Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

Unit 1
Introduction to Environmental Science

Table of Contents
SL Topic Fig No / Table SAQ / Page No
No / Graph Activity
1 Introduction - -
3-4
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental - 1
Studies
2.1 Meaning and Definition of Environment - -
5-9
2.2 Definition of Environmental Studies 1 -

2.3 Meaning of natural resources and types - -

of natural resources
3 Scope of Environmental Studies - 2 10-11
4 Importance of Environmental Studies - 3 12-13
5 Sustainability and sustainable development - 4

5.1 Principles of Sustainability-Three pillars 2, 3 -

13-23
5.2 Sustainable Development - -

5.3 Importance of Sustainable Development 4 -

6 Summary - - 23-24
7 Case Study - - 24-25
8 Terminal Questions - - 25
9 Answers - - 26-28
10 Suggested Books and e-References - - 29

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1. INTRODUCTION
The environment consists of the surroundings where we live, and it is the basic necessity of
all living beings. The environment helps an individual to survive and provides natural
resources for livelihood. In this chapter, we will learn about the multidisciplinary nature of
environmental studies, the importance of understanding the concept, and the ways in which
it develops a sustainable environment. In the present times, our environment is facing many
issues such as loss of natural resources, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, etc.

In the multidisciplinary approach, we study the different disciplines that help understand
the concept in-depth, i.e., we study this topic from various other points of viewer disciplines.
The branches of environmental studies include medicine, agriculture, chemistry, geography,
and so on. Environmental studies help understand various environmental changes and how
to make a clean, safe, and healthy ecosystem for survival.

As we know, our daily lives are directly linked with the surroundings and the environment.
It is our responsibility to take care of the environment and understand the importance of
available resources. Environmental study is basic and applied science. It is based not only on
scientific principles but also interlinked with various social sciences concepts.

In this chapter, we will study various concepts related to our daily lives, such as making
decisions, with the environment as the pivot of all these activities. Used resources in the
industries and households are disposed into the environment. The disposal of such items
that cannot be reused or recycled in any form will harm the environment, which further
causes many health, physical, and environmental problems. Therefore, it is important to
know that there is a proper procedure for recycling and decomposing the products that we
consume.

Ecology is a widely used word in environmental concepts—the word is derived from the
Greek word "oekologue", which means the study of the surroundings. Ecology is a concept
that studies organisms, animals, plants, and their relationships.

In environmental studies, we study the ecosystem as a whole, including nature's functional

units, such as living organisms that interact with the surrounding physical environment and
each other. The ecosystem is very wide and is spread across a large space. This is because it

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includes small ponds as well as large forests. The multidisciplinary approach gives a broad
view of the ecosystem, that is, the role that every plant, animal, or living organism plays in
the environment.

In environmental studies, the ecosystem's structure works to create a final output using
inputs such as productivity. This also includes the process of energy transformation, such as
in the food chain, nutrient cycling, etc. This ultimately results in the output, i.e., energy loss
and degradation. The whole cycle works in a circular flow.

1.1. Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
❖ Explain the meaning of the Environment.
❖ Define Environment Studies
❖ Explain the scope and importance of Environment Studies
❖ Describe the concept of Sustainability
❖ Explain the importance of Sustainable Development

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2. MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The multidisciplinary approach means understanding one concept from different angles or
different points of view to identify factors, causes, solutions, etc., with ease. It is a
combination or mixture of different disciplines to provide relevant information on the
concept. We can study the environment from different perspectives or various disciplines.

We will study the environment and environmental studies through a multidisciplinary

approach. The environment comprises of natural resources that are present in our
surroundings. It helps earn a livelihood for some individuals. We will study natural resources
and their types in more detail in further sections of this unit. Survival of the human race on
this planet is impossible without natural resources.

It is essential to understand the importance of natural resources in the environment and

identify the problems related to the exploitation of natural resources that may arise in the
near future. A multidisciplinary approach is a wide concept of environmental studies
consisting of living and non-living species. We must study the ecosystem from various points
of environmental studies. In a multidisciplinary nature, we make decisions to protect our
ecosystem from external environmental changes and disturbances.

The ecosystem has a different lifecycle as it works with the help of biogeochemical cycles
and mechanisms of energy transfer. It consists of abiotic features in an ecosystem, which are
known as non-living organisms such as air, climate, water, etc. It also includes biotic features
or living organisms such as plants and animals.

Environmental studies are a multidisciplinary approach which aims at defining the

correlation between the human beings and the nature. The study of physics, chemistry,
geography and geology talks about the functional and structural organization of the
environment. It also reveals the physical characteristics of the environment. The concepts of
statistics and computer application are applied for data simulation and performing
interpretation of data.

Economics help to develop the knowledge about the social background for growth and
development. The policies formulation for the implementation of all the subject knowledge

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is done with the help of management studies. Thus, environmental studies can be thought as
a multidisciplinary approach.

2.1. Meaning & Definition of Environment

The environment is the outer or external surroundings that help maintain the lifecycles of
human beings, animals, and plants. The environment provides us with natural resources that
are further used for production activities. Various factors influence and affect the growth of
people, animals, and plants in the environment.

The environment also explains the interrelationships among different organisms, factors,
etc. For example, in the environment, man is the geological force that helps maintain balance
in the environment, reshapes the landscape, and favours some organisms. Humans help
protect the natural resources in the environment necessary for survival and growth on the
earth.

2.2. Meaning & Definition of Environmental Studies

Environmental studies deal with the key aspects and issues affecting the natural
environment, different organisms, and human life. Environmental studies incorporate
scientific studies and applied science to seek practical solutions to make everyone's life more
sustainable on earth. The basic necessities for human beings' survival are provided by
nature, i.e., food, shelter, air, and water.

Environmental studies are systematic studies that observe a human's effect on the
environment. In simple words, it studies the effect of the decisions or actions that an
individual or organisation takes every day with respect to the environment, and how it
affects the surroundings.

Environmental study is a single concept itself, but when we talk about the systematic study,
it means involvement of science, which discusses the relationship between human beings
and the environment. Science also focuses on the multidisciplinary view. It is made from the
different disciplines, and it includes the following fields, as shown below:
• Physics
• Biological science
• Geography

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• Philosophy
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• History
• Geology
• Ecology
• Chemistry

Environmental science does not study all concepts. If a researcher or an individual is

interested in studying a certain aspect, he will have to link suitable fields as per the
requirements. For example, if someone wants to study the effect of pollution on
groundwater, he will have to consider the fields of chemistry, biology, geology, etc.

In environmental science, it is known that all organisms have positive or negative effects on
the environment. It is also true that the environment is capable of affecting organisms if
living beings misuse resources. In society, some people recognize themselves as
protectionists or conservationists. These are the people who protect the environment from
any harmful activities and focus on sustainable resource utilisation. Environmental science
helps create awareness among the public about the protection of natural resources and
induces effective decision-making with respect to the use of natural or man-made resources.

Sociology

Economics History

ENVIRONMENTAL
STUDIES

Technology Biological
science
Engineering

Fig 1: Branches of Environmental studies

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2.3. Meaning Of Natural Resources and Types of Natural-Resources

Natural resources are available in the environment and do not involve any human efforts for
production. Natural resources include land, air, water, and minerals, which are very scarce
in our society. We have to protect them from exploitation sit is impossible to survive in an
environment without natural resources, these being the basic necessity for living on the
earth.

The industries that produce goods and services for fulfilling society's requirements are using
natural resources at a large scale, and in the process, are also depleting them. There are two
types of pollutants in the environment, i.e., biodegradable and non-biodegradable pollutants.
Bio-degradable pollutants can be easily decomposed in nature, whereas non-biodegradable
are those that cannot be decomposed in nature. The government of every country takes
necessary actions against the individuals and organizations that participate in the depletion
of natural resources. There are two categories of natural resources, as mentioned below:
A. Renewable natural resources: These are the resources that can be used and
generated with other natural processes.

For example, a forest is a renewable resource, and if trees from the forest are cut down to
produce goods, we can plant new trees and take measures to conserve the forest. Another
example is solar energy, which can be produced with the help of solar panels, thus saving
electricity costs. Solar energy is generated with the help of sun rays on solar panels.

B. Non-renewable natural resources: These resources cannot be regenerated, and their

absence will affect the environment badly. Thus, it is very important for society to
procure and safeguard non-renewable resources.

These resources are not available in large quantities as they are limited, and we cannot
increase their availability. The two types of non-renewable resources are mentioned below.

1. Recyclable: Example: Aluminium from old cars, Aluminium cans

2. Non-recyclable: Example: Coal, Fossil fuels, Mineral Oil

For example, fossil fuels are available today, but if they get depleted in the future, it will not
be possible to reconstitute them or make them available in the environment again.

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Natural resources cannot be developed as they are available naturally under the surface,
above the surface, and on the surface. Under-the-surface, resources like coal, minerals, etc.,
are further used to produce industrial equipment. Several countries have a large number of
natural resources, i.e., they could be rich in any kind of natural resources such as petroleum,
coal, etc.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. Which of the following branches does environmental studies not include?

a) Accounts
b) Geography
c) Technology
d) Economics
2. In Recyclable resources we include things which can be recycled such as
Aluminum cans, etc. [True/False]
3. Non-renewable resources are available in huge quantity and can be consumed
at large scale. [True/False]
4. How will you create awareness about the positive measures needed for the
benefit of the environment?
a) By creating social groups in society
b) By spreading information on social media
c) By providing the right guidance to the people
d) All of the above
5. _______________ is the energy that can be converted with the help of sun rays.
6. Pollutants that are easy to manage and decompose in nature are known as
_____________________.

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3. SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The scope of environmental studies encompasses the aspects related to environmental
studies or sciences. Scope enables decision-making and helps in finding a suitable solution
against environmental exploitation. We know that the urban and rural population and
industries use the resources. However, most of the resources in huge quantities are
consumed by the urban population, who are also the least food producers. Urban people
generate a large amount of waste after the consumption of resources as compared to rural
people. Understanding the scope is equally important for everyone in society. The study has
a broad scope and helps identify the environment's cause-and-effect relationships.

• It explains the different types of resources available in the environment, i.e., non-
renewable, and renewable resources.
• It also identifies alternative solutions to environmental problems.
• It applies theoretical knowledge to the practical world and helps in understanding
multiple uses of the environment.
• It creates awareness among people for sustainable utilisation of the available
resources.
• It focuses on developing eco-friendly technologies for the production processes in
companies
• It emphasizes more on research and developmentin the area of resource utilization.
Environmentalists focus on promoting a sustainable culture
• It gives information related to ecology and how to protect the species of animals and
plants from danger
• It also guides and helps citizens who live and use natural resources from their
surroundings to make good choices and appropriate decisions by knowing
environmental facts, rules, regulations, etc., to protect the environment
• It also helps in guiding the people about 3 R's in environmental studies, i.e., reduce,
reuse and recycle. Everyone needs to understand this for a safe and clean environment

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There are four segments that we need to focus on, in order to understand the components of
the earth. They are given as follows:
1. Atmosphere: It is composed of oxygen and nitrogen and saves all species, including
humans, from the hostile environment of outer space. The atmosphere helps to sustain
life on the earth. It absorbs the cosmic rays and radiation from the rays of the sun.
2. Hydrosphere: This segment consists of all types of water resources that are naturally
available to the environment, such as rivers, oceans, lakes, glaciers, seas, etc. In the
hydrosphere, 100 percent of the water resources are distributed in the following ways:
a. About 97 percent of the earth's supply of water is in the oceans.
b. Only 2 percent of water is available and locked in the glaciers.
c. 1 percent of water is available as fresh water in rivers, lakes, etc.
3. Biosphere: It consists of all the living organisms and their interaction with the
surroundings, atmosphere, and other environmental components such as the
hydrosphere and lithosphere.
4. Lithosphere: It consists of the natural resources available under and above the surface,
such as minerals, and it is the outer layer of solid earth. It includes various types of
rocks on the earth.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

7. Which of the following combinations is the best fit for the 3 R's that are
concerned with the environment?
a) Reduce, reuse, recycle
b) Recall, register, read
c) Reuse, recall, rate
d) Restrict, recycle, read
8. Which of the element includes interaction between surroundings and other
environmental components?
a. Lithosphere
b. Biosphere
c. Hydrosphere
d. Atmosphere
9. __________________ Segment or Sphere of Earth is composed of nitrogen and
oxygen.

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4. IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

As the environment is very dynamic in nature, we should understand the importance of the
environmental study based on the comprehensive view related to the environment system.
The understanding helps make citizens to independently take decisions to protect the
environment.The citizens who live in the present environment are responsible for positively
and negatively impacting the environment. Listed below is the importance of environmental
studies.

• As we know, the population is increasing day by day, so we need to control the

utilization of resources
• In today's time, resources are exploited to the fullest, and it is important to take action
to reserves resources for the future needs
• It is essential to provide education and create awareness about the environment,
biodiversity, and ecology. There is a rise in pollution and other harmful activities in the
environment, affecting the life of a human being
• The environmental study helps in maintaining the ecological balance between the
environment and the organisms, as it makes people aware of our surroundings
• The environmental study also allows the solving of real-time problems by applying
methodologies, techniques, and ethical practices in the businesses and by doing CSR
activities
• As we know, pollution is a result of the decomposition of waste from various industries,
which affects the rivers, air quality, etc. It is important to consider the economic
activities or the activities to operate the business and earnings for survival. However,
it is important to understand the environmental studies approach to take necessary
actions for controlling pollution and preserving the environment from side effects.
• This multidisciplinary approach in environmental studies includes management and
awareness that tries to identify how society can make profits without exploiting the
environment. As the natural resources get exploited to a large extent for the growth of
society's can balance our environmental condition only by using minimum natural
resources and by avoiding methods or practices that lead to environmental pollution.
So the concepts of geology, economics, and ecology are consideredimportant in the
study of the environment

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• The environment provides the natural resources required by man for producing goods
and services. These resources include land, air, water, food, timber, etc. We have
studied that some resources are renewable, and some are non-renewable. Hence, it is
important to preserve these resources and save them for future needs. Everyone is
aware that most natural resources are scarce. Hence it becomes essential to adopt the
optimum utilization of resources

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

10. It is very important to create awareness among people, about the scarcity of
resources and for better utilization of resources so that we can preserve resources
for fulfilling future needs. [True/False]
11. To understand the concept of Environmental Studies, Geology, Ecology and
Economics are not required. [True/False]

5. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Have you ever considered what if all the resources available today will get depleted and not
available for use in the future? What if the coming generations would not be able to use these
available resources? How will they survive and live their lives without these resources that
are the necessities of life?

The population of the world is growing at a constantly increasing rate. The availability of
resources is limited. How will upcoming generations be able to use these resources? To
resolve this problem, here comes the concept of sustainability. The word sustainability has
been derived from the Latin word 'sustinere,' which means to hold or support. The basic
meaning of the word sustainability is something that can be kept continued.

The concept of sustainability depicts that the available resources should be used in the most
efficient ways to be saved to the maximum limit for future use. The existence of humankind
cannot be possible without the sustainability concept. All the civilizations that existed in
history have made use of sustainability and had spread awareness during their time so that
the natural resources could be saved for the future to fulfill the upcoming civilizations' needs.

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Every civilization is responsible for giving rise to another civilization in the form of human
life that cannot survive without having the necessities of the life-like water, food, land,
forests, etc. But such natural resources are limited and take a longer time to renew. They
may soon get depleted too if not used judiciously. To preserve these resources that are
normally an essential part of the people's daily lives for billions of years, these resources
need to be taken care of, properly.

To sustain the environment, the environment's ecological balance should not be disturbed
so that the resources can take their natural processes to get renewed over a specific time.
This can be explained best through the example - If the rate of deforestation keeps on
increasing at an alarming rate, there are more possibilities that there will be less rain or no
rain in the upcoming years, that in turn will ruin the soil fertility, stop plant growth, dry up
natural water bodies, drop the availability of the water on land, make the air drier and
polluted, and increase the temperature. Infertile land will not grow crops well.

Evaporated water bodies will confine the accessible amount of water downpour which
assists with absorbing the destructive particles in the air. The temperature will increase due
to the unavailability of rain that can increase the effect of scorching heat. Such problems will
give rise to many disasters like famine, floods, drought, earthquakes, etc., that can be a reason
to end human life to a larger extent. This is why we need to study the concept of
sustainability, as it helps in utilizing the available resources as per the individual's
requirement and sustaining them for future requirements.

5.1. Principles of Sustainability

There are three aspects of sustainability, such as social aspects, environmental aspects, and
economic aspects. These are also called pillars of sustainability, which depict that the process
of sustainability cannot be implemented without satisfying these three principles. These
three principles are interrelated to each other such that if any one of these aspects is not
satisfied, the process of sustainability cannot be completed. Let us understand how these
pillars affect sustainability.

1. Social aspect: The social parameter of sustainability depicts society and its adapted
cultures and practices. It emphasizes spreading awareness in society to conserve

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natural resources and adopt practices that will encourage others to conserve the
environment and be attentive towards the efficient use of resources.

Many laws and legislation are being formulated and implemented to support these
conservative practices, non-compliance, which can be considered a severely punishable
offence.

This can be explained with an example. Water is required for performing some household
chores like dishwashing. In order to conserve water, people are informed to practice water-
saving techniques to complete household chores. People are recommended to use practices
such as rainwater harvesting, installing hand pumps, etc., and in some countries, people are
instructed by law to pay water tax for using water resources. The revenue from such tax
collection is used to install water-saving techniques in the country.

