Environmental Science

AR6403
Unit -1
INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND
NATURAL RESOURCES

What is Environment ?

Definition of Environment

Environment literally means surrounding and everything that affect

an organism during its lifetime is collectively known as its
environment.
Environment is the physical and biotic habitat that surrounds us.
Environment is sum total of water, air and land interrelationships
among themselves and also with the human being, other living
organisms and property.
It includes all the physical and biological surrounding and their
interactions.
Environmental studies provide an approach towards understanding
the environment of our planet and the impact of human life upon
the environment.
Thus environment is actually global in nature, it is a
multidisciplinary subject including physics, geology, geography,
history, economics, physiology, biotechnology, remote sensing,
geophysics, soil science and hydrology etc.

Definition of Environment

Importance of Environmental Science

Environment belongs to all the living beings and thus is, important
for all. Each and every body of whatever occupation he or she may
have, is affected by environmental issues like global warming,
depletion of ozone layer, dwindling forest, energy resources, loss of
global biodiversity etc.
Environment study deals with the analysis of the processes in
water, air, land, soil and organisms which leads to pollute or
degrade environment. It helps us for establishing standard, for safe,
clean and healthy natural ecosystem.
It also deals with important issues like safe and clean drinking
water, hygienic living conditions and clean and fresh air, fertility of
land, healthy food and development.
Sustainable environmental law, business administration,
environmental protection, management and environmental
engineering are immerging as new career opportunities for
environment protection and management.

Scope of Environmental Science

Environmental science is a multidisciplinary science whose basic
aspects have a direct
relevance to every section of the society. Its main aspects are:
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 nations security.

Need for Public Awareness

Environmental literacy is the capability for a contextual and detailed

understanding of an environmental problem in order to enable
analysis, synthesis, evaluation and ultimately sound and informed
decision making at a citizens level.
The objectives of environmental awareness should be:
Improving the quality of environment.
Creating an awareness among people on environmental problems
and conservation.
Creating such an atmosphere as people find themselves fit enough
to participate in decision making process of environmental
development programmes.
Public participatory role is possible only when the public is aware
about the ecological and environmental issues.

Natural resources

The main problem associated with natural resources is unequal

consumption.
A major part of natural resources are consumed in the developed
world. The developing nations also over use many resources
because of their greater human population.
However, the consumption of resources per capita (per individual)
of the developed countries is upto 50 times greater than in most
developing countries. Advanced countries produce over 75% of
global industrial waste and greenhouse gases.
Energy from fossil fuels consumed in relatively much greater
quantities in developed countries. Their per capita consumption of
food too is much greater as well as their waste.
The USA for example with just 4% of the worlds population
consumes about 25% of the worlds resources.

Natural resources

Frank Shuman
commissioned the first largescale solar power generator
in Maadi, near Cairo, in
1913. Schuman dreamt of a
completely solar powered
world. It was theoretically
possible then, as indeed it is
now.
With a solar collector area of
1240m2, his array powered a
pump that irrigated elevated
farmland with water from
the River Nile.

Natural resources

history of solar power it is clearly obvious that its development has suffered as a
result of the abundance of fossil fuels. The worlds economy is currently
predicated upon their use. Despite all the scientific evidence of the imminence
ofcatastrophic climate changeas a result of our continued use of these fuels,
the companies and economies which rely on them are as enthusiastic as ever to
exploit them.

Natural resources

Natural resources can be defined as variety of goods and services provided

by nature which are necessary for our day-to-day lives. Eg: Plants, animals
and microbes (living or biotic part), Air, water, soil, minerals, climate and
solar energy (non- living or abiotic part).

They are essential for the fulfilment of physiological, social, economical and
cultural needs at the individual and community levels.
They are of two types namely Renewable and Non-Renewable
Resources.
Renewable resources:
Natural resources which can be used but can be regenerated by natural
processes provided if there is no intervention in natural regeneration cycle
.Ex: water, wood
Non Renewable Resources:
Those which will be exhausted in the future if we continue to extract these
without a thought for subsequent generations. Example: minerals, fossil fuels.
Different types of resources viz., forest, water, food, energy and land
resources are detailed below.

Forest resources

A forest can be defined as a biotic community predominant of trees,

shrubs or any other woody vegetation usually in a closed canopy. It
is derived from Latin word foris meaning outside.
A forest is a highly complex, constantly changing environment made
up of a variety of living- wildlife, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns,
mosses, lichens, fungi and microscopic soil organisms and non living
water nutrients, rocks etc.
Trees are the dominant components of this complex community.
Indias Forest Cover was 6,76,000 sq.km (20.55% of geographic
area). Scientists estimate that India should ideally have 33% of its
land under forests.
Today we only have about 12% thus we need not only to protect our
existing forests but also to increase our forest cover.

Forest resources
KEY BENEFITS OF INTACT FOREST
Provides clean water
Trees intercept rainwater and slows it down by aiding soil absorption
for gradual release into streams at a slow and even rate.
Effectively prevents flooding filter toxins and impurities and facilitates
water availability in summer when needed
Trees cleanse ground water as it filters through their root system.
Provides home to unique plants and animals
As forests are the natural home of diverse species of plants and
animals, it becomes essential to protect them.
Source of economic growth
Timber production and other wood based industries still comprise an
important part of economy of many countries, paper production and
other industries.
Tourism, trees also provide fruits, nuts, flowers and many products of
economic value.

Forest resources
KEY BENEFITS OF INTACT FOREST
Provides clean air
Trees help to cool and refresh the air we breathe and moderates air
temperature.
Helps reduce carbon dioxide pollution through photosynthesis. Each
acre of forest absorb 31.45 tons of carbon per year. The process of
intake of carbon dioxide by forest for their growth is known as
carbon sequestration.
Mature tress have a cultural value- Sacred groves.
Ecological benefits
Improves bio diversity and act as a habitat for various species both
permanent and migratory.
Trees prevent soil erosion

Forest resources
Deforestation:
Deforestation refers to the loss of forest cover; land that is
permanently converted
from forest to agricultural land, golf courses, cattle pasture, home,
lakes or desert. The FAO ( Food and Agriculture Organization of the
UN) defines tropical deforestation as change of forest with depletion
of tree crown cover more than 90% depletion of forest tree crown
cover less than 90% is considered forest degradation