Environmental 
 Science 
                      Environmental Science 
      
      
      
      
      
      
                                Author 
                        TNAU, Tamil Nadu 
                                    
                                    
                                               Index 
            LN  Lecture Name                                                              Page 
             1    Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies                            4-14 
             2    Natural resources: Renewable and Non renewable                          15-23 
                  resources. Land and Water 
             3    Natural resources: forest, wildlife, energy and food                    24-40 
                  resources 
             4    Ecosystems: Definition, concept, structure and functions                41-49 
                  Producers, consumers and decomposers of an 
             5    ecosystem. Energy flow in the ecosystem. Types of                       50-57 
                  ecosystems 
             6    Bio-diversity: Definition, classification, threats to                   58-68 
                  biodiversity and its conservation 
             7    Environmental pollution: Causes, effects and control of air             69-81 
             8    Global warming and climate change                                      82-102 
             9    Causes, effects and control of water and marine pollution              103-130 
            10  Causes, effects and control of soil pollution                            131-140 
            11  Causes, effects and control of noise and thermal pollution               141-146 
            12  Causes, effects and management of nuclear hazards and                    147-163 
                  industrial wastes 
            13  Disaster management, Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and                   164-177 
                  land slides 
            14  Social issues and the environment, unsustainable to                      178-182 
                  sustainable development 
                  The Environment Protection Act, the Air Act, the water 
            15  Act, the Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Conservation                 183-190 
                  Act 
            16  National and state level organizations - Environmental                   191-200 
                  Laws and Acts – Environmental Education – CDM 
            17  Woman and child welfare, HIV/AIDS and Role of                            201-209 
                  information technology on environment and human health 
              
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                                                                             Lecture 01 
                                                   Scope and Importance of Environmental Studies 
               Environment is derived from the French word Environner, which mean encircle or surrounding. 
               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, and therefore, this science is important 
               for one and all. 
               Scope of environmental studies 
               Environmental studies discipline has multiple and multilevel scopes. This study is important and 
               necessary not only for children but also for everyone. The scopes are summarized as follows: 
                        The study creates awareness among the people to know about various renewable and 
                         nonrenewable resources of the region. The endowment or potential, patterns of utilization and 
                         the balance of various resources available for future use in the state of a country are analysed in 
                         the study. 
                        It provides the knowledge about ecological systems and cause and effect relationships. 
                        It provides necessary information about biodiversity richness and the potential dangers to the 
                         species of plants, animals and microorganisms in the environment. 
                        The study enables one to understand the causes and consequences due to natural and main 
                         induced disasters (flood, earthquake, landslide, cyclones etc.,) and pollutions and measures to 
                         minimize the effects. 
                        It enables one to evaluate alternative responses to environmental issues before deciding an 
                         alternative course of action. 
                        The study enables environmentally literate citizens (by knowing the environmental acts, rights, 
                         rules, legislations, etc.) to make appropriate judgments and decisions for the protection and 
                         improvement of the earth. 
                        The study exposes the problems of over population, health, hygiene, etc. and the role of arts, 
                         science and technology in eliminating/ minimizing the evils from the society. 
                        The study tries to identify and develop appropriate and indigenous eco-friendly skills and 
                         technologies to various environmental issues. 
                        It teaches the citizens the need for sustainable utilization of resources as these resources are 
                         inherited from our ancestors to the younger generating without deteriorating their quality. 
                        The study enables theoretical knowledge into practice and the multiple uses of environment. 
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