2. Economic aspect: More often, business firms have access to natural resources for
using them in business operations. Business firms make profits by establishing their
operations by using these resources. So, to preserve the resources from being exploited
by the businesses, certain eco-friendly operations are to be implemented. Businesses
are directed to pay the cost so as to use these resources in the form of doing something
for environmental conservation. For example, manufacturing businesses are instructed
to treat the chemicals that are used in the production of their products before dumping
them into the water bodies. Business firms are also directed to pay all the required
taxes to use natural resources for commercial purposes in order to comply with all the
established laws and legislation.
3. Environmental aspect: This aspect depicts the concept of reuse and recycle. The social
and economic aspects consist of the environmental concept. Every entity, whether an
individual person or a business firm, is formalized to take up eco-friendly practices that
will not disturb the ecological balance. Every entity that is deriving any kind of benefit
from the environment should contribute to the environment. This, in turn, will add
balance to the environment and maintain the same for the longest period. People and
business entities are required to use bio-degradable products that will not harm the
biological elements such as wildlife and plants on the earth. People using banana leaves

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as a plate for consuming food in the Indian state of Kerala can be considered as one of
the best eco-friendly practices.

Social

Economic

Environmental

Fig 2: Three Pillars of Sustainability

You must now know how social aspect, economic aspect, and environmental aspects are
interrelated to each other. Let's take another example to clearly understand the relationship
between these three pillars and how they are interdependent on each other.

Farmers in Rajasthan are in the habit of practicing rainwater harvesting to conserve water
in the rainy season so that it can be used for the entire year as Rajasthan receives less rainfall
and often encounters a shortage of the water level in the state. So, farmers build multiple
cement tanks in their farmyards or keep big drums in their houses that can be filled by
rainwater in the rainy season. After the rainy season ends, these tanks and drums are
covered for using the stored water over a period of one year. The water is used for household
and irrigation purposes. The tanks and drums are fitted with pipelines to provide irrigation
facilities to the crop fields for the whole year. Various farmers pool money to construct the
tanks as it is costly, and when the cycle revives, they construct more tanks together with the
money they receive after selling their crops.

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Similarly, hand pumps are fitted in every house to use conserved groundwater in desert
areas. Also, the groundwater conservation facilities are fitted with pipelines to use
groundwater for irrigation purposes rather than household purposes.

A few more sustainability practices are mentioned below

Use of cow Use of solar

dung as biogas enery for
to cook food. electricity.

Construction
Use of
of artificial
paperbags
lakes to
instead of
conserve
plastic bags.
water.

Fig 3: Sustainability in Practice in the Real World

You have studied how resources can be preserved through various traditional and eco-
friendly practices rather than modern technology-oriented practices. You must have noted
that there were many traditional practices in history, which were successful in using natural
resources without any wastage.

The alarming rate of depletion of resources has made some countries strict and aware of
environmental resources. Many countries have passed the laws and implemented them
strictly to follow the sustainability concept mandatorily. Some of the laws are stated below.
❖ Environment Protection Act, 1986, India
❖ Environmental Impact Assessment Act, China
❖ Environmental Impact Assessment Act, 2000, Austria
❖ Air Pollution Control Law, Japan
❖ Water(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, India
❖ The Forests Act, Kenya

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❖ Chemical Act of 2008, Ireland

These laws are meant to protect the various bio-diversities in the environment, non-
compliance of which can be considered a severe offense and can attract heavy punishments
and penalties. Multinational companies are specially administered to follow these laws and
regulations on a mandatory basis. They are supposed to pay various taxes and complete legal
procedures to use environmental and societal resources. These taxes and legal procedures
ensure that any activity done for the purpose of business would not harm the environment
and society. In fact, companies are often told to execute some welfare programs for the
environment and society to exchange the resources used for business purposes.

5.2. Sustainable Development

You must have often watched around you the construction of certain heavy infrastructure
such as dams, installation of windmills, construction of water tanks at height, the
establishment of artificial lakes, installation of solar panels, etc. These infrastructures are
built to preserve natural resources and use them for various personal or commercial
purposes such as producing electricity and energy, providing irrigation facilities, and many
more.

Thus, we can say that infrastructure is developed to assist the sustenance of natural
resources. This is called sustainable development. Sustainable development refers to
meeting the present human needs by keeping in mind the needs of future generation.
Sustainable development ensures that the future generation needs will not be compromised
for meeting the present needs. Let us now discuss some of the techniques of sustainable
development to understand the concept more clearly.

1. Use of wind energy: Wind is considered as a renewable source of energy and is

available permanently. The wind is used to produce electricity and power using
windmills and wind turbines. These are the heavy pillars installed in the large open
grounds where the flow of wind is uninterrupted.
2. Use of solar energy: Sun is an unlimited source of energy, and so, solar panels are
installed to produce electricity and thermal energy to make it useful for various
commercial and personal purposes.

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3. Crop rotation: It is the practice of planting different crops in the same field to enhance
or increase soil fertility for a longer period. Some of the crops are planted as they are
good for improving the soil's quality so that other crops planted subsequently can
receive the required nutrients and minerals.
4. Green Space: Green spaces are created or left for the wildlife and the plants to grow
and prosper. There are green fields that are specially created for the flora and fauna so
that they can grow and develop without any hindrances.
5. Rainwater harvesting: Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing
rainwater in cemented tanks or in an artificial reservoir so that it can be used later for
various purposes. It is very important to implement rainwater harvesting practices as
we know there is a shortage of water due to dried lakes, rivers, etc.
6. Use of CNG gas: Nowadays, motor vehicles are fitted with compressed natural gas
rather than tanks of petrol and other fuels. CNG is also an environment-friendly gas that
does not produce pollution, thus reducing air pollution.
7. Use of biogas: Earlier, rural areas used biogas for cooking with the help of cow dung
and food waste, but now urban areas have also adopted the same practice, reducing the
use of liquefied petroleum gas. Biogas is made using natural waste from the
environment and is eco-friendly in nature. Today, many households in urban areas are
fitted with biogas pipelines.

5.3. Importance of Sustainable Development

Let us now understand the importance of sustainable development:
1. Eco- friendly: The techniques used for sustainable development and conservation of
nature are eco-friendly and do not introduce any harmful emissions and waste material
into the environment.
2. Limited use of scarce resources: The concept of sustainable development makes it
possible to use scarce natural resources in a limited and restricted form. This promotes
the idea of using such resources in the most efficient ways.
3. Promotion of efficient living: Sustainable development focuses on implementing the
techniques that will make the living standard of urban and rural people efficient
enough. It mainly focuses on practicing the lifestyle that is based on saving up the
resources and hence, satisfying all the basic needs of the people.

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4. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle: Sustainable development lays emphasis on using

renewable sources of energy for daily life activities. This prevents every person from
getting exposed to harmful emissions and production of waste from man-made sources
of energy that pollute the environment and hence, saving the people from suffering due
to severe diseases.
5. Maintaining ecological balance: The use of eco-friendly practices and renewable
sources of energy does not hamper the growth and balance of the environment and
prevents the occurrence of any disaster. The environment and its elements can take
their own natural time to prosper and renew.
6. Depletion of limited or natural resources: If we know that the natural resources are
available in limited quantity in the environment, it can be substituted by unlimited
resources such as human-made resources. Only those resources can be replaced that is
possible to do. This will help to reduce the rate of depletion of natural resources. As
well as, nature can preserve them for a more extended period.
7. Up gradation of living standards: As discussed above, sustainable development lays
focus on efficient living and so, it allows human beings to develop through these
efficient ways. It establishes the techniques to develop a standard of living and increase
the quality of life.
8. Clean energy and clean water: The concept of sustainability provides us with clean
energy to use, which will not harm us and the planet earth in any way. The methods of
sustainability make it possible for us to use clean water that is preserved and purified.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

12. What refers to the development done for making the natural resources to
sustain?
a) Sustainable development
b) Sustaining development
c) Infrastructure development
d) None of the above
13. What is called the space created for the growth of flora and fauna?
a) Wide space
b) Green space
c) White space
d) None of the above
14. What do you mean by sustainable development?
a) Eco-friendly in nature
b) Helpful in attaining healthy lifestyle
c) Helpful in conserving the natural resources
d) All of the above
15. _________________ is the process of cutting down of forests.
16. The _________________ aspects of Principle of Sustainability talks about using
eco-friendly business operations for manufacturing of goods and services
and for earning profits in business.
17. Environmental Impact Assessment Act, China is considered as the law to
protect biodiversities from exploitation. [True/False]
18. The process of collecting and storing rainwater in cemented tanks or in an
artificial reservoir is known as Rainwater harvesting. [True/False]

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Introduction to
Environmental
Science

Importance
of
Multidisciplinary
environment
nature of
al studies
environmental studies

Scope of
environment
Meaning and al studies
Meaning of
types of
environment
natural
resources

Definition of Concept of
environmental sustainability Importance
studies of
sustainable
development

Principles of
sustainability Sustainable
Meaning and development
description of
environmental
studies

Fig 4: Conceptual Map

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6. SUMMARY
• The environment consists of living and non-living things that are important for
economic growth. Each and every species, human being, plants have a major role in
economic growth.
• Various elements are present in the environment,contributing to the ecosystem and
playing a vital role in economic development
• There are two types of resources, renewable and non-renewable, provided to us by
nature. Renewable resources such as timber can replenish with natural regrowth, but
non-renewable resources cannot replenish and are thus available in a limited quantity
• Various problems, such as over-exploitation, and scarcity of resources,
industrialization, pollution, deforestation, etc., affect our environment
• There is a need to create public awareness to stop unethical, illegal, and hazardous
activities that damage our environment
• The multidisciplinary approach involves the study of environmental science from the
aspect of physics, sociology, geology, history, law, and chemistry
• In a multidisciplinary approach, there are three economic development concepts:
environmental pollution and conservation of resources
• The scope of environmental studies focuses on how we can use technology for the
purpose of environmental safety
• Sustainability is the process of using the available resources to meet the requirement
of the present generation such that it does not compromise the needs of the future
generation
• There are three pillars of sustainability—social, economic, and environmental.
• The governments of different countries have implemented various laws that help
citizens comply with sustainability
• Multinational companies are specially instructed to follow the laws for the use of
natural resources for business purposes
• Sustainable development involves such infrastructure development that the natural
resources remain conserved for future use
• Sustainable development can be implemented in various ways, such as the use of wind
and solar energy, rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, use of CNG and biogas

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• The concept of sustainable development is important in various aspects such as social,

economic and environmental
❖ Social aspects talks about creating awareness among people for conserving natural
resources, better living standards, etc.
❖ Economic aspects talks about the generation of income, profits for livelihood. It
includes activities related to employment, economic growth, research and
development.
❖ The environmental aspect talks about the scarcity of resources how we can preserve
natural resources for fulfilling future needs. It includes resource management,
policies related to the prevention of resources, etc.

7. CASE STUDY
COCA-COLA, INDIA
In 2009, Coca Cola faced severe criticism for exploiting the ground water and natural
resources for its plant operations at various remote locations in India. The company
allegedly overused the ground water and other natural resources for operating its plants and
dumped the wastewater in the agricultural fields. It also dumped toxic wastes near its
bottling facilities. All this affected the lives of the poor farmers and the local people by
polluting the natural resources and preventing them from using those resources. The
depletion of ground water caused water scarcity in the area which led to severe criticism.

To redress these criticisms and allegations, Coca-Cola took many initiatives for
implementing sustainability development at the location of its plants. It undertook many
practices such as rainwater harvesting and groundwater restoration. It adopted water-
neutral methods to minimize the use of water in its operations.

Coca Cola also took initiatives such as recycling and reusing its bottles to prevent the
excessive use of natural resources and conserve them. It also started many welfare
programmes for the benefit of the local communities near its plants. Coca Cola took these
initiatives on the global level to encourage green and eco-friendly strategies.

Source: Article from times of India newspaper, 27 November 2017

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Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss all the concerns hampering the environment in the case of Coca Cola.
2. In reference to the Coca Cola case, explain why is it the need of the hour to change the
industrial development strategy globally and focus on sustainable socio-economic
development?
3. Discuss few other ways by which industries or businesses can be made more
responsible for sustainable development of the environment.

8. TERMINAL QUESTIONS
Short Answer Questions
Q1.List some natural resources?
Q2. Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources.
Q3.What is meant by multidisciplinary nature?
Q4.What is sustainable development?
Q5. What are the three principles of Sustainability?

Long Answer Questions

Q1.Explain the scope and importance of environmental studies.
Q2.List three elements of Sustainability and explain them.
Q3.Explain the three pillars of Sustainability in your own words.

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9. ANSWERS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. A. Accounts
2. True
3. False
4. D. All of the above
5. Solar energy
6. Biodegradable pollutants
7. A. Reduce, reuse, recycle
8. B. Biosphere
9. Atmosphere
10. True
11. False
12. A. Sustainable development
13. B. Greenspace
14. D. All of the above
15. Deforestation
16. Economic
17. True
18. True

Terminal Questions
Short Answer Questions
Answer 1: Natural resources are generated from the environment, i.e., resources that are
naturally and freely available such as air, sunlight, minerals, etc. Human beings cannot
generate natural resources as we have only one source for natural resources, i.e., the
environment. Natural resources are of two types, renewable resources, and non-renewable
resources.

Answer 2: Renewable resources can be renewed over time from available resources. Ex:
Electricity can be generated from solar panels. Renewable resources can be generated if they
are not present in the environment with natural process help such as solar energy, wind

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energy, wood, etc. At the same time, non-renewable resources cannot be renewed over time
due to the scarcity of resources such as natural gas, oil, and coal. They cannot be generated
with natural processes.

Answer 3: Multidisciplinary nature helps understand environmental studies from different

perspectives such as philosophy, physics, geography, history, etc. With this help, we can
understand the problems and solutions related to environmental problems from various
aspects and make decisions accordingly.

Answer 4: Sustainable development is recognized as an organizing principle related to the

economic growth that is continuously involved in maintaining the ecosystem and natural
resources. It is considered as a development that focuses on current requirements without
compromising on future needs.

Answer 5: There are three principles of sustainability, which are as follows:

1. Social aspect: The social aspect of sustainability encourages society's people to
conserve natural resources. It includes environmental safety and health, use of
marketing communication for creating awareness related to natural resources, etc.
2. Economic aspect: The economic aspect depicts how the business uses eco-friendly
resources to operate its business to earn revenues. Economic elements talk about the
financial position of the economy. Businesses should prevent our resources by utilizing
them in a better way so that they will not cause any harm to society. In this, it includes
giving better product and services to society, Employment opportunity, etc.
3. Environmental aspect: The environmental aspect helps use eco-friendly products for
business operations, that can be easily recycled and reused. It includes green initiatives,
resource management, etc.

Long Answer Questions

Answer 1: The scope and importance of environmental studies are very important to
understand, as listed below:
• It helps in creating public awareness among citizens and industries
• As we know, resources are scarce in nature, and their preservation is very important
• It is important to develop eco-friendly products and technologies for safety purposes.

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• As the population is increasing, the utilization of resources is also increasing, and we

should use resources as per our requirement only and do not waste them.

Answer 2: Sustainability is described as an ability to endure continually. It concentrates on

the needs or requirements of the present generation without disturbing the future
generation's needs. The three elements of sustainability are:
• Environmental: the environmental element is also informally recognized as the
planet. The environmental element introduces the concept of recycling and reuse. It
assists businesses or individuals to utilize the eco-friendly practices that later recycle
and reuse.
• Social: The social element is also recognized as people. It involves spreading
information in society regarding how to preserve natural resources.
• Economic: Economic element of sustainability is also known as profit. It emphasizes
the business to use eco-friendly procedures and resources which help in protecting the
environment. It also helps cut-off extra expenses and keeps nature happy.

Answer 3: The three pillars of sustainability are social, economic, and environmental
1. Social Pillar: Social pillar of sustainability involves spreading awareness among the
society and culture to prevent natural resources. It also encourages people to use the
natural resources attentively that do not harm the environment or surrounding. To
protect the environment, many laws, rules, and regulations are imposed by the
government.
2. Economic Pillar: Many companies or businesses utilize natural resources in their
production and operations in today's era. The economic pillar suggests that the
industries use eco-friendly resources, so they are later recycled or reused, reducing
production costs and protecting the environment.
3. Environmental Pillar: The environmental pillar introduces the theory of recycling and
reuse. Environmental pillars highlight the use of eco-friendly resources to reduce the
expense and emphasizes other people to adopt eco-friendly practices.

