan in a Bishnoi village near Jodhpur, Rajasthan
against felling of Keekar tress during which more than 200 Bishnoi’s were slaughtered.
(1730s)
Gaura Devi
• Village member in Garhwal who assisted Suderlal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhatt during
chipko andolan. She was reportedly one of the first to oppose the tree felling on site. (1970s)

15. What is the Hamburger connection?
What is the Tragedy of the Commons?
What did Thomas Malthus say?
What is the Environmental Kuznet curve?
Any other questions?