Page 18 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

UNIT 1: Definition, scope, and multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies, Basic
concepts of the environmental segments -lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and
atmosphere and layers of atmosphere, Concepts of climate and weather.

UNIT 2: Definition and classification of renewable and non-renewable resources with
examples, Concept and major types of natural resources.

UNIT 3: Forest resources: overview of types and classification of forest in India; threats to
forest ecosystem- over-exploitation, timber extraction, deforestation, mining in forest areas,
dams and their effects on forest ecosystems; resettlement of people (definition and basic
concepts only); Conservation strategies – concept and definition of reforestation,
afforestation, social forestry, and agroforestry.

UNIT 4: Water resources: Global distribution of water; water resource types – surface water
(pond, lake, river, estuary), ground water; basic concept of water availability and uses,
freshwater shortages, threats to water sources: overexploitation of surface and groundwater,
water pollution, water logging, floods, drought (definition and basic concepts); conservation
and management of water resources – treatment and reuse of wastewater, concepts of
sanitary disposal of solid waste, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharging, watershed
management, Coastal Regulation Zone – CRZ (definition and basic concept).

UNIT 5: Land and Mineral Resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced
landslides, soil erosion and desertification, Minerals - Use and exploitation, environmental
effects of extracting mineral resources.

UNIT 6: Energy resources: types and classification, energy use pattern in India, growing
energy needs, energy scarcity, fossil fuels and their environmental impact; Clean energy
sources –bioenergy/biofuels, solar, wind, tidal, geothermal energy, nuclear energy (concepts
and definition only), Future fuels: Hydrogen.

BLOCK II: ECOSYSTEMS, BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

(Prerequisite: Awareness regarding ecosystem and the components of ecosystem, an
understanding of the importance of life)

UNIT 1: Concept, Structure and function of an ecosystem
Producers, consumers and decomposers; concept and definition of food chains, food
webs, and ecological pyramids.

UNIT 2: Basic awareness on various ecosystems – forest, desert, grassland,
wetland, aquatic ecosystems .

UNIT 3: Definition and levels of Biodiversity - genetic, species and ecosystem, Value
of biodiversity - consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, and aesthetic
and option values diversity.

UNIT 4: Brief note on India as a mega-diversity nation; hot-spots of biodiversity.

UNIT 5: Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife

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