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11. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND E-REFERENCES

BOOKS:
• Agarwal, K.C. (2001) Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd. Bikaner.
• Bharucha Erach, The Biodiversity of India, Mapin Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad –
380 013, India,
• Dr. B.S. Chauhan, (2008) Environmental Studies, Laxmi publications Pvt. Ltd. Delhi.
• Dr. Y.K. Singh, Environmental Science, New age international private publishers, Delhi.
• Sharma, P.D., (1997), Ecology and Environment, Rastogi Publications, Meerut

E-REFERENCES:
• Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses, viewed on 14 February 2021,
<https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/modelcurriculum/env.pdf>
• Environmental Studies, viewed on 14 February 2021,
<https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Pw6WiYiHPhIC&printsec=frontcover&source=
gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
• Sustainability-What is it? Definition, Principles and Examples, viewed on 15 February
2021, <https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-sustainability-definition-
examples-principles/>
• Sustainable Development, viewed on 15 February 2021, <https://www.conserve-
energy-future.com/what-is-sustainable-development-and-its-goals.php>
• Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies, viewed on 14 February
2021,<https://aits-tpt.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Environmental-Studies-
Lecture-notes.doc-I_Betech_-ECE-CSE-EEE-CEME_III-Sem_BR.pdf>
• Multidisciplinary nature of Environmental Studies, viewed on 14 February 2021,
<http://assets.cambridge.org/97811075/36173/excerpt/9781107536173_excerpt.p
df>

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit 2: Ecosystems 1
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Unit 2
Ecosystems
Table of Contents

SL Topic Fig No / Table SAQ / Page No

No / Graph Activity
1 Introduction - -
4-5
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Ecosystem - 1

2.1 Meaning of Ecosystem - - 6-9

2.2 Definition of Ecosystem 1 -

3 Structure and Function of Ecosystem - 2, I

3.1 Structure of Ecosystem - - 10-13

3.2 Function of Ecosystem - -

4 Flow of Energy - 3

4.1 Energy 2 -

4.2 First law of thermodynamics - -

14-18
4.3 Second law of thermodynamics - -

4.4 Energy flow - -

4.5 Nitrogen cycle 3 -

5 Food chains 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 4
19-22
5.1 Types of Food chain - -
6 Food webs and ecological succession with 9, 10 5
examples
- - 22-26
6.1 Hydosere
6.2 Xerosere - -
7 Land Resources and Land Use Change - 6

7.1 Functions of Land - -

27-30
7.2 Land Use - -

7.3 Types of Land Use - -

8 Land Degradation - 7 31-34

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8.1 Reasons for Land Degradation - -

8.2 Effects of Land Degradation 11 -

8.3 Measures for Preventing Land - -

Degradation
9 Deforestation - 8

9.1 Causes for Deforestation - - 35-40

9.2 Effects of Deforestation - -

10 Summary - - 40
11 Glossary - - 41
12 Case Study - - 41-44
13 Terminal Questions - - 44
14 Answers - - 45-48
15 Suggested Books and e-References - - 49

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1. INTRODUCTION
In the present times, due to progress, our world is facing various problems such as loss of
natural resources, ozone layer depletion, global warming, etc. In the multidisciplinary
approach, we study the different concepts that help to understand the concept in-depth,
which means we study smaller units under the ecosystem from various other points or
disciplines to understand the ecosystem from a broader aspect. Environmental studies help
understand various environmental phenomena that occur naturally within the ecosystem.

As we know, our day-to-day activities are directly associated with the surroundings and the
organisms in the ecosystem. It is our responsibility to respect each organism in the
ecosystem and take care of the environment. Environmental study is basic and applied
science. It mostly talks about the social sciences. In this chapter, we will study various
concepts related to the structure and functioning of ecosystems, human life processes, food
chain, etc. There are many organisms in the environment that interact with each other, which
comprises the ecosystem. Humans should make a conscious effort to ensure not to disturb
the rhythm of the ecosystem due to our development. Therefore, it is important to know that
there should be proper sustainable development to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

Ecology is a word that is widely used in environmental concepts; the word is derived from
the Greek word "oekologue", which means the study of the surroundings. Ecology is a
concept that studies organisms, animals, plants, and their relationships.

In environmental studies, we study the ecosystem as a whole including nature's functional

units such as living organisms that interact with the surrounding physical environment and
with each other. The ecosystem is very wide and is spread across a large space. The
multidisciplinary approach gives a broad view of the ecosystem, that is, the role that each
and every plant, animal or any other living organism plays in the environment. This also
includes the flow of energy, such as in the food chain, nutrient cycling, etc. This ultimately
results in the harmony of the energy. The whole cycle works in a circular flow.

In this unit, let's look at some factors that cause the degradation in land resources. We will
also see some of the powerful renewable energies, which are:

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• Hydropower: This energy is generated by converting the mechanical energy of

flowing water into electrical energy.
• Geothermal energy: This energy comes from the heat generated in the deep core of
Earth.
• Wind energy: The turning of wind turbines generates wind energy.
• Solar energy: Sun’s radiation can be converted to electricity using photovoltaic cells.

1.1 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
❖ Explain the meaning of the ecosystem.
❖ Explain the structure and function of ecosystem.
❖ Describe the concept of food chains and food webs.
❖ Explain the importance of food chains and food webs in the environment.
❖ Describe how deforestation and other human activities have caused degradation in our
environment

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2. ECOSYSTEM
We will study the environment and environmental studies
STUDY NOTE
through a multidisciplinary approach. The environment
The incentives to promote a
comprises of different organisms that are present in our
greener environment are
surroundings. It helps to establish a relation between many proving to be a success. In
2018, as per EIA (U.S energy
organisms. We will study the structure and function of the information
administration), renewable
ecosystem and the different interactions occurring within them energy produced was close
in further sections. Survival of any organism is impossible in to 11.5 quadrillion Btu
(British thermal units).
isolation. It is essential to understand the importance of
interdependence in the environment and identify the problems that may arise related to the
ecosystem's disturbance in the near future. A multidisciplinary approach is a very wide
concept of environmental studies consisting of living and non-living species.

We have to study the ecosystem in every aspect of environmental studies. When we talk
about the multidisciplinary nature, based on our awareness, we make decisions towards
protecting our ecosystem from external environmental changes and disturbance. The
ecosystem has a different lifecycle as it works with the help of biogeochemical cycles and
mechanisms of energy transfer. It consists of abiotic features in an ecosystem, which includes
non-living organisms such as air, climate, water, etc. It also includes biotic features or living
organisms such as plants and animals.

The term "ecosystem" refers to an individual, corporation, or other institution recognised as

part of a larger structure of which each small component interacts and is interdependent to
survive.

2.1. Meaning & Definition of Ecosystem

STUDY NOTE
The natural process occurring in the environment helps in
Ecosystem includes
maintaining the lifecycles of human beings, animals, and plants. understanding the
There are various factors that influence and affect the growth of organisms and their
interactions that affect
people, animals, and plants in the environment. The environment the environment.

also explains the interrelationships among different organisms,

factors, etc.

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For example, in the environment, man is the geological force that helps to maintain balance
in the environment, reshapes the landscape, and favours some organisms. Humans help to
protect the natural species in the environment necessary for survival and growth on the
earth.

A selection of species and their physical space is referred to as an ecosystem. The term
"ecosystem" refers to the different ways in which an organism communicates with and is
affected by its surroundings. The environment combines the "food chain" and "food web"
principles, allowing for a deeper understanding of interdependence and consumption
relationships. Plants, for example, provide animals with not only food but also shelter, shade,
moisture, and other advantages.

While organisms in an ecosystem can compete or prey on one another, the ecosystem
principle emphasizes interdependence — one organism's reliance on another or the
ecosystem as a whole.

Ecosystems have historically been thought of as economic and social structures. Suppliers,
partners, and other users, as well as the market's function and behavior, infrastructure, and
social background, make up an "ecosystem". Suppliers and other partners are creating an
environment that encourages relationship-building by forming partnerships with other
firms that may be our rivals, or any other firm existing in the market. The partnership is
formed to take extra advantages in society in terms of economic interactions, growth, and
development. There are a plethora of possible economic relationships, just as there are a
plethora of possible biological ecosystem relationships.

"ecosystem" is interchangeable with "machine," which refers to social actions. The term
"ecosystem" is used to describe the shared internal dependencies of a larger structure,
particularly when they apply to a specific component. To understand B's dependency on A
in the wider sense, one might claim, "A is part of B's ecosystem." As a result, "ecosystem" is
almost a synonym for "climate," but it emphasizes the nature of different facets of the
environment rather than seeing it as a whole.

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2.2. Meaning of Ecosystem

Ecosystem is a unit made up of all the species (biological factors) in a given region interacting
with the physical factors in the ecosystem to create a well-defined trophic (nutrient-
requiring) structure, biotic diversity, and material cycles as a result of a flow of energy (i.e.,
exchange of materials between living and non-living sectors).

The abiotic elements of an ecosystem include rocks, vegetation, air, water, sunshine, and all
other non-living elements, while the biotic elements include all of the ecosystem's living
members. Two main factors link these elements: the flow of energy within the ecosystem
and the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem. The Sun is the source of sunlight in
ecosystems. The sun's energy is passed on to the ecosystem's autotrophic, or self-sustaining
species, which use photosynthesis to generate energy in the form of carbohydrates.

Source- unese.campusquotient.org
Fig 1: Ecosystem

2.3. Definition of Ecosystem

The ecosystem is a functional and structural unit of ecology in which living organisms
interact with one another and with their physical surroundings. To put it another way, an
ecosystem is the product of a series of encounters between the living and non-living
organisms and their surroundings.

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A.G. Tansley, an English botanist, was the first to coin the word "ecosystem" in 1935. A
specified physical area made up of two inseparable components is referred to as an
ecosystem.

• Abiotic: A living world that has specific physical properties, such as temperature, wind,
and humidity.
• Biotic: A group of living beings that is constantly in contacts with one another, such as
plants, animals, or even small microorganisms and is, therefore, in a situation of mutual
dependence.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. Which of the above is not an ecosystem component?

a) Micro-organism
b) Animals
c) Plants
d) None of these
2. The physical environment is referred as biotic component of the ecosystem.
[True/False]
3. A group of living organisms who are independent on each other and interact for
survival in the environment refers to _________________ components.
4. The __________________ component comprises of factors like humidity, light which has
only physical properties.

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3. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF ECOSYSTEM

The organisms that make up an ecosystem communicate with one another as well as the
physical environments in their respective ecosystems. Clarke says, "The animals and
physical characteristics of the landscape shape an ecosystem" (1954).

A.G. Tansley was the first to propose the environment idea (1935). The ecosystem is the most
important ecological entity. It is both structurally and functionally sound. The arrangement
is designed to represent the species' diversity.

According to E.P. Odum, an ecosystem is the fundamental functional unit of an organism and
its environment interacting with one another. The ecosystem's core functions are energy
transfer, decomposition, nitrogen cycling, and major biomes.

3.1. Structure of Ecosystem

The structure of an ecosystem comprises two essential components.
1. Abiotic component
2. Biotic component
1. Abiotic components: These include non-living factors which impact the distribution
of organisms. This consists of the following:
(i) Inorganic substances which occur in the form of compounds dissolved in soil or in a
free state. For example, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, sulphur and
micro-nutrients, etc.
(ii) Organic compounds are the compounds on which all living beings are dependent for
their survival. For examples, lipid, proteins, carbohydrate, nucleic acids, vitamins etc.
(iii) These natural elements, like temperature, light, water, gases, wind, humidity,
soil, etc., are included in the abiotic component. They are all physical properties.
2. Biotic components: Biotic components, or biotic factors, can be categorized as any
living component which has an effect on another organism or shapes the ecosystem.
The animals that consume other organisms present in the ecosystem and the organism
consumed for deriving nutrition are included in this component.
(a) Producers: The organisms which produce their own food are autotrophic. They
consist of chlorophyll which helps them to perform photosynthesis and make their
food. The examples of producers are green plants, fruit, phytoplankton, small shrubs

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and algae. There are two categories which are photo-autotrophs and
Chemoautotrophs.
• Photoautotrophs: These are green plants, Euglena, green sulphur bacteria etc., These
are the organisms which perform photosynthesis and prepare food. They control the
terrestrial ecosystem. They are being used by all animals and human beings.
• Chemoautotrophs: This includes iron, sulphur bacteria which give out energy during
a chemical reaction and make the organic food by the process, which is called
chemosynthesis. Producers use CO2 and give away 02. Hence, they help in
maintaining CO2—O2 balance in nature. They are also called transducers as they also
convert the radiant energy of the sun into chemical energy.
(b) Consumers: Consumers are the organisms which derive energy by eating other
organisms. They are divided into Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary
organisms. They are heterotrophs and cannot produce food. These are of three types.
• Primary Consumers: These are also called herbivores and feed on plants and their
products, e.g., cattle, rabbit, rat, grasshopper (terrestrial ecosystem) and snails,
tadpole, tortoise (aquatic ecosystem). etc. Elton is the key term also known as
herbivorous animals which is used for industry animals for primary consumers as
they convert plant material into animal material.
• Secondary Consumers: Consumer is the organism that derives energy by eating
other animal flesh. They are also called carnivores. They mostly eat herbivores. Foxes,
cats are called transducers and are examples of the terrestrial ecosystem. The aquatic
ecosystem includes water bugs, frogs etc.
• Tertiary consumers: They are the animals that eat primary and secondary animals
to obtain nutrients. The example of this type of consumer in the ecosystem is large
fishes like dolphins, jellyfish, sea lions, etc. Tertiary consumers are also known as
apex predators because they are not predated by any other animals.
• Quaternary: They are the largest carnivores e.g., lions/tigers which exist on land and
whales which exist in water and hence, a part of the aquatic ecosystem. These are also
called top carnivores.
(c) Decomposers (Saprotrophs): They are also called micro consumers (reducers) due
to their small size. They help in adding inorganic materials to the environment and
help in mineralization. They eat the dead bodies and materials of animals and plants

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such as animal carcasses, leaf litter, etc. To receive nutrients, it also degrades complex
organic substances into simpler compounds. Decomposers are important for
preserving the ecosystem's complex existence. They break down bigger items, such
as dead animals or trees, into smaller ones.

E.coli, Tapeworm, etc., are called parasites or consumers and get their food from them.
Animals like the frog are herbivore when at a tadpole stage and secondary consumers when
at an adult stage while, man, ants, etc., are omnivores.

Activity 1
Make a team of 5-6 students in which some are ecologists and some are
industrialists. Invite them for a discussion on the climate action project. Let the
discussion revolve around encouraging sustainable development education in the
schools to make the future generations more considerate about environment.
Further, design a speech which will help you to deliver the main agenda behind how
to develop ourself but not at the cost of the environment.

3.2. Function of Ecosystem

The functional and life-sustaining environmental structure, which comprises both abiotic
and biotic elements, is referred to as an ecosystem. We've also looked at the biotic
components, such as living cells, as well as the abiotic components, such as organic matter
and energy. In the ecosystem, there are three functional elements.
1. Inorganic constituents
2. Organisms
3. Energy input

To create an environmental structure, the cell, inorganic constituents, and energy input
interact with one another. The primary producers in our atmosphere use the sun's energy to
turn inorganic constituents into organic components by the process of photosynthesis. The
farmers provide energy to the herbivores, and the herbivores provide energy to the
carnivores. Animals of various kinds accumulate organic matter in their bodies that is used

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as food and are referred to as secondary producers. With the aid of bacteria and fungi,
decomposers feed on the decaying organic matter of plants and animals and then complex
molecules are further broken down, releasing inorganic components. In this step, some
energy is released in the form of heat. As a result, we should classify the following functions
as ecosystem functions.
• Production of food by autotrophs, chemoautotrophs
• Utilizing solar energy by green plants
• Recycling minerals
• Ensuring CO2/O2balance ratio in the atmosphere
• Controlling the flow of energy

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

5. The industry animals who convert plant material into animal material are called
___________________.
6. _____________________ helps in maintaining the dynamic nature of the ecosystem.
7. The process by which sulfur bacteria makes the organic food is called as
______________________.
8. The _______________________ type of consumers in the ecosystem eat the dead
bodies of animals and plants.
a) Primary
b) Secondary
c) Quaternary
d) Tertiary
9. In ecosystem, for smooth functioning and life-sustaining envrionment
structure, which factors are included?
a) Abiotic
b) Primary
c) Biotic
d) Both A and C

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4. FLOW OF ENERGY
The capacity to do work is called energy. Potential energy is the energy generated while you
are at rest, and kinetic energy is the energy produced when you are moving. Both living
beings need a supply of energy, which is produced by the chemical energy of food. The
chemical energy is obtained from the sun's radiant energy. In a healthy environment, energy
can flow in one direction only. The flow of energy is determined by the law of
thermodynamics. The radiant energy produced from the thermonuclear reactions in the sun
reaches earth through sunlight (and other forms of radiation) and provides energy to all
living organisms.
• Approx 29 percent of the solar energy is available at the topmost or uppermost layer of
the atmosphere, which is reflected back to space due to different particles present in
the atmosphere. This energy is of no use and has no role in changing climatic condition
of Earth’s system.
• Approximately 23 percent of solar energy that reaches the earth’s atmosphere is
absorbed by the dust, water vapor, etc.
• The remaining 48 percent of the solar energy goes through the atmosphere and is
consumed by the surface.
• A very small fraction drives the wind and waves.

However, the total solar energy reaching on earth per year is 1,73,000x 1012 watts. From
this, only 40 x 101 watts is utilised in photosynthesis. It is to be noted that both earth’s
surface and the atmosphere reflect a significant fraction of the solar radiation received from
the sun.

Autotrophs use the energy trapped by the sun for preparing the food through photosynthesis
which is then taken by herbivores, and in turn by carnivores and top carnivores.

A large amount of energy is lost during this transfer at each trophic level. Just 10% of energy
is moved from one trophic stage to the next. Heat or respiration energy cannot be passed to
another organism. Also, the decomposition of dead plants and animals releases chemical
energy. In a shorter food chain, more energy is available than in a long food chain. The energy
always flows unidirectional, i.e., from autotrophs to herbivores and herbivores to carnivores.

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Top
Autotrophs Herbivores Carnivores
Carnivores
100% 10% 1%
0.1%

4.1. Water Cycle

When it rains, rainwater runs, sinks, and spills into rivers, or it falls straight into the sea. Any
rainwater that falls on land and is collected by the ground, where it is processed for the rest
of the year. The roots of the plants suck up the water from the ground along with the
nutrients from the soil. This water is evaporated from the leaves and added to the
atmosphere as water vapour. Water vapour rises and forms clouds when the air gets light,
and when the clouds rise higher, the condensation occurs, the water changes into droplets,
which results in rainfall back to the land. However, pollution created by humans is altering
rainfall patterns is impacting this endless cycle. Long-term droughts in countries like Africa,
on the other hand, will cause flooding in countries like the United States.

Source- encounteredu.com
Fig 2: Water Cycle

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4.2. Carbon Cycle

Both the biotic and abiotic aspects of the world contain carbon, which is contained in organic
compounds. Both animal and plant tissues use it as a building stone. In the presence of
sunshine, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the soil by their leaves. Water is drained by the
roots from the soil and mixed with carbon dioxide by the plants. They develop carbohydrates
that have carbon in the presence of sunlight, which is called photosynthesis.

