ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY KAKINADA
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (Common to all Branches)
Syllabus effective from 2010 -2011
UNIT - I
Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies: Definition, Scope and Importance – Need for Public
Awareness.
UNIT - II
Natural Resources : Renewable and non-renewable resources – Natural resources and associated problems –
Forest resources – Use and over – exploitation, deforestation, case studies – Timber extraction – Mining,
dams and other effects on forest and tribal people – Water resources – Use and over utilization of surface and
ground water – Floods, drought, conflicts over water, dams – benefits and problems - Mineral resources: Use
and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies. - Food
resources: World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern
agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide problems, water logging, salinity, case studies. – Energy resources: Growing
energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources use of alternate energy sources. Case studies.
Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification.
Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources. Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles.
UNIT - III
Ecosystems : Concept of an ecosystem. - Structure and function of an ecosystem. - Producers, consumers and
decomposers. - Energy flow in the ecosystem - Ecological succession. - Food chains, food webs and
ecological pyramids. - Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following
ecosystem:
a. Forest ecosystem
b. Grassland ecosystem
c. Desert ecosystem
d. Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)
UNIT - IV
Biodiversity and its conservation : Introduction - Definition: genetic, species andecosystem diversity. - Biogeographical
classification of India - Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical,
aesthetic and option values - . Biodiversity at global, National and local levels. - . India as a mega-diversity
nation - Hot-sports of biodiversity - Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife
conflicts. - Endangered and endemic species of India – Conservation of biodiversity: In-situ and Ex-situ
conservation of biodiversity.
UNIT - V
Environmental Pollution : Definition, Cause, effects and control measures of :
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Marine pollution
e. Noise pollution
f. Thermal pollution
g. Nuclear hazards
Solid waste Management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and
industrial wastes. - Role of an individual in prevention of pollution. - Pollution case studies. - Disaster
management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.
UNIT - VI
Social Issues and the Environment: From Unsustainable to Sustainable development -Urban problems
related to energy -Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management -Resettlement and
rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns. Case Studies -Environmental ethics: Issues and possible
solutions. -Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and holocaust.
Case Studies. -Wasteland reclamation. – Consumerism and waste products. -Environment Protection Act. -Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. –Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act -Wildlife
Protection Act -Forest Conservation Act -Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation. -Public
awareness.
UNIT - VII
Human Population and the Environment: Population growth, variation among nations. Population
explosion – Family Welfare Programme. -Environment and human health. -Human Rights. -Value Education.
HIV/AIDS. -Women and Child Welfare. -Role of information Technology in Environment and human health.
–Case Studies. Page 37 of 79
UNIT - VIII
Field work : Visit to a local area to document environmental assets River /forest grassland/hill/mountain -
Visit to a local polluted site Urban/Rural/industrial/ Agricultural Study of common plants, insects, birds. -
Study of simple cosystemspond, river, hill slopes, etc.
Text Books :
1. An Introduction to Environmental Studies by B. Sudhakara Reddy, T. Sivaji Rao,
U. Tataji & K. Purushottam Reddy, Maruti Publications.
Reference :
1. Text Book of Environmental Studies by Deeshita Dave & P. Udaya Bhaskar, Cengage Learning.
2. Environmental Studies by K.V.S.G. Murali Krishna, VGS Publishers, Vijayawada
3. Text Book of Environmental Sciences and Technology by M. Anji Reddy, BS Publications.
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