Ranchi University, Jharkhand, General Semester 2, Environmental Studies Syllabus

Unit 1 : Introduction to environmental studies
Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies;
Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable development.

Unit 2 : Ecosystems
What is an ecosystem? Structure and function of ecosystem; Energy flow in an ecosystem:
food chains, food webs and ecological succession. Case studies of the following ecosystems :
Forest ecosystem
Grassland ecosystem
Desert ecosystem
Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries)

Unit 3 : Natural Resources : Renewable and Non-‐renewable Resources
Land resources and landuse change; Land degradation, soil erosion and desertification.
Deforestation: Causes and impacts due to mining, dam building on environment, forests,
biodiversity and tribal populations.
Water : Use and over-‐exploitation of surface and ground water, floods, droughts, conflicts
over water (international & inter-‐state).
Energy resources : Renewable and non renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy
sources, growing energy needs, case studies.

Unit 4 : Biodiversity and Conservation
Levels of biological diversity : genetic, species and ecosystem diversity; Biogeographic
zones of India; Biodiversity patterns and global biodiversity hot spots
India as a mega-‐biodiversity nation; Endangered and endemic species of India
Threats to biodiversity : Habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-‐wildlife conflicts, biological
invasions; Conservation of biodiversity : In-‐situ and Ex-‐situ conservation of biodiversity.

Ecosystem and biodiversity services: Ecological, economic, social, ethical, aesthetic
and Informational value.

Unit 5 : Environmental Pollution
Environmental pollution : types, causes, effects and controls; Air, water, soil and noise
pollution
Nuclear hazards and human health risks
Solid waste management : Control measures of urban and industrial waste.
Pollution case studies.

Unit 6 : Environmental Policies & Practices
Climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rain and impacts on human
communities and agriculture
Environment Laws: Environment Protection Act; Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution)
Act; Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act; Wildlife Protection Act; Forest
Conservation Act. International agreements: Montreal and Kyoto protocols and Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Nature reserves, tribal populations and rights, and human wildlife conflicts in Indian context.
 

Unit 7 : Human Communities and the Environment
Human population growth: Impacts on environment, human health and welfare.
Resettlement and rehabilitation of project affected persons; case studies.
Disaster management : floods, earthquake, cyclones and landslides.
Environmental movements : Chipko, Silent valley, Bishnois of Rajasthan.
Environmental ethics: Role of Indian and other religions and cultures in environmental
conservation.
Environmental communication and public awareness, case studies (e.g., CNG vehicles
in Delhi).