Plants grow and develop through this complex process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis
releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is used by animals to breathe. As a result, plants
have control over the percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As a
result, all of humanity is dependent on the oxygen created by this cycle. It also assists in
keeping consistent CO2 levels. Herbivorous species get their energy from seeds. Plants and
animals both emit carbon dioxide during respiration. They return fixed carbon to the soil in
their waste as they excrete. When plants and animals die, they return their fuel to the earth,
completing the carbon cycle.

4.3. Oxygen Cycle

During respiration, animals and plants absorb oxygen from the air. Photosynthesis is the
process by which plants return oxygen to the atmosphere. Deforestation decreases the
amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. As a result, plant life plays an important role in our
lives that we sometimes forget. Participation in forestation projects is important for this
cause.

4.4. Nitrogen Cycle

Carnivorous species eat herbivorous (plant-eating) animals. When the animals defecate,
worms and insects, mainly ants and beetles, decompose the waste. The tiny ‘soil animals'
break down the waste material into smaller fragments, which are then broken down further
into nutrients by microscopic bacteria, which can then be consumed by plants and used for
their growth. As a result, nutrients are returned from animals to plants.

In addition, the bodies of dead animals are broken down into nutrients and used by plants
for development. As a result, the nitrogen cycle, on which life depends, is complete. Some
nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fungi live in the soil, providing this essential nutrient to plants,

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which is then consumed as nitrates. They're a part of the plant's metabolism, and they help
to make new plant proteins. Herbivore species make use of this.

Different animals get nitrogen through different modes. e.g., when carnivores feed herbivore
animals, they get nitrogen from them; likewise when herbivore animals feed on plants, they
get nitrogen in the form of protein from plants. As a result, soil species, bacteria, and even
fungi play an important role in human survival. When we think about food chains, we also
think of huge mammals and other large forms of life. However, we must recognise that the
invisible small mammals, trees, and microscopic modes of life are critical to the ecosystem's
functioning.

4.5. Energy Cycle

The energy cycle is based on the energy flux within the ecosystem. Plants use the energy
from sunlight to produce new plant material, which includes leaves, fruits, bulbs, branches,
and roots. They are known as habitat creators because they can expand by directly
converting the sun's energy into their tissues. Herbivorous species use the plants as a source
of nutrition.

The everyday activities of these species, such as food absorption, breathing, promoting tissue
growth, and sustaining body temperature and blood, absorb a significant portion of this
energy. Energy is also used for subsistence tasks such as seeking food, finding shelter,
breeding, and raising children. Herbivores provide food for carnivores. As a result, food
chains connect various plant and animal species.

However, since each animal or plant can be linked to a large number of other animals or
plants by multiple linkages, these interconnected chains can be depicted as a complex food
network. As a consequence, it is known as the 'web of life,' which means that there are
interrelationships in the environment. A food pyramid or an energy pyramid may be used to
depict the energy in the ecosystem. The pyramid's base is made up of a vast variety of plants
known as growers.

The middle segment of the pyramid, which represents the number and biomass of
herbivorous animals known as 'first-order consumers,' becomes smaller. The limited

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biomass of carnivorous animals known as ‘second-order consumers' is represented at the

apex. Humans are one of the creatures at the very top of the pyramid.

To sustain civilization, there should be a broad base of herbivorous animals and a much
greater amount of plant material. When animals and plants die, decomposers such as beetles,
bacteria, and fungi break down this material into simpler substances, which are then
returned to the soil so that plants can consume nutrients from their roots.

Source- tutorialspoint.com
Fig 3: Energy Pyramid

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

10. The energy trapped by sun is used by ____________________.

11. ___________________ can be found as organic matter in both biotic and abiotic
ecosystem components.
12. To depict the energy present in the eco system we use _________________, whose
base is made up of growers.
13. The willingness to work is referred to as ______________________.
14. ____________________ determines the energy balance within the environment.
15. ______________________ is also called web of life.
16. What does middle segment of energy pyramid represent?
a) Amount of plant material
b) Number and biomass of herbivorous animals
c) Decomposers
d) None of the above

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5. FOOD CHAIN
Many of the biotic factors in an ecosystem are linked by food. Herbivores, for example,
consume the products created by the farmers. Carnivores consume herbivores as carnivores
are the ones who eat only meat, and herbivores eat plants. A food chain is a group of species
that transmit food resources via a sequence of repetitive eating and being consumed
behaviours.

Producers Herbivores Carnivores

Fig 4: Food Chain

Each level of the food chain is called the trophic level.

There is a continuous flow of energy through the food chain. Energy flow is the transition of
energy from one trophic stage to the next. The light, which is the ultimate source of energy,
is still at the top of the food chain. It provides the energy needed to keep all biotic life alive.
Plants use this energy to carry out the photosynthesis process, which produces their food.

In this biological process, light energy is converted into chemical energy and carried on
through successive stages of the food chain. The food chain is the transfer of energy from a
plant to a recipient and then to a detritivore or apex predator.

Furthermore, scavengers break down the dead and rotting matter, and organic waste into its
constituents, which are then consumed by the reducers. The reducers release molecules into
the atmosphere after gaining electricity, which the producers then consume.

Grass Land
Grass land refers to a piece of land that is generally flat and full of grass where small plants
and insects like clovers, mouse, snake and hawk live and complete their food chain.

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Cottonwoo
d trees, Mouse Snake Hawk
clovers

Fig 5: Animals and Plants in Grass Land Examples

Forest
Forest is the area that is generally dominated by trees and wild animial, and it is considered
as the predominant terrestrial ecosystem, and the food chain in forest starts from shrubs,
ferms, and other trees, which are later consumed by animals like goats and the food chain is
completed by big animals like lion.

Shrubs,
ferns, Goat Lion
trees

Fig 6: Animals and Plants in Forest Examples

The most famous types in nature are land-based food chains. The decomposer, which is
ubiquitous, is a curious split in the food chain. The decomposers, which include bacteria and
maggots as well as the noble cockroach, feed on the dead and break them down into nutrients
that serve to sustain the food chain. Through excreting, decomposers send the nutrients of
dead species to the soil, which then helps to nourish the plants that restart the chain.

Aquatic food chains are often dynamic, which intrigues land dwellers. But even the aquatic
food chains follow a specific pattern. The most famous example is chemosynthesis. It is the
process by which food is made by bacteria using chemicals that are utilized as the energy
source.

Decomposers play an important role in aquatic decomposers. They disperse nutrients to the
soil and the water column, where they feed the plankton that is the foundation of all marine
food chains.

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Otocinclus
Algae Osprey
catfish

Fig 8: Aquatic Food Chain

5.1. Types of Food Chain

There are two types of food chains which are as follows:
1. Grazing food chain
2. Detritus food chain
1. Grazing Food Chain: Green plants are at the top of this food chain, and carnivores are
at the end. This food chain is highly reliant on autotrophs, which derive their nutrition
from sunlight. The following diagram depicts the pattern of food chains in the
terrestrial ecosystem:

Primary Producer Grassland

Primary Consumer Rodents

Secondary Consumer Snakes

Tertiary Consumer Hawks

Fig 9: Grazing Food Chain

2. Detritus Food Chain: Detritivores are species that prey on the dead bodies of plants
and animals. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microorganisms are included. The
dead organic materials are ingested and digested by these species, which then turn
them to water and CO2.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

17. Each level of food chain is called as ___________________.

18. The organisms that feed on the dead bodies of plants and animals are
called__________________________.
19. In _________________ food chain, carnivores are present at the lower or end stage
where as plants are at the top.
20. _____________ animals eat only meat and _________________ animals eat the products
produced by the farmers or eat plants.
a) Carnivores, herbivores
b) Primary, carnivores
c) Herbivores, carnivores
d) Herbivores, Primary

6. FOOD WEB AND ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Food webs are a network of intertwined food chains that exist at various trophic stages. Since
most species consume more than one form of plant or animal, food chains and food webs are
interconnected. Autotrophs, such as trees, are the main food source, as they generate food
using solar energy by the mechanism of photosynthesis. In the predatory chain, a herbivore
species is eaten by a carnivore animal. A smaller organism eats a fraction of a larger host and
may itself be parasitized by smaller organisms in a parasite chain. Microorganisms feed on
dead organic matter in a saprophytic chain. The chains do not normally encompass more
than four or five trophic levels as the energy is lost at each trophic level as heat. Humans can
increase the food supply by eliminating one step in the food chain rather than consuming
herbivore, or the people consume the grains themselves. In that case, the total energy
available to the final consumers is increased because the food chain is made shorter.
• The vegetation (producers) and fine organic debris (decomposers) constitute the base
of a food web.
• Carnivores (secondary consumers) and Herbivores (primary consumers) constitute
the higher levels.
• The intermediate level in the food web includes omnivores.
• Food webs are often complicated as different species feed at various levels.

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Source- nature.com
Fig 10: A Food Web

Succession is the inevitable mechanism by which a culture is colonised by another group of

individuals. Succession is the orderly and gradual substitution of one group by another
before a healthy community (known as the climax community) conquers its territories. The
various stages of a plant succession that occurs in a certain ecosystem are referred to as sere.
Pioneer plants are plants that thrive on the bare ground. After several modifications, the
ecosystem becomes dominated by the most tolerant species, forming a climax population.

6.1. Hydrosere
In an aquatic climate, this is a form of succession. In a virgin pond, hydrosere starts with
phytoplankton colonisation and progresses to a climax forest level. The numerous stages of
succession are depicted below.
• Phytoplankton stage: Phytoplanktons and zooplanktons are the pioneer colonizers
which begin the succession. These species aid in the addition of a considerable volume
of organic matter and nutrients to the bottom layer.
• Rooted submerged stage: There is a development of mud which develops at the bottom
of the pond after the death and decomposition of phytoplanktons which becomes a new

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habitat for rooted hydrophytes like Myriophyllum, Elodea, Hydrilla, Potamogetan,

Vallisneria, Utricularia, etc.
• Floating stage: The underwater and floating plants flourish together at first, but the
submerged plants are eventually replaced entirely. Physically and environmentally, the
habitat can change. Plants that have died have sunk to the ground. In a vertical
direction, the substratum will rise much further. Limnanthemum, Nelumbium, Trapa,
Pistia, and Nymphaea are essential plants at this point.
• Reed-swamp stage: This period is also known as the 'amphibious' stage because the
plants in this group, Scirpus, Typha, Sagittaria, and Phragmites, are rooted but the
majority of their shoots are exposed to the air. This plants' rhizomes form dense foliage.
• Sedge meadow stage: The substratum is affected by a further drop in water depth.
Carex, Eleocharis, Juncus, and Cyperus are some of the Cyperaceae and Gramineae
species that colonise the region to form a swamp or marsh. As a result of the lack of
moisture in the region, marshy vegetation eventually fades.
• Woodland stage: The formation of woodland begins with a few shrubs and then grows
to include medium-sized trees. The trees like Butea, Acacia, Cassia, Terminalia, Salix,
Cephalanthus, and other species of Butea dominate the woodland community..
• Forest stage: This is the last succession stage of hydrosere. In this stage, the climax
vegetation develops and forms a community, where all plants meet together. Like
herbs, shrubs and other plants depict their separate community.

6.2. Xerosere
Xerosere is the plant succession stage that has limited water availability. There are different
succession stages of xerosere. The Xerosere begins their life on unweathered rock surfaces.
Lichens colonise the primitive form of substratum. In Xerosere, all animals and plants go
through a sequence of transformations. The different stages are described below.
• Crustose- lichen stage: There isn't enough soil to reach the roots. The pioneer plants
are lichen and blue-green algae. In cooler climates, crustose lichens such as
Rhizocarpon, Lecanora, and Rinodina are typical pioneers. They produce acids that
cause rock weathering. Dead organic matter from lichen and algae combines with small
rock fragments to create a thin layer of wet soil on the rocks.

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• Foliose-lichen stage: They survive on a substratum that is partly made up of crustose

lichens. It's made up of Parmelia species called Dermatocarpon, which looks like big
leaf (foliose: leaflike shape) which is made up of a lichen. The accumulation of a fine
thin soil layer on the rock surface as a result of the weathering of rocks with humus
results in a change in the habitat.
• Moss-stage: Many xerophytic mosses, such as Grimmia, Tortula, Bryum, Polytrichum,
Barbula, and Funaria, benefit from the formation of a thin humus-rich soil layer on the
rock surface.
• Herb-stage: The growth of mosses causes more soil to settle. The addition of minerals
by leaching has resulted in the growth of herbaceous plants such as Aristida, Festuca,
Justicia, Tridax, and others.
• Shrub-stage: Owing to the deposition of dirt, the ecosystem becomes suitable for
shrubs. This stage is led by Rhus, Phytocarpus, Zizyphus, and Capparis species. The
shrubs also overshadowed the herbaceous plants, resulting in the development of more
organic matter.
• Forest–stage: Forest stage represents the final group in Xerosere. The weathering of
rocks creates a thin layer of soil that is ideal for small trees such as Acacia, Prosopis,
and Boswellia. To get to the climax level, plants need more rainfall. Dense climax forest
occurs in humid and rainy climates, as well as in temperate climates.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 5

21. _________________ and ________________ are the pioneer species of crustose-lichen stage.
22. ___________________ stage witnesses the development of mud under hydrosere.
23. ____________________ constitutes the base of the food web.
24. ___________________ is an inevitable phenomenon that occurs when a community is
colonised by another group of people.

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Ecosystem

Xerosere Hydrosere

Food webs and

ecological succession
Structure and
function of
Ecosystem
Grazing
Food Chain
Food
chains

Detritus
Food Chain
Biotic Abiotic
Component component
Energy flow
Energy cycle

Water cycle Oxygen cycle

Nitrogen cycle

Fig 10: Conceptual Map

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7. LAND RESOURCES AND LAND USE CHANGE

The maintenance of all terrestrial ecosystems depends largely on land and its usage by
humans. Land as a resource is essential for the survival of humans as well as their prosperity.
All the features and processes of land that are used to fulfil various human needs are termed
land resources.

To define the land, we can look at its characteristics outlined below:

• The land is an area on the Earth’s terrestrial surface that encompasses all the parts of
the biosphere immediately above or below it.
• The land also comprises near-surface climate, terrain forms, soil, surface hydrogeology
(this includes lakes, rivers, shallow lakes, swamps, and marshes).
• Other resources which come under the category of land resources are near-surface
sedimentary layers, associated groundwater, plant and animal population,
geohydrological reserves, human settlement patterns.
• The physical results of past and present human activity like terracing, drainage
structure, building, roads, and water storage.

Over the years, people have become experts in exploiting land resources and the human
demands of land have become an issue since the land resources are finite. The increased
pressure on land demand has contributed to the decline in crop production, more
competition for land, and a quality and quantity degradation of land resources.

7.1 Functions of Land

Environmental economists define land as a renewable stock
STUDY NOTE
resource. Land resources do not fit exactly into the category
Currently, there is a total of 4.4
of renewable or non-renewable resources as they are slowly billion hectares of total world
land area, which is available
renewable. But the rate of degradation of land far exceeds its for cropping. The total land
natural regeneration. This means that if a portion of land is area currently being used for
cultivation is 1.6 billion
lost to degradation, it cannot be regenerated in a human time hectares out of which 20% of
cultivation is happening on
frame, resulting in the loss of opportunities for future marginally suited lands.

generations. The various functions of land which support

human and various other terrestrial ecosystems are summarized below:

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• It is a store of wealth for communities, groups, or individuals.

• It is a storehouse of raw materials and minerals for human needs.
• It produces food, fuel, fiber, and many other biotic materials which humans use.
• It regulates the flow and storage of surface water and groundwater.
• It is a physical space where settlements, recreation, and industrial activities take place.
• It stores and protects many historic and prehistoric records (fossils, archaeological
remains, evidence of climates in the past, etc.)
• It enables (or hampers) the movement of people, animals, and plants across different
areas.
STUDY NOTE
7.2 Land Use
Since humans will always
A land cover is the physical land type on the ground surface: rely on livestock and
crops as a source of their
vegetation, forest, water, bare soils, etc. Land use is defined by food, it is safe to assume
the purpose that a certain land cover fulfils such as recreation, that a large portion of
land would be associated
sports, agriculture, etc. In other words, land use is the with agricultural
activities.
characterization of a given land based on what can be built on it,
or what the land can be used for.

Activities, arrangements, and inputs give the characteristics of land use by humans to
produce, alter, or maintain a specific type of land cover. The terms ``Land use” and “zoning”,
are used differently. Where land use means the way humans adapt the land to suit their
needs, and zoning is about the way the government regulates the land. A land buyer needs
to understand land use for two main reasons:

• It helps prevent buyers from spending too much time STUDY NOTE

and money on land when they know what can be built A landform can get created in
just a few years or might take
on it. For instance, if someone has plans for building a millions of years. Landforms
can be changed in a very short
farm, they would not buy a residential property once period of time by mainly two
natural methods: strong
they know the purpose of that land. If a buyer knows the earthquakes and volcanic
purpose of certain land, they are better positioned to eruptions.

decide what to buy that will meet their needs.

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• On a larger scale, if one understands land use, they can understand the patterns that
associate land and urbanisation. If you understand how the land was used in the past,
you can judge how that land would be used in the future.

7.3 Types of Land Use

Land use has many different categories; the most primary ones are transport, recreational,
agricultural, commercial, and residential. When one plans to invest in a property,
understanding the specifics of each of these types can be extremely helpful.

• Recreational: If a property's land use is defined as recreational, then it denotes it is to

be used for people's enjoyment. Many lands fall under this category, such as parks,
playgrounds, open spaces, athletic fields, swimming pools, etc. Every city has a
recreational land space in its blueprint since it is important to have areas in a city where
people can go and have some leisure or fun time. Recreational lands do not contribute
to a community's development, but they attract visitors and permanent residents.
• Agriculture: Agricultural land includes ranches, pastures, farms, etc. They are used for
agricultural purposes to grow and harvest crops and livestock.
• Transport: Transport land’s purpose is to help people travel from one destination
point to another. Examples of transport lands are airports, roads, subway stations,
railways stations, etc.
• Residential: Residential lands are used to build homes of
STUDY NOTE
different types like mobile homes, apartment complexes, or
In 2006, the average
single-family homes. This type of land use has certain number of cultivated
land areas that were
restrictions such as permission of only certain kinds of pets
required to feed one
on the property, minimum lot size and the permitted distance person was 0.22
hectares.
between lots in your building, etc. When building a residence
on any land, one must consider many factors like accessibility to local amenities, crime
rate, proximity to school, etc.
• Commercial: This type of land use refers to infrastructures related to commerce like
warehouses, businesses, shops, etc. The most common use of such lands is to build
restaurants, shopping malls, office buildings, and so on.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 6

25. What does the term “green funds” mean?

a) A fund that is used in generating renewable energy.
b) A fund that invests in generating non-renewable energy.
c) A fund that invests only in companies that produce goods with more
responsibility towards environmental health.
d) A fund that supports companies that use fossil fuels.
26. Which one out of these is not a renewable source of energy?
a) Hydropower
b) Geothermal energy
c) Solar energy
d) Fossil fuels
27. The two natural processes which can change landforms very quickly are:
a) Strong earthquakes and deforestation.
b) Volcanic eruptions and soil erosion
c) Strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
d) Volcanic eruptions and deforestation.
28. Non-renewable resources are replenished faster than they are consumed.
[True/False].
29. Which of the following categories of land uses do athletic fields belong to?
a) Transport
b) Agriculture
c) Recreational
d) Commercial

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8. LAND DEGRADATION
With the degradation of lands, their soils lose or deteriorate in their productive capacity for
the present and future. This issue has become a global challenge. Everyone on the planet is
affected by it as it poses food insecurity, higher food prices, adverse changes in climate, loss
of biodiversity, degradation of ecosystem services, and many other environmental hazards.

The rate at which land degradation is happening in today’s age is

quite alarming. Due to this, we are witnessing a dramatic decline STUDY NOTE
in the productivity of rangeland and croplands across the globe. It is projected that the world
population would grow by
There is a degradation of 16% of arable land and 25% of total 35% in 2050 to 9.7 billion
and there will be rising
land area globally, and the numbers are only rising. The
demands for food, fiber,
traditional systems used to manage land are no longer effective, fuel, and other agricultural
products.
or these systems are breaking down. The technology for better
management of land is not always available.

8.1 Reasons for Land Degradation

The primary reason for the land degradation is the unprecedented rate at which the
population is growing globally. This explosion of the population has put high demands on
the land. The other factors contributing to increasing pressure on land resources are:
• There is an uneven distribution of land resources between countries as well as within
countries. This difference in access to land as per the population needs makes it difficult
to meet the population demands.
• Changes in climate and natural (or human-induced) disasters also degrade the quality
of the land. Due to climate change, there is an exacerbation in agricultural yields and
income which threatens the stability of agroecosystems and food production systems.
• The advent of many socio-economic changes like trade
STUDY NOTE
liberalization, privatization, decentralization of decision
In cyclone-prone areas,
making, and globalization of markets has made it difficult for the rise in sea level
along with cyclones
humans to manage resources efficiently. can cause land
degradation.
• Application of unscientific agricultural practices for cropping.
For example, in some portions of the Western Ghats, the forest

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is cleared to sow commercial crops like potatoes and ginger on the slopes. This results
in loss of nutrients, soil erosion, waterlogging, etc.
• Water logging: The water table gets saturated due to various reasons like over-
irrigation, inadequate drainage, seepages from canals, etc. The land lying under
waterlogged areas is unusable either for settlements or agriculture.
• Political reasons: Short-term political gains are being made at the cost of long-term
damage to the land. Decision-makers deals with difficult decisions on how to increase
production to eradicate poverty. Such decisions have to be balanced with resource
conservation, but often, decision-makers forfeit these long-term benefits for fulfilling
people's immediate needs.

8.2 Effects of Land Degradation

When there is land degradation, soil releases carbon and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere,
which causes climatic changes. Some of the areas aggravated by land degradation are
mentioned below:
• Soil erosion: One of the biggest effects of land degradation is the detachment of the top
layer of soil from the land. This soil gets washed away by ice, water, or sea waves, or it
could be blown away by the wind.
• Salinity or alkalinity: In areas with high temperatures and temporary water surplus,
the moisture sinks down, dissolving the underground salts along with it. During a dry
period in these heavy rainfall regions, this saline solution comes on the surface through
capillary action. The heat evaporates the water, forming a crust of magnesium, sodium,
and calcium salts. This salt wreaks havoc by rendering vast stretches of soil infertile.
• Desertification: Desertification happens when sand from the deserts advances to
adjoining regions. It affects the fertility of the soil by forming a cover on it.
• Food shortage for consumption: If less fertile land is available for agricultural
purposes, it cascades into less yield and shortage of food.
• Land conflicts: With land becoming scare, less land is available for biomass production
or conservation purposes. That is why huge competition for land for different uses
leads to complex conflicts.
• Vulnerability to natural disasters: Land degradation can cause floods, droughts, and
other natural calamities.

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• Water shortage: Due to land degradation, there is a loss of biodiversity in drylands,

resulting in low precipitation and longer spells of dry seasons. This leads to water
scarcity.
• Fuel wood shortage: Loss of forests causes widespread fuelwood shortages.
• Lack of adequate housing: As per UN (United Nations) estimates, close to 100 million
people are sleeping without shelter in public spaces like
STUDY NOTE
buses, railway stations, etc. If one counts the number of
There are 3.2 billion
people in temporary shelters which are of poor quality and people who are affected
badly by land
do not provide enough protection, then that number rises to degradation and most of
more than a billion globally. This problem is prevalent not them belong to rural
communities.
only in developing countries. 12 countries of the European
Union have 1.8 million people sleeping on the roads.

Source: fao.org

Fig 11: Symptoms of the issues due to pressure on land resources

8.3 Measures for Preventing Land Degradation

Intervention is required to prevent further land degradation to restore and prevent
deterioration of land’s essential functions. The most pressing need right now is to break the
current downward spiral of land resources. The landowners and users need to be well
informed and taught all the technologies that are needed to make conscious decisions on
land usage.

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• The UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat

STUDY NOTE
Desertification) has to serve the benefits of the environment
Soil erosion is a very big
globally. They have recognized LDN (Land Degradation
reason for land
Neutrality) as a concept that will help boost food production degradation and leads to a
loss of 75 billion tons of
without degrading land further. LDN is geared towards soil every year.

managing land in a more sustainable manner, reducing

degradation and increasing the land restoration rate.
• The partnership of IAEA and FAO: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has
come up with a technical cooperation program using nuclear technologies. IAEA has
partnered with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to assist scientists and
farmers residing in 60 countries in controlling and measuring soil erosion. This will
help them measure the rate of soil erosion and track hot land degradation spots.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 7

30. What is the name of the condition where the water table gets saturated due to
over-irrigation?
a) Waterlogging
b) Desertification
c) Salinity
d) Alkalinity
31. Which of the following is a political reason for land degradation?
a) Application of unscientific agricultural practices for cropping
b) Trade liberalization
c) Deforestation
d) Soil erosion
32. __________________ occurs when sand from the deserts advances to adjoining
regions.
33. Salinity occurs when the top layer of soil gets detached from the land and gets
washed away by the sea, water, or ice. [True/False]

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9. DEFORESTATION
Forest is a biotic (living) renewable resource that provides us clean air, water, wood
products, stable soil, habitat for wildlife, a source of recreation, and a beautiful environment
that is rich in biodiversity. Forests are integral to any nation’s economy as they provide a
wide range of environmental goods, production inputs, fuel, medicines, and other raw
materials of industrial processing,

Different kinds of forests all around the world vary in diversity and composition. Some of the
major benefits that human society derives from forests are:
• In the absence of services provided by forest resources, there will be more capital
expenditure and a decline in human well-being. For example, forests can store water,
regulate its flows, cleanse impurities, and protect channels. By these activities, forests
form a structure for hydrological services, similar to transportation and
communication.
• Forests are also significant in maintaining political and
STUDY NOTE
economic relations amongst different nations. The
As per FAO estimates, the
conditions of forests in a country affect that nation's wage employment provided
by the forestry sector is
dependence on international trade. Forests supply
equivalent to 60 million work
materials for many domestic industries, export years globally. 80% of this
wage employment is in
commodities like wood and processed products, and a developing countries. Most of
this work is in charcoal or
range of specialty products like ornaments and medicines. fuelwood activities.
• A forest ecosystem provides many commercial and
scientific services like living space, climate regulation, and genetic resources.
• Forests are used for recreational purposes and are great for a country's tourism
industry.
• Forests serve as a laboratory for the genetic resources of plants and animals. Tropical
Forests are deemed to have more than 50% of the entire living species on the earth.
• Forests supply cheap forms of energy in the form of woods, and wood is the primary
fuel in most tropical nations. Wood is also seen as a replacement for agricultural
biomass and fossil fuels, bringing down the cost of these resources.

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• Forests also influence the environment's ability to cope with natural calamities by
functioning as barriers to intense rains, landslides, and windstorms. They aid in the
prevention of soil erosion, landslides, and so on.

With so many global benefits derived from forest resources, forests are gaining value rapidly.
Many institutions are coming forward to protect forests and develop strategies to translate
these forest resources into tradable forms.

Forests are being cut down to make room for something other than forests to meet different
needs. Deforestation happens when forests are removed permanently. The various reasons
for deforestation could be to clean the land for agricultural activities or grazing,
urbanization, mining activities, etc. Since 1960, deforestation has accelerated rapidly and
harms our ecosystems greatly. UN FAO estimates that 1.3
million km2 of forests are being wiped out every decade. STUDY NOTE

Human-lit fires in forests

Most of the deforestation is happening in the tropics, with skyrocketed in Brazil in the
year 2019. More than
inaccessible areas in the past being within reach due to new 80,000 fires were burnt in
the Amazon forest which
roads being constructed by cleaning dense forests. Forest is a
was 80% more in number
mature resource, which means that even though it is renewable, from 2018.

it takes a long time to build a forest.

9.1 Causes of Deforestation

Multiple factors can cause deforestation; they could be of natural origin or due to human
actions. Some of the natural factors are diseases caused by parasites or natural forest fires,
leading to deforestation. Despite natural factors, the biggest cause of global deforestation is
human activities. FAO has identified that 80% of global deforestation has been caused due
to agricultural purposes. Other factors include the construction of infrastructure like dams,
mines, roads, etc.
• Agriculture is the numero uno reason for deforestation: Out of all the agricultural
activities that cause deforestation, around 33% of deforestation is a consequence of
subsistence farming which is agriculture by local peasants in developing countries for
their own use. The other 40% of forest loss is caused by agriculture for industrial or

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commercial purposes. Forests are being frequently cut down in the search to grow
fibers, food, raise livestock, and biofuel.
STUDY NOTE
• 15% of deforestation is due to new constructions:
Scientists at the University of
Deforestation is being done to serve the current lifestyle Maryland came out with a
report in 2017 according to
of humans. Energy generation, transportation, etc. are
which the tropics lost 61,000
some of the reasons for cutting down trees. Roads, square miles of forest area
which is almost the size of
railway tracks, and airports are being built to move goods Bangladesh.

(cereals, fruits, spices, etc.) and people.

• Building dams: Dams are another major cause of forest loss, either directly or
indirectly. People have often seen these large hydroelectric dams as a sign of
development, but little do they know that 40,000 large dams (measuring more than 15
meters in height) are obstructing the world's rivers. The reservoirs of these rivers are
400,000 km2 of land which is inundated with millions of hectares of forests. This is
especially happening in the tropics, where many trees were not even logged but left to
just rot slowly. The indirect way dam building has caused deforestation is that farmers
get displaced due to building dams. These farmers then relocate and clear forests to
build their homes and grow crops.
• Mining: Mining, in general, is extremely destructive for our environment. It is
considered one of the main causes of deforestation. Trees and vegetation must be
burned and cleared to begin mining. Large-scale mining begins by making the ground
completely bare and then using bulldozers to extract minerals and metals from the
soils. Once the extractions are ready, they need to be amalgamated (clustered) using
chemicals such as mercury, cyanide, or methylmercury. The chemicals go through pipes
(tailings) and get discharged into rivers, streams, oceans, and bays. This contaminates
all the living bodies within the water.
• Commercial logging: This involves cutting down trees to sell STUDY NOTE

them as pulp or timber. This timber is used to build many As per WWF (World
Wildlife), the tropical
things such as, furniture, homes, etc. Paper and paper forests hold more than
210 gigatons of carbon in
products are made using the pulp of the trees. them.
• Natural fires: Natural fires are rare but very intense in
tropical forests.

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9.2 Effects of Deforestation

Deforestation is a major threat to the resilience of our ecosystem and the planet.
Deforestation directly affects all living organisms and damages the environment deeply.
Forests are home to more than 80% of diverse trees, animals, plants, and microbes. The
effect of deforestation reaches far and wide, which is summed up below:
• Deforestation affects biodiversity: Forests are the most variable hub for biodiversity.
Many rare and fragile species, including plants, animals, mammals, birds, amphibians,
and insects, have their homes in forests. If these forests are destroyed, it creates a
natural imbalance and threatens life. The complex and interconnected natural world
with interdependencies provides many functions to our environment. Apart from many
other functions, trees provide shade so that certain plants and animals who cannot
survive in direct sunlight can survive in the shade. Trees also provide food to animals
and birds.
• It hampers the livelihood of the local or tribal population: Globally, 1.6 billion
people depend on healthy forests for their livelihoods. Amongst them, around 1 billion
are the poorest in the world. They cannot continue their small-scale agricultural
programs by hunting and gathering raw materials from forests. Big businesses often
take away these forests for their other means and disrupt the lives of a huge tribal
population. The locals of these forests have to resort to only two available options. The
first one is to abandon their homes and face the challenges of a new life elsewhere. The
second one is to work for these big companies under inhuman conditions and extremely
low wages.
• Future Food insecurity: Almost 52% of land used for food production is either
moderately or severely impacted by soil erosion. If this progresses at the same rate,
there is a high chance of low yield in the future due to the poor quality of the soil. This
will lead to less food production giving rise to food insecurities.
• Reduced rainfall: In tropical areas, deforestation can alter the way water vapour
produces over the canopy, reducing rainfall, as if trees will not be there, then it will be
very difficult to cope with climate changes. Deforestation removes vegetation that is
crucial for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and causes greenhouse gas
emissions.

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• Climatic changes due to greenhouse gases: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, which helps
mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Tropical trees are responsible for mitigating 23%
of climatic changes. Trees can capture and store excess carbon dioxide, helping in
carbon sequestration. Just the act of clearing forests also emits greenhouse gases into
the atmosphere.
• Soil erosion: The weakening and degradation of soil is another massive downside of
deforestation. Forested soils have rich organic matter and have high resistance to
erosion. Soils surrounded by forests can withstand bad and extreme weather too. This
is because the roots of the trees help soil fix on the ground and the shades of the trees
promote slow drying of soils. Deforestation leaves more fragile soils that can get washed
away, leading to landslides and floods.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 8

34. Which of the following is not a forest resource?

a) Plants
b) Animals
c) Microorganisms
d) Sand
35. Forests can be built in a short period of time. [True/False]
36. Reduced rainfall is caused when deforestation affects the way ____________ is
formed on canopies.
37. Which of the following best fits the meaning of deforestation?
a) Erosion of soil
b) Removal of forests permanently
c) Emission of greenhouse gases
d) Climatic changes
38. Which one of the following is not a cause of deforestation?
a) Agricultural activities
b) Mining
c) Building dams
d) Soil erosion

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39.Which one from the following list is not a result of deforestation?

a) Soil erosion
b) Damage to the livelihood of local people of forests
c) Climatic changes due to greenhouse gas emissions
d) Development projects and new constructions

10. SUMMARY
• The environment consists of many different types of organisms. Different organisms
contribute to the environment and affect the other organisms.
• There is a biotic and abiotic component of the ecosystem. Abiotic components are those
which contain only physical properties, whereas biotic components consist of living
organisms.
• Various problems caused by human activities like pollution and deforestation for
development affect the balance of the ecosystem.
• There is a need to create public awareness to think about sustainable development.
• The scope of environmental studies focuses on how we can use technology for the
purpose of environmental safety.
• There is a constant dependence of many organisms within the ecosystem leading to the
concept of the food chain.
• Many different organisms linked to each other at different levels is referred to as the
food web.
• There is a unique composition of flow of energy which is flowing in a way that sustains
all life kinds.
• Humans should stop doing activities which creates imbalance in the environment.
• A food chain is a type of cycle where energy flows from one organism to another.
• Each level of the food chain is called trophic level, which helps to connect with different
organisms.
• Succession refers to the inevitable mechanism by which other classes of individuals
colonise a culture.
• The concept of sustainable development is important in various aspects to respect
every being and share the planet.

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11. GLOSSARY
Chemosynthesis: It is the process by which food is made by bacteria using chemicals which
are utilized as the energy source.

Detritivores: Detritivores are species that prey on the dead bodies of plants and animals.

Decomposer: Decomposers are the organisms which feed on the dead and decay matter.

Food chain: The progressive chain where the all living organisms are dependent on the
other one for energy is called a food chain.

Producers: Producers refer to the plants which produce energy with the help of radiant
energy from the sun.

12. CASE STUDY

The Age of Extinction
According to a recent study of the diversity of life on earth, human overconsumption,
intensive agriculture and population growth are largely affecting the population of wildlife.
According to the WWF and the Zoological Society of London (ZSLbiennial)'s Living Planet
Survey 2020, global numbers of birds, rodents, fish, reptiles, and amphibians decreased by
68 percent on average from 1970 to 2016.

This study, which 134 scientists from around the world put together, is considered one of
the most detailed analyses of global biodiversity possible. Nature is being used and
manipulated by humans to a scale never seen before, from the rainforests of Central America
to the Pacific Ocean.

The study gathered data from 20,811 populations of 4,392 vertebrate species all over the
world. This includes well-known endangered species like polar bears and pandas, as well as
lesser-known fish and amphibians. The data indicate that vertebrate wildlife populations are
dwindling in almost every area of the world, with an estimated loss of more than two-thirds
since 1970.

Robin Freeman, who researched at ZSL, said: “It looks like that we’ve spent 10 to 20 years
discussing about these declines and not actually managed to take any actions about it. It

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upsets me. We just sit at our desks and see these statistics but they do have real-life serious
implications. It’s really disappointing to communicate how drastic some of these declines are
actually.”

Mammals, amphibians, birds, fish, and reptiles have all declined significantly in Africa and
the Asia Pacific, with declines of 65 percent and 45 percent, respectively. The most troubling
decline is in Latin America and the Caribbean, where vertebrate animal numbers have
dropped by 94 percent on average. Overexploitation of habitats, habitat fragmentation, and
disease has had the largest effects on reptiles, amphibians, and fish in the area.

Source: Article from Economic Times Newspaper, January 05 2021

Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss all the concerns hampering the population of vertebrate population.
2. With reference to the research shown, explain why is it the need of the hour to change
the industrial development strategy globally and focus on sustainable socio-economic
development?
3. Discuss few other ways by which industries or individuals can be made more
responsible for sustainable development of the environment.

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2. Use of Biomass for Electricity in Kasai Village, Madhya Pradesh

Kasai is a tribal (Adivasi) village in a remote area of Madhya Pradesh. It has a population of
392 people spread in 55 households. The village is not connected to a grid but there is
abundant biomass resource here in the form of woods (from farmlands and forests), cattle
dung, crop residues, and oilseeds. The government has been supporting a project in the
village since 2005.

The project is to generate electricity from a small biomass plant of 10 KW capacities. The
ministry of Renewable Energy (MNRE) is funding 11 such projects in M.P. Government
funded 100% of the capital costs for this project which is now managed solely by the local
community. The local community gets technical support from the local forest department.
The villagers gather the biomass for the plant, and they charge INR 120 for each household
to take care of the plant's costs (operating and maintenance).

Apart from the maintenance fee, the households also need to pay a usage charge on the
amount of electricity they consume. The whole operation is overseen by an elected group of
(11 members out of which 5 are women).

All the lighting needs of households of the village are met by this plant. It comprises street
lighting, schools, music systems and T.V installations in the village for entertainment,
electricity for the flour mill, power to the milk-chilling unit, and water pumping.

The project has helped the villagers in many ways as outlined below:
• Migration from the area has been curbed.
• Due to water available for irrigation, it has promoted some amount of agricultural
production.
• It prevented milk from being spoiled due to heat and made it available to markets. It is
also deemed to promote a village dairy system which would further improve the
livelihood of villagers.
• People are able to process wheat and rice in the flour mill and sell at profitable rates in
the market.
• The project has helped a household piping system.

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Currently, villagers use traditional biomass (cow dung, wood, charcoal, etc.) for their cooking
and heating needs. With some modifications to the existing system, it is probable that in
future, gas is made available to the village households for cooking purposes.

Source- Article from Times of India newspaper

Discussion Questions:
1) Discuss the various ways that biomass has helped villagers lead a better life.
2) Discuss what future modifications are possible to bring gas to the people of Kasai
village.

13. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What is the ultimate source of energy?
Q2. Differentiate between food web and food chain.
Q3. State the functions of ecosystem.
Q4. What is the role of decomposers in food chain?
Q5. What are some of the political reasons for land degradation?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. Explain the importance of food chain with example.
Q2. Explain the structure of ecosystem.
Q3. Explain the types of food chain.
Q4. Explain how deforestation affects biodiversity

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14. ANSWERS
SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
1. D. None of the above
2. B. False
3. Biotic
4. Abiotic
5. Herbivorous animals
6. Decomposers
7. Chemoautotrophs
8. D. Tertiary
9. D. Both A and C
10. Autotrophic plants
11. Carbon
12. Food pyramid/energy pyramid
13. Energy
14. Law of thermodynamics
15. Food web
16. B. Number and biomass of herbivorous animals
17. Trophic levels
18. Detritivores
19. Grazing
20. A. Carnivores, herbivores
21. Lichen and blue-green
22. Rooted submerged stage
23. Producers
24. Succession
25. C. A fund which invests only in companies that produce goods with more responsibility
towards environmental health.
26. D. Fossil Fuels
27. C. Strong earthquakes and Volcanic eruptions.
28. False

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29. C. Recreational
30. A. Waterlogging
31. B. Trade liberalization
32. Desertification
33. False
34. D. Sand
35. False
36. Water vapor
37. B. Removal of forests permanently
38. D. Soil erosion
39. D. Development projects and new constructions.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
Answer 1: The major source of energy is sunlight. The sunlight is utilized by the plants who
are the producers for making their own food. Other species depend on the plant directly or
indirectly for energy.

Answer 2: A food chain is a continuous chain that depicts the transfer of energy from one
entity to the next. A food web is multiple food chains that are interconnected at many trophic
levels. Furthermore, a food web accurately represents all the various food chains that exist
in an ecosystem. Example of a food chain is:
Producer: Grass
Primary consumer: Grasshopper
Secondary consumer: Frog
Tertiary consumer: Snake
Final consumer: Eagle

Primary Secondary Tertiary Final

Producer:
consumer: consumer: consumer: consumer:
Grass
Grasshopper Frog Snake Eagle

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Answer 3: The following are the few functions of the ecosystem:

(i) Production of food by autotrophs, chemoautotrophs
(ii) Utilizing solar energy by green plants
(iii) Recycling minerals.
(iv) Ensuring CO2/O2 ratio balance in the atmosphere

Answer 4: Through excreting, decomposers send the nutrients of dead species to the soil,
which then helps to nourish the plants that restart the chain. They assist with the clean-up
of the planet. Without decomposers, dead leaves, insects, and animals would pile up
everywhere.

Answer 5: Short-term political gains are being done at the cost of long-term damage to the
land. Decision-makers deals with difficult decisions on how to increase production to
eradicate poverty. Such decisions have to be balanced with resource conservation, but often,
decision-makers forfeit these long-term benefits for fulfilling people's immediate needs.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:

Answer 1: A food chain can be called the collection of organisms where they transfer food
energy with the assistance of a sequence of consuming and being eaten.

❖ It helps in understanding the food interactions and relationship shared between

various organisms in an ecosystem.
❖ It helps in understanding the basic mechanism of transfer of energy and food, nutrients
through various components of nature.
❖ It assists in the understanding of hazardous material movement in an ecosystem.

Answer 2: The structure of ecosystem comprises two essential components.

1. Biotic component: Biotic components, or biotic factors, can be categorized as any living
component which has an effect on another organism or shapes the ecosystem. The
animals that consume other organisms present in the ecosystem and the organism
consumed for deriving nutrition are included in this component.
2. Abiotic component: These include non-living factors which impact the distribution of
organisms. This consists of the following:

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(i) Inorganic substances which occur in the form of compounds dissolved in soil or in a free
state. For example, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, sulphur and micro-
nutrients, etc.
(ii) Organic compounds are the compounds on which all living beings are dependent for
their survival. For examples, lipid, proteins, carbohydrate, nucleic acids, vitamins, etc.
(iii) Natural elements, like temperature, light, water, gases, wind, humidity, soil, annuals,
etc., are also included in the abiotic component.

Answer 3: There are two types of food chains which are as follows:
1. Grazing food chain.
2. Detritus food chain.
1. Grazing Food Chain: Green plants are at the top of this food chain, and carnivores
are at the end. This food chain is highly reliant on autotrophs, which derive their
nutrition from sunlight. The pattern of food chains in the terrestrial ecosystem may
be shown as:

Grassland Rodents Snakes Hawks

Fig 11: Grazing Food Chain

2. Detritus Food Chain: Detritivores are species that prey on the dead bodies of plants
and animals. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and other microorganisms are included. The
dead organic materials are ingested and digested by these species, which then turn
them to water and CO2.

Answer 4: Forests are the most variable hub for biodiversity. Many rare and fragile species,
including plants, animals, mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects, have their homes in
forests. The complex and interconnected natural world with interdependencies provides
many functions to our environment. Plants and trees also provide food to animals and birds

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11. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND E-REFERENCES

BOOKS:
• Rajagopalan, R.(2016), Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure, Oxford University
Press.
• De, A. K. (2007), Environmental Studies, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
• Bharucha, E., Text book of Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses, 2ndedn.
Hyderabad: Universities Press

E-REFERENCES:
• What is an Ecosystem?, viewed on February 27th, 2021, <https://www.conserve-
energy-future.com/what-is-an-ecosystem.php>
• Ecosystem: Definition, Examples, Importance-All about Ecosystems, viewed on
February 27th, 2021, <https://youmatter.world/en/definition/ecosystem-definition-
example/>
• Ecosystem, viewed on February 27th, 2021.
<https://www.britannica.com/science/ecosystem>
• Food Web, viewed on February 27th, 2021.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_web>
• Examples of Food Chains, viewed on February 27th, 2021.
<https://examplessss.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-food-chains.html>

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit 3: Water and Energy Resources 1

Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

Unit 3
Water and Energy Resources
Table of Contents

SL Fig No / Table SAQ /

Topic Page No
No / Graph Activity
1 Introduction - -
3-5
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Water - 1, I
2.1 Overexploitation of Groundwater and - - 6-11
Surface Water
2.2 Conflicts Over Water - -
3 Renewable Energy Sources - 2 12-14
4 Use of Alternate Energy Sources - 3
14-16
4.1 Growing Energy needs - -
5 Minerals, Metals and Non-Renewable Energy
- 4
Sources
5.1 Minerals - -
5.2 Metals - - 16-29
5.3 Other Non-Renewable Energy Sources - -
5.4 Use and Overuse of Non-Renewable - 5
Natural Resources
6 Summary - - 30-33
7 Glossary - - 34-35
8 Case Study - - 35-37
9 Terminal Questions - - 37
10 Answers - - 38-41
11 Suggested Books and e-References - - 42

Unit 3: Water and Energy Resources 2

Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

1. INTRODUCTION
The term “renewable” means something that can be used repeatedly or can be replaced.
When we use the term “renewable” with reference to natural resources, it denotes those
natural resources around us which never run out, since they are naturally replaced. Any
renewable natural resource has an endless supply. For example, wind energy, solar energy,
hydro energy, etc.

In more scientific terms, we can say that the rate of depletion or usage of any natural
resource which is less than the rate at which it gets replenished is a renewable resource.
Some of the natural resources (like sun, air, wind, tides) are also named perpetual resources
as their quantity is not affected by human consumption. Other natural resources (like land,
soil, water, plants, and animals) need careful management with a focus on how their
management affects the quality of our lives (both present and future generations).

Some other resources also come under the category of renewable resources like wood, fish,
and oxygen, but they require some time and effort to renew.
STUDY NOTE
Many of the precious metals are also renewable though not
Kyoto Protocol was the
naturally replaced. But precious metals can be recycled since first major international
accord that helped in
their extraction and usage do not destroy them. curbing carbon dioxide
emission and reduction in
global warming.
Natural resources (raw materials or land) are also referred to as
natural capital as they are a form of equity. Natural resources are mainly of two types:
1. Biotic resources: These are living beings obtained from the biosphere (fish, marine
organisms, animals, birds, etc.) Other resources like mineral fuels also come under
natural biotic resources since they are formed through the decay of organic matter.
2. Abiotic resources: These are non-living resources like land, air, water, ores, etc.

Renewable resources are also a source of clean energy, as they cause less pollution and emit
fewer greenhouse gases. In recent years, renewable organic products are being used to make
biofuel which has gained prevalence over non-renewable resources like coal, natural gas, etc.
Some of the biofuels in use are biodiesel (as an alternative to oil), green diesel (made from
algae and a few other plants). The most common renewable resources are:
• Solar energy

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• Hydro energy
• Wind energy
• Biomass energy
• Geothermal power
• Tidal energy

The current environmental movement has its focus on renewable resources, both
economically and politically. Using renewable resources brings down cost and puts much
less restraint on resources in limited supply like fossil fuels. Going green (i.e., adopting
sustainable energy) positively impacts our environment, and resources like fossil fuels cause
global warming and damage our environment.

The other category of resources, i.e., non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels, minerals,
etc., are formed through long geological processes. Due to their extremely slow rate of
formation, they cannot be replenished at the same rate as they are consumed; hence they are
non-renewable. Non-renewable resources are also called dirty energy due to the pollution
and other environmental issues caused by them.

Our energy sources have evolved over time. We used woods before the nineteenth century
and later adopted non-renewable resources (coal, petroleum) for the same purposes. These
non-renewable resources have been dominant energy sources to date, but the earth has a
limited supply of these; hence, there has been a growing need to use renewable resources as
energy sources.

Governments of all countries are taking measures to promote renewable resources by

designing many incentives for using these alternate energy sources. For example:
• An energy tax is placed as a surcharge on fossil fuels, which STUDY NOTE
makes the price of renewable resources competitive or less
11% of the energy
than that of non-renewable resources. A survey was done by consumption in the U.S.
comes from renewable
IRENA (International renewable energy Agency) in 2019 resources. (As per the
report of U.S.
which revealed that the energy produced by renewable Environmental
Protection Agency
resources is quite comparable to the price of fossil fuels. 2017).

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• The Green Fund is a mutual fund that invests only in companies that produce goods
with more responsibility towards environmental health, and their business dealings
are socially conscious.

Renewable resources do pose some challenges in their usage:

• Renewable resources are less reliable than non-renewable resources as seasonal
changes can impact their production.
• Renewable reasons are not always perfectly renewable. If human consumption
increases to a point where the rate of production of renewable resources goes down,
then these resources might not be able to replenish themselves completely.
• Urban sprawl, irrigation, cultivation, deforestation, grazing, fishing, hunting could
destroy renewable resources which are otherwise abundant in nature.
• If we want to use renewable resources on a large scale, then it can prove costly, and we
still need more research to make renewable resources more cost-effective.

1.1 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

❖ Explain what are renewable natural resources and also be able to differentiate them from
non-renewable resources
❖ Define the different types of renewable energy sources
❖ Explain the scope and importance of environment studies
❖ Explain the growing need for energy and how alternate energy resources are being used
❖ Explain about Minerals, Metals and Non-Renewable Energy Sources
❖ Recognise the challenges and consequences due to overuse of non-renewable natural
resources

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2. WATER
The hydrologic cycle or water cycle is a natural cycle that is powered by sunlight and gravity.
When water evaporates from the land surfaces and oceans. it becomes vapor and is
temporarily held in the atmosphere before it comes down as precipitation. Water is available
mainly in three forms in nature:
• Surface water: This is the residue of melted snow and precipitation. It is also called
runoff. Bodies of water like rivers, streams, lakes form when the average rate of
precipitation exceeds the rate of evaporation, absorption by vegetation, or seeping of
water into the soil.
• Groundwater: Water that infiltrates and goes inside the earth’s surface becomes
groundwater. Water slowly goes down through layers of porous rocks and soils which
are called aquifers. This falling down of water happens due to gravity pull.
• Frozen water: Water exists in frozen form as glaciers, ice, etc. in cold regions.

Both the surface and groundwater eventually go back to the oceans and get evaporated,
replenishing the water vapor in the atmosphere. From the total water reserve on the earth,
97% is saltwater which is not fit for human consumption. A large portion of the other 3% of
fresh water is locked up in polar ice caps. Only 0.003% of freshwater is readily available as
surface and groundwater.

Water is critical to all kinds of lives on our planet. The water resources are used for multiple
purposes that include:
• Drinking
• Irrigation purposes
• Washing needs
• Waste disposal by industries STUDY NOTE
• As a coolant for thermal power plants In 2016, a report from
MoWRGR (Ministry of Water
Resources, River
2.1 Overexploitation of Groundwater and Surface Development, and Ganga
Rejuvenation), GoI, under
Water the chairmanship of Mihir
Shah, concluded that a
Water exploitation comprises the extraction of these water complex issue like water
governance needs a multi-
sources for human consumption and irrigation. With the overuse disciplinary approach.

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of all forms of water resources, water is getting scarcer over the years. With many rivers,
groundwater, and streams drying up, it poses serious challenges for most people and
regions. Amongst many reasons for the scarcity of water, some of the prominent ones are:
• Drastic changes in rainfall patterns: This is happening mainly due to deforestation
which causes reduced rainfall and diminished groundwater recharging.
• Groundwater mining: Multinational companies play a vital role in overexploiting
groundwater resources. Classic examples of such companies are bottled water and soft
drinks businesses. With their plants in rural areas, they exploit water resources as well
as pollute the groundwater by releasing effluents. This continuous exploitation of
underground water has resulted in lower levels of water. All this has negatively
impacted the health of rural people.
• Subsidence: Ground subsidence occurs if the groundwater is being withdrawn at a rate
higher than its recharge rate. Ground subsidence is a phenomenon in which the
sediments in the aquifer get compacted and result in the sinking of the land surface
over it. This leads to many economic losses and threats to lives like structural damages
in buildings, pipe cracks or breakage, a reversal in the flow of
sewers, and tidal flooding. STUDY NOTE

• Water logging: With excessive irrigation, the water tables of Even a rise of 1 degree
Fahrenheit in the
the area being irrigated can rise. This leads to waterlogging temperature can cause the
atmosphere to hold on 4%
and salinity problems when salt in the rocks comes in contact more of water vapor.

with this water. The salt then rises up and evaporates in the
upper soil layer, making it saline and hampering the fertility of soils.
• Floods: Many factors such as deforestation, rapid industrialization, mining, grazing,
global warming, etc., have contributed to the significant rise of floods, which earlier
used to be a natural calamity. As more water warms up due to global warming, more
water evaporates, causing heavy rainfalls. Prolonged downpours can lead rivers and
lakes to overflow and cause floods in low-lying coastal areas.
• Drought: Though primarily a meteorological phenomenon, drought can also occur
because of many anthropogenic causes like deforestation, grazing, mining, etc. Due to
these human activities, there could be below normal annual rainfall and less
evaporation, causing drought conditions. Few other reasons for drought are erroneous

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cropping patterns, increased exploitation of water resources (through canal irrigation

and water wells), etc. All this has converted many drought-prone areas into deserts.

2.2 Conflicts Over Water

With the world's population more than tripling in the last century, it is quite natural that
water resources are facing tremendous pressures all through the globe. All the world
governments see the water problem as an ever-increasing challenge. The water problem has
been intensified by environmental damage, variability in the hydrological cycle,
industrialization, and urbanization.

The water challenges are more daunting for developing countries since the availability of per
capita water is already low in these countries (with urbanization and population growing at
an exponential rate). Due to the competing water demands for different users and uses,
water disputes are increasing at many levels (local, district level, inter-state, national, and
international level). The international conflicts are becoming more apparent now,
intertwined with local conflicts.

There are more incidents of two or more countries sharing the water resources (both surface
and groundwater). There are more than 300 rivers and 8 major river systems, 100 lakes, and
a large number of aquifers currently in India. Some of the incidents of water disputes
internationally, which were resolved later are:

• In 1960, there was a dispute between India and Pakistan over the Indus River System
which was resolved by the mediation of the World Bank. The Indus river treaty divided
the 6 Indus rivers between the two countries. The Sutlej, the Beas, and the Ravi went to
India while the Indus, the Chenab, and the Jhelum rivers were given under Pakistan’s
territory.
• In 1959, Egypt and Sudan had a conflict over Nile waters which was resolved with an
agreement of full utilization of the Nile waters by both parties.

There are still many international watercourses that have no agreements or attempts to
address the existing issues. Some of the unresolved disputes include the conflict between
Iraq, Turkey, and Syria over Euphrates and Tigris. Another dispute that still needs to be

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addressed is between the Syrians, the Palestinians, the Israelis, and the Lebanese concerning
the Jordan River and its tributaries.

In India, there are primarily 3 stressors that have been causing many interstate water
conflicts They are:
• India has a federal structure that makes water part of a state. One example of this issue
is the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This law has
bestowed the primary right of water on where the water source lies and is skewed
towards the upstream users, i.e., Karnataka in this case.
• Food security has been wrongly delineated, which has made crops like wheat and rice
high in production. These crops consume a lot of water. This issue began with the green
revolution in the 1960s, which increased the yield and production of food grains. The
green revolution displaced the low water-consuming crops like ragi and sorghum in
many areas.
• India’s water policy lacks the understanding of the nexus between land, water, and
food. There is no integrated ecosystem approach towards designing the water policy.
The water governance in India is a piecemeal program and not an integrated basin
approach.

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Activity 1
You have to create a mini-hydropower wheel to lift an object. You would need
the following materials for this activity:
Plastic soda bottle of 2-liter capacity, ruler and marker, a craft knife, scissor,
sewing, thread of 16 inches, any small object which you want to lift (for example
an eraser, bottle cap or pencil), sink, duct tape, a large funnel, paper clips, 2 corks,
a wooden barbeque skewer.

Method:
1. Measure 6 cms from the bottom of the bottle and mark a few dots using
markers and connect the dots.
2. Using the craft knife, cut off the bottom of the bottle where you joined the
dots. Now from the cut part of the bottle measure 8 cms and cut it off to
get a cylindrical plastic section.
3. Using scissors, cut 2 cms strips from the 8 cms cylindrical section
obtained above; you would get 4 such strips. Cut these 2 cms strips in half
so that you get 8 curved strips which measure 4 X 2 cms.
4. On the cork draw 8 lines lengthwise which are evenly spaced. Using a
knife, cut slits on those lines you just drew.
5. Slide the 8 plastic pieces on the slits in the cork, making sure all the plastic
pieces curve on the same side.
6. Unfold the paper clips and flex one end of each of them to create a loop.
7. Take the plastic funnel and use duct tape to affix both the paper clips on
each side with the loop facing the top.
8. Divide the skewer and insert one half within each side of the wheel cork.
Make a circle on your paper clip holder for each side. Ensure the loops on
the paper clip are slack enough for the wheel to spin smoothly.
9. Insert one of the skewers into the other cork and tie thread tightly around
it. Tie the loose end of the thread to a weight or other small household
object.
10. Tie a small object to the loose end of the string.
11. In your washbasin, run a gentle small stream of water over the entire
wheel. Carefully pour water well over wheel, allowing the plastic pieces
on the cork to collect and convert the pouring water into mechanical
energy.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS - 1

1. Which of the following are primary types of water on earth?

a) Surface water, Tap water, Bore well water
b) Surface water, Groundwater, Frozen water
c) Groundwater, Tap water, Frozen water
d) Bore well water, frozen water, Surface-water
2. One of the reasons for water scarcity is groundwater mining. [True/False]
3. Which one of the following choices is not a reason for floods?
a) Deforestation
b) Global warming
c) Industrialization
d) Water logging
4. The main issue with water logging is _____________ and damage to soil fertility.
5. India's federal structure is one of the reasons for interstate water disputes.
[True/False]
6. The water cycle is powered by _____________ and_____________.

jdaac

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3. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Non-renewable energy sources can be hazardous to our environments and human health.
They contribute to global warming and some of the methodologies applied to extract these
energy sources can endanger life on our planet. For example, the technology used to carry
our fracking (liquid at high pressures is injected into boreholes, rocks, etc., to open the
existing pores forcibly and extract gas or oil) can pollute water and cause earthquakes.

For these reasons, the use of renewable energy sources to meet the energy demands has
been increasing. There are a number of renewable energy sources, each with its own set of
ecological and economic benefits.

The most common types of renewable energy resources being used are:

• Solar or Light Energy: Solar energy has been harnessed STUDY NOTE
for a long time to grow crops, dry foods, and stay warm. Large hydroelectric power
plants (or mega-dams) fall
The NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) under the non-renewable
energy category. Since mega-
states that the amount of solar energy falling on earth in dams tend to reduce and
divert the natural flow of
one hour is much more than the electricity that the water, they restrict access for
humans and animals who rely
world uses in one year. The sun’s radiation can be used on the rivers for many
purposes.
to make Photovoltaic cells (made from silicon or few
other materials), transforming solar energy into electric energy.
Solar systems are being used to provide electricity to homes and businesses. A single
Photovoltaic cell can produce enough energy to power just a calculator. But when they
are combined to form solar farms or solar panels, their power is increased manifold.
Using solar farms, power can be generated to suffice the needs of thousands of homes.

• Wind energy: From the old-fashioned windmills to turbines that are as tall as
skyscrapers, there has been tremendous growth in utilizing wind energy. Wind energy
works by converting mechanical energy into electricity. Wind energy is generated
when the wind turns the blades of the turbines, which feed an electric generator to
produce electricity. The energy produced is then used to supply power to homes,
buildings, etc. Wind energy can also be stored in the power grid.

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• Hydroelectric power: Hydropower comes from fast-moving water like a river or

water that is descending rapidly from a high point. Hydropower has been used for
thousands of years and is the largest renewable energy resource in the U.S (10% of total
electricity usage comes from hydroelectric power). Water dammed in reservoirs or
lakes is released through generators and turbines to generate electricity.
• Biomass energy: The organic materials from plants and animals constitute biomass
like wood, crops, ethanol (from plants like corn), sewage, STUDY NOTE
etc. Biomass can create energy since it has absorbed the
Nuclear fusion is another
energy from the sun. This stored energy is released as heat method for obtaining
nuclear energy, but it has
energy when biomass is burnt. The burning of biomass not been perfected as yet.
Nuclear fusion is a process
releases less amount of carbon than fossil fuels. in which light elements
undergo nuclear reactions
• Geothermal power: A lot of energy is generated deep to form heavier elements
releasing substantial
inside the Earth’s core. If you have used a hot spring, you amounts of energy.

must know that it is geothermal energy. The heat within

Earth’s core is comparable to the heat on the Sun's surface. There are radioactive
particles at the core of our planet that decay and release heat. When deep wells are
bored inside the earth’s surface, the hot water inside comes out as a hydrothermal
source.

This hydrothermal source can be used to create electricity or heat by pumping it

through a turbine. This power source causes very little disruption to land and has
immense potential. But it has a slower adoption rate since geothermal plants involve a
high upfront cost.

• Tidal energy: Water again proves to be a vital source of alternate energy in the form
of tides. Though still in the developmental phase, tidal energy has enormous potential.
Much like hydroelectric power, tidal energy is also based on water power, though it also
uses wind turbines. Just like wind turbines, tidal turbines also use blades to power a
generator. These tidal turbines are placed at the seafloor where very strong tidal flows.
Tidal stream generators are the most popular use of tidal energy. It uses the kinetic
energy of the ocean to supply power to turbines.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

7. The process of fracking can cause earthquakes. [True/False]

8. _______ cells are used to convert solar energy into electricity.
9. Wind energy works by converting __________ energy into electricity.
10. How is hydroelectric power generated?
a) By utilising the solar energy falling on oceans
b) By utilising the power of wind on rivers and waterfalls.
c) By utilising rapidly flowing water from a high point or fast-moving rivers.
d) By utilising tides or waves in oceans.
11. Where is the geothermal energy coming from?
a) Within the Earth’s deep core
b) From the heat of sunlight
c) From the tides on oceans
d) From rapid falling water

4. USE OF ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES

One of the biggest reasons for industrial air pollution is the generation of electricity. Most of
the electricity comes from non-renewable power plants like coal, nuclear, etc. Using these
resources to produce electricity is extremely damaging for the environment we live in, and
pollutes our air, water, and land. For these reasons, methods to tap alternative energy
sources are making progress worldwide.

These alternative energy sources are not derived from fossil fuels; hence they produce zero
or very little greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. If the effect of the greenhouse is
lessened by utilizing alternative energy, then there would be fewer causes for extreme
climatic changes. Since these energy sources are alternatives to traditional or more common
energy sources like coal, natural gas, oil, etc. They are termed as “alternative energy”.

Alternative energy is different from renewable energy sources through many renewable
energy sources also fall under alternative energy sources. Solar power, for example, is both
a renewable and alternative energy source. Renewable resources are abundant in nature and
are constantly replenished, whereas alternative energy like nuclear power uses thorium or

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uranium, which are finite resources. The main aim of alternative energy sources is to avoid
fossil fuels.

The alternative energy source which is not renewable energy is nuclear energy. Nuclear
energy comes from the core of an atom which undergoes a process called fission (or splitting)
to gain energy. One of the methods of creating nuclear energy is using reactors to perform
controlled nuclear fission. The energy released during fission is harnessed in power plants.

4.1 Growing Energy Needs

With the rising population, there is a steep rise in energy demands as more houses,
businesses, and communities need to be powered. Here is some data as projected by IEA
(International Energy Agency):
• Between 2005 and 2030, there will be a 55% increase in energy needs. The demand for
oil would grow from 11.7 billion tons to 17.7 billion.
• Between 2005 and 2030, there will be a 50% increase in energy consumption. Most of
this demand would come from developing countries.
STUDY NOTE
The main reasons for growing energy demand are population and
The UK consumes much
wealth increase in developing countries. With more wealth, less energy now than it did
in 1970 despite an
technological developments, and a better standard of living, the increase in population by
6.5 million.
demand for energy sources would increase. 70% of the increase
in energy demands comes from developing countries which India and China lead.

To maintain a sustainable energy level and prevent further degradation of ecosystems, it is

vital to expand the usage of renewable sources of energy. Today around 26% of the world's
electricity comes from renewable energy sources. As per the IEA, this share of renewable
energy sources would grow to 30% by 2024. The UK is one of the most efficient countries in
both producing and consuming energy. The UK hit a fantastic milestone in 2020 by running
only on renewable energy sources for 2 months on 10th June 2020.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS - 3

12. Why is nuclear energy not classified as a renewable source of energy?

a) It uses methods that produce more carbon dioxide.
b) It uses materials like uranium which are finite and not abundant.
c) It has a low capacity to produce energy.
d) None of the above.
13. Which of the following is a reason for the growing demand for energy?
a) Growth in population
b) Better standard of living
c) Affordability
d) All of the above

5. MINERALS, METALS AND NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Minerals and metal ores, fossil fuels and groundwater are the examples of non-renewable
resources. The metals themselves are available in abundant quantity in the Earth's crust, and
the extraction takes place where they are concentrated by natural geological processes like
heat, pressure, organic activity, and other processes sufficient for sustainable extraction.

These processes of formation usually take huge timeframe STUDY NOTE

through plate tectonics and crustal recycling. We usually choose The prominent types of non-
renewable energy resources
non-renewable natural resources assuming the fact that they are are oil, natural gas and nuclear
energy and they are
affordable and easy to process and use. It is easy to fill the vehicle collectively named as fossil
fuels.
with petroleum products, use gas stoves for cooking and use an
uninterrupted supply of electricity for illuminating the world. A little bit of energy is required
to a produce large amount of power required for the above-mentioned activities. Apparently,
renewable energy sources are not a competition to non-renewable sources. The
advancement in the technology coupled with the non-renewable energy products has
simplified human life a lot.

However, the non-renewable natural resources are not everlasting; they will expire at some
point in life. The pace at which non-renewable energy resources have been running out is
gradually increasing with the increase in population and technological advancements. The
speedy usage of non-renewable natural resources causes serious environmental changes

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remarkably triggered by toxic gas emissions. The increasing price tag of non-renewable
energy is striking the chord of economic hardship.

5.1 Minerals
Minerals from which metals are extracted are categorised as non-renewable natural
resources. Bricks, cement, metals, etc., are used in the construction works. Diamonds,
gypsum, limestone, potash, salt, sulphur, and peat are considered as minerals. Most metals
extracted from minerals possess low commodity value except diamond.

Asbestos is a group that comprises minerals. This is found in nature as bundling of fibres that
may be split into thinner, resilient strands or threads that can be used in commercial and
industrial purposes such as automotive breaks, wallboard materials, etc. Certain kinds of
asbestos cause human health problems, particularly lung diseases. Limestone, a carbonated
sedimentary rock, is mainly used to manufacture cement and make plaster for buildings.
Potassium-containing fertilisers are derived from potash which is from the mineral potash
feldspar. We use salt, or sodium chloride as a food additive and flavouring ingredients,
examples of minerals. Sulphur originated from hydrogen sulphide obtained from sour-gas
wells, pollution-control scrubbers at metal smelters, and deposits of elemental sulphur. The
mineral sulphur derived from hydrogen sulphide is used in the chemical manufacturing
industries. Mineral materials like sand, gravel, and crushed stones are collectively referred
to as aggregates. Aggregates are relevant and their usage is STUDY NOTE
inexorable in the construction industry. Metals are found in the
combined state due to their
reactive nature. Metals and
5.2 Metals their compounds are present
in the mineral ore.
Metals carry wide array of beneficial physical and chemical
properties. Metals can be used in their basic form, such as alloys and compounds containing
metals and non-metals.

Practical uses of metal:

• Making of equipment, machines, and electricity-conducting wires
• In constructing buildings and other structures.

The most important metals that are used in industries are as follows:
• Aluminium (Al)

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• Chromium (Cr)
• Cobalt (Co)
• Copper (Cu)
• Iron (Fe)
• Lead (Pb)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Mercury (Hg)
• Nickel (Ni)
• Tin (Sn)
• Uranium (U)
• Zinc (Zn)

The precious metals gold (Au), platinum (Pt), and silver (Ag) are well known for jewellery
uses; however, they have some industrial uses like conductors in electronics.

Examples of metal alloys:

• Brass (containing at least 50% Cu, plus Zn)
• Bronze (mostly Cu, plus Sn and sometimes Zn and Pb), and
• Steel (Majorly Fe, a small amount of carbon, Cr, Mn, and/or Ni)

The tailings (the waste materials left after the target mineral is extracted from ore) are
usually dumped onto a landfill, into the nearby lake, or into the ocean, depending on the
area's geography. Suppose the electronic goods containing metals or alloys expire. In that
case, the metals in the product can be recylced to make new products, or discarded as waste.
If we look according to geographic presence, high quality mineral, tin and other ores are not
available everywhere uncommon to find. The deposits located satisfactorily close to the
surface are most economical for mining, and such ores have comparatively high
concentrations of metals.

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5.3 Other Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Coal:
Coal is a fossil fuel which is solid and a carbon-heavy rock formed as a result of
transformation of decayed plants and animals that lived in the early age. It is considered as
the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel that is used for burning in generating energy.

Features:
• Coal is a non-renewable energy, and it is categorised into non-renewable energy source
owing to the fact that the formation of coal takes millions of years.
• Coal contains plethora of carbon and hydrocarbons.
• The energy stockpiled by plants lived in the early age usually in the wetlands are
retained in the coal.

According to ‘Press Information Bureau, Government of India’, India is ranked as the second-
largest coal-producing country, producing approximately 729 million tonnes of coal as per
December 2020 Reports. The states where coal reserves are found in huge quantities in India
are Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and many more.

Types of coal:
Coal is classified into four main varieties based on the type, amount of carbon content and
capacity to produce heat energy. The amount of pressure and temperature that forces on the
plants over the period of time determines the rank of a coal deposit.
• Lignite
• Sub-bituminous
• Bituminous
• Anthracite

Anthracite:
• The carbon content in Anthracite accounts for 86%–97%.
• It possesses the highest heating value and is considered as high-quality coal.
• In India, Anthracite is generally found in Jammu and Kashmir.
• According to business research report 2020, there is huge rise in demand for Anthracite
for domestic purposes and electricity production units in developing countries like

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India and China. The demand is higher in these countries due to rapid economic growth,
population and other structural developments.

Bituminous:
• The carbon content in Bituminous accounts for 45%–86%
• It is used to generate electricity, utilised in the iron and steel industry and used as a raw
material for producing cooking coal
• In India, it is found in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
The increased usage of bitumen products across different sectors would push the Asia
Pacific market to approach USD 35 billion in 2027.

Subbituminous:
• The carbon content in Subbituminous accounts for 35%–45%
• It has a lower heating element than bituminous coal
• In the United States, during the year 2019, 44% of the coal production attributed to
sub-bituminous variety
• In the U.S., it is mostly extracted from Wyoming and Montana. Moreover, it is also found
in Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico.

Lignite:
• The carbon content in Lignite accounts for 25%–35%
• Lowest energy content among other variants
• Lignite deposits are young compared to others and are not subject to extreme
temperature
• Lignite is fragile in nature and holds high moisture
• Furthermore, it is also used to produce synthetic natural gas
• In India, Lignite has presence in states like Rajasthan, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.
• According to world data atlas report 2020, the lignite coal production in India took
place around 48,339 thousand short tonnes in 2020. India's lignite or brown coal
generation surged at approx. more than 3.10 percent annualised rate from approx.
27,000 thousand short tonnes in 2001 to 48,339 thousand short tonnes in 2020.

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Methods of coal extraction:

The widely used methods of coal extraction involve:
• Underground mining: Underground mining utilises heavy machinery to extract the coal
from mines under the earth.
• Surface mining: Surface mining is also termed as strip mining. strip mining is the
commonly used method to extract coal in the United States. The most catastrophic,
uprooting and polluting mode of mining is strip mining compared to surface mining.

Coal in India:
Coal mining in India started from the year 1774. The fourth largest coal reserves in the world
are situated in India. In India, Dhanbad city holds the record of largest coal producing city.
More than 90% of the coal deposits in India attributes to the states Jharkhand, Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. In India Energy
derived from coal in India outpaces the energy derived from oil. This is quite in contrast to
the world scenario where the energy derived from the oil outpaces the energy derived from
coal.

Oil:
Oil is an example of liquid fossil fuel. Crude oil is mainly composed of comparatively volatile
liquid hydrocarbons. Besides, it also contains the elements nitrogen, sulphur, and oxygen. All
these form numerous varieties of complex molecular structures.

Crude oil is usually extracted from:

• Underground reservoirs
• Cracks, crevices, and pores of sedimentary rock
• Tar sands near the earth’s surface

Extraction of crude oil:

• Drilling on land or sea
• Strip mining of tar sands oil and oil shale

The extracted oil is then converted to usable or consumable fuels like gasoline, kerosene, jet
fuel, etc. and other products like plastics and paint.

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There is a scarcity of new oil discoveries in India. Coupled with the fact that the Covid-19
pandemic hit the oil production, leading to a 7.1% fall in crude oil production in May 2020
compared to the previous year, it substantiated the decline in India’s crude oil production.
All these factors increased the reasons for India’s dependence on oil imports.

Natural Gases
Natural gas is also referred to as fossil gas or gas. It is a hydrocarbon gas mixture mainly
containing methane along with a small proportion of higher alkanes, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, hydrogen sulphide, or helium.

Features:
• It is a naturally occurring gas.
• It is a non-renewable energy source.
• Natural gas formation takes millions of years. Natural gas is a resultant of the long-term
process in which numerous layers of decomposing plants and animals under the
surface of the Earth are exposed to intense temperature over a period of time. The
chemical energy stored by the plants as a result of the conversion of energy obtained
from the sun is transferred to natural gas in the form of chemical bonds.
• Uses include heating, cooking, electricity generation, fuel for the vehicle. In addition, it
is also used in the production of plastics and organic chemicals for commercial
purposes as a chemical feedstock.
• It is either conventional or non-conventional, based on its underground location.

Conventional natural gas:

• Found in porous and permeable or mixed into oil reservoirs
• Extracted by standard drilling

Unconventional natural gas:

• A gas that involves a long process to extract by regular drilling is classified into
unconventional natural gases.
• Extracted via special stimulation techniques, like fracking.

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Uranium
Nuclear fuels are non-renewable energy resources. Nuclear fuel Uranium is extracted from
Uranium ore. Uranium is a radioactive element that is naturally generated below the earth’s
surface or sea water. Nuclear plants use uranium for nuclear fission. Uranium is treated as a
non-renewable energy source, though found in rocks worldwide. Nuclear power plants use
U-235 for fuel because their atoms are easily split into parts. Although uranium is much more
common than silver, U-235 is comparatively rare.

The process of mining uranium ore, the stages it goes through in a nuclear reactor, and
disposal are collectively called the uranium fuel cycle.

Features:
• It is denoted using the symbol U
• It’s atomic number is 92
• Silver grey metal

Source- https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme444/node/238
Fig 1: Uranium Fuel Cycle

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Uses:
• Depleted uranium is used in high-density penetrators as a shielding material for
containers storing and transporting radioactive materials
• It is used as counterweights for aircraft control surfaces
• Ballast is a material that provides stability for missile re-entry vehicles
• It fuels the nuclear power plants

Thorium:
Thorium is an example of a weak radioactive metallic chemical element denoted by the
symbol Th and has an atomic number 90. Thorium turns silver and tarnishes black in colour
when exposed to the air due to the transformation into thorium dioxide. Also, it is hard
enough, malleable in nature and has a high melting point. It is quite reactive and can catch
flame in air when finely divided.

Thorium is more beneficial than uranium. Thorium results in less radioactive waste
compared to Uranium. Besides, thorium excels on chemical stability and resistance to
radioactivity compared to uranium. Thorium is more common than uranium; however, the
deposits are not utilised. In addition, moving to thorium-based fuel production invites a lot
of technical challenges.

Downsides:
Thorium cannot directly power a nuclear reactor unlike uranium. This is because thorium
doesn’t contain sufficient brittle material to trigger a nuclear chain reaction. The nuclear
industry lacks in operational experience with thorium and being conservative at the same
time because of insufficient experience using thorium. The preparation of thorium fuel is a
cumbersome process, which creates difficulty in processing the thorium. It takes 550
degrees more for thorium dioxide than traditional uranium dioxide to melt at high
temperature. Hence, high temperatures should be provided to generate high-quality solid
fuel. Also, Thorium is quite immobile, causing difficulty in the chemical processing.

Irradiated Thorium is more effectively radioactive and hazardous in the short term. The
thorium uranium cycle invariably produces gamma rays. These gamma rays are very hard to
block, admitting the need for more expensive fuel handling and/or reprocessing. Above all,
the commercial scale efficiency of thorium is not proven practically.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

14. Which of the following is an example of category of coal?

a) Lignite
b) Anthracite
c) Bituminous
d) All of the above
15. Which of the following describes the features of uranium element?
a) Used as fuel in nuclear power plants
b) Low density penetrators
c) All of the above
d) None of the above
16. Pinpoint the incorrect statement:
a) Thorium cannot directly power a nuclear reactor unlike uranium
b) Chemical stability and resistance to radioactivity of thorium is higher
than uranium
c) Thorium is directly used in nuclear reactors, whereas uranium is
indirectly used in the nuclear power reactors
d) Atomic number of Uranium is 92
17. Coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel that humans burn for energy
generation. [True/False]
18. Oil is an example of liquid ___________.

5.4. Use and Overuse of Non-Renewable Natural Resources

Overconsumption of Natural Resources:

The industrial revolution coupled with the generation of technology, development, and
research in the modern era made huge mineral and oil exploration-exploitation an easy
process. The increased exploitation led to a hike in natural oil, gas, and mineral depletion
and many mines entered a production decline. This is exemplified by the fact that minerals
such as Gasoline, Copper, and Zinc production will be reduced in the next 20 years. The up-
surging demand for petroleum products triggers more and more oil mining.

The release of toxins and chemical by-products from industries increase with progress in
technological advancement in the industries. These harmful wastages are deposited in the

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living world and possess the potential to alter the natural habitat of the living species. This
is exemplified by the formation of acidic lakes, dead zones, and the death of wildlife.

Factors steering the overuse of non-renewable natural resources:

• Incessant emergence of technological advancement allowing the quick and efficient
extraction of natural resources. This is exemplified by the increased rate of oil and
mineral extraction, rate of deforestation triggered by urbanisation and urban
development.
• Another predominant factor is the increasing population. According to the UN reports,
the world population is 7.8 billion in 2020, and is expected to reach 9.9 billion by the
year 2050. The demand for food and non-food products is directly proportional to the
increase in population.
• The culture of consumerism increased production and stimulated economic growth
worldwide. However, the downside of increased production and consumption is
marked by the overuse and depletion of renewable and non-renewable natural
resources in the earth.
• Materialistic views and consumerism lead to the extraction of renewable and non-
renewable natural resources to form both necessary and unnecessary products in
excess quantities. Overuse and excessive production results in the accumulation of
wastage and by-products that often contaminate the environment and other natural
resources in the nature.
• Due to the technological advancement and research, effort, time and money invested
by the people increased the rate of extraction, availability and consistent supply of non-
renewable natural resources. This is corroborated by the fact that non-renewable
resources like fossil fuels are not easy to find around the globe.
• The efficiency of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels are undeniable. A lot of
energy can be derived from a minimal quantity of fuel.
• Ease of transportation: Fossil fuels can be easily STUDY NOTE

transported by using underground pipes for oil and gas. Overuse of natural resources
results in resource depletion,
• Easy set-up: A fuel plant can be set up at any location, pollution, subsequently
making the earth unfit for
irrespective of a large quantity of fuel to generate power. human life.

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Resource depletion:
Resource depletion persists when the consumption of resources outpaces its replenishment
in nature. This indicates the fact that the depletion of a particular resource increases its
value.

Common types of resource depletion:

• Aquifer depletion
• Deforestation
• Mining for fossil fuels and minerals
• Pollution or contamination of resources
• Slash-and-burn agricultural practices
• Soil erosion and
• Overconsumption, excessive or unnecessary use of resources

Consumption of stones, sand, and gravel in the construction industry is an example of the
overuse of minerals. The production of minerals like Gasoline, Copper, Zinc, Aluminium, Coal,
Iron is estimated to decline during the coming years.

The oil industry will experience a continuing decline in production subsequent to the
maximum global petroleum extraction, and the period is referred to as peak oil.
Furthermore, the decrease in supply and increase in demand of petroleum products raises
the price of these products.

Water
It is a widely known fact that only 2.5% of the earth is fresh water (mostly takes the form of
ice or snow); the remaining is salt water and not edible for humans. Reports from UN
organisations forecast that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will face scarcity of drinking water.

Groundwater is utilised through wells and lakes for private, agricultural, and public use.
Around the globe, the availability of groundwater is 22.6 million cubic kilometres and the
renewable portion accounts for only .35 million. Around the globe, the ground water
replenished is scarcer compared to its consumption and its renewal takes around 50 years
on a human time scale. Groundwater extraction has doubled from the year 1960 and caused
an increase in groundwater depletion.

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On the other hand, the increase in population drives deforestation at a faster pace. Increasing
population demands expansion of farming, agriculture and housing activities. Deforestation
has resulted in the depletion of one half of the forest that once shielded the earth.

Resources in wetlands are overused or converted for

• Large-scale agriculture
• Real estate activities
• Urbanisation
• Recreational lakes
• Hydro-power generation
• Hydrologic alteration
• Drainage
• Dredging
• Stream channelisation
• Ditching
• Levees
• Deposition of fill material
• Stream diversion
• Groundwater drainage
• Impoundment
• Marinas/boats
• Industrialisation and industrial development
• Silviculture/Timber harvest
• Mining
• Atmospheric deposition

Coal
It is forecast that the maximum coal will be extracted between the year 2025 and 2048.
Furthermore, various estimations indicate that there exists sufficient coal to satisfy the
demand for 188 years. However, if the demands increase at a fast pace, the estimated years
will show a decrease.

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Phosphorous
Phosphorous is extracted from phosphorous rock and guano. Phosphorous is widely used as
fertilisers in agriculture. As per the research outcome of the Global Phosphorous Research
initiative, the expected global peak in phosphorus production is predicted to occur around
2030.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 5

19. The depletion of water resources are considered as serious issue than the
current oil depletion because:
a) Replacement for oil is possible but not for drinking water
b) Only 2.5% of the world’s total water storage is fresh water
c) Proper access to hygienic drinking water is a prime criterion for global
development.
d) All of the above
20. Which of the following triggered overuse of non-renewable natural
resources?
a) Technological advancement
b) Culture of consumerism
c) Materialistic view
d) All of the above
21. Urbanisation is not a reason behind resource overuse. [True/False]
22. Increase in population and urban development drives deforestation but in a
slow pace universally. [True/False]
23. Overuse of non-renewable natural resources results in the resource
depletion. [True/False]
24. Energy efficient equipment reduces the carbon dioxide ___________.

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6. SUMMARY
• Renewable energy resources are those natural resources that never run out i.e., the rate
at which they are consumed is less than the rate at which they are replenished.
• Some of the most common renewable natural resources are sunlight, water, and wind.
• Amongst many functions of land, some of the prominent ones are:
➢ It is a store of wealth for communities, groups, or individuals.
➢ It is a storehouse of raw materials and minerals for human needs.
➢ It is a biological habitat for animals, plants, and other microorganisms.
• Land use is defined by the purpose a certain land cover fulfills like recreation, sports,
agriculture, etc.
• The primary reason for the land degradation is the unprecedented rate at which the
population is growing globally.
• Some of the other major reasons for land degradation are:
➢ Water logging
➢ The advent of many socio-economic changes like trade liberalization, privatization,
decentralization of decision making, and globalization of markets has made it
difficult for humans to manage resources efficiently.
➢ Changes in climate and natural (or human-induced) disasters also degrade the
quality of the land.
• Some of the significant effects of land degradation are:
➢ Soil erosion
➢ Desertification
➢ Land conflicts
➢ Food shortage for consumption
• Forest is a biotic (living) renewable resource that provides us clean air, water, wood
products, stable soil, habitat for wildlife, a source of recreation, and a beautiful
environment that is rich in biodiversity.
• Forests are being cut down to make room for something other than forests to meet
different needs. Deforestation happens when forests are removed permanently.
• The main reasons for deforestation are:
➢ Agriculture

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➢ New constructions
➢ Mining
• Some of the major adverse effects of deforestation are:
➢ Deforestation affects biodiversity: Many rare and fragile species, including plants,
animals, mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects, have their homes in forests. If
forests are destroyed, it creates a natural imbalance and puts life at threat.
➢ It hampers the livelihood of the local or tribal population: Globally, 1.6 billion
people depend on healthy forests for their livelihoods. Amongst them, around 1
billion are the poorest in the world. They cannot continue their small-scale
agricultural programs by hunting and gathering raw materials from forests.
➢ Reduced rainfall: Deforestation affects the way water vapor is produced over
canopies in the tropical rainforests. This causes a reduction in rainfall.
➢ Soil erosion: The weakening and degradation of soil is another massive downside
of deforestation.
• Water is available mainly in three forms in nature:
➢ Surface water: This is the residue of melted snow and precipitation. It is also called
runoff. Bodies of water like rivers, streams, lakes form when the average rate of
precipitation exceeds the rate of evaporation, absorption by vegetation, or seeping
of water into the soil.
➢ Groundwater: Water that infiltrates and goes inside the earth’s surface becomes
groundwater. Water slowly goes down through layers of porous rocks and soils
which are called aquifers.
• Frozen water: Water exists in frozen form as glaciers, ice, etc., in cold regions. Amongst
many reasons for the scarcity of water, some of the prominent ones are:
➢ Drastic changes in rainfall patterns
➢ Groundwater mining
➢ Subsidence
• Due to the competing demands of water for different users and uses, water disputes are
increasing at many levels (local, district, inter-state, national, and international).
• The most common types of renewable energy resources being used are:

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➢ Solar or light energy: The sun’s radiation can be used to make Photovoltaic cells
(made from silicon or few other materials) which can transform solar energy into
electric energy.
➢ Wind energy: Wind energy is generated when the wind turns the blades of the
turbines, which feed an electric generator to produce electricity.
➢ Hydroelectric power: Hydropower comes from fast-moving water like a river or
water that is descending rapidly from a high point.
➢ Biomass energy: The organic materials from plants and animals constitute
biomass like wood, crops, ethanol (from plants like corn), sewage, etc. Biomass can
create energy since it has absorbed the energy from the sun.
➢ Tidal energy: Much like hydroelectric power, tidal energy is also based on water
power, though it also uses wind turbines.
• Alternative energy is different from renewable energy sources, though many
renewable energy sources also fall under alternative energy sources. Solar power, for
example, is both a renewable and alternative energy source.
• Renewable resources are abundant in nature and are constantly replenished, whereas
alternative energy like nuclear power uses thorium or uranium, which are finite
resources.
• Nuclear energy is an alternative energy source (not renewable) that comes from the
core of an atom which undergoes a process called fission (or splitting) to gain energy.
• Non-renewable energy sources are neither replenishable on a human timescale nor
ensure sustainable production and supply. Fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil,
are the basic but important sources of non-renewable energy serving the demands of
vast number of industries. Large scale usage of non-renewable energy sources
multiplies the drawbacks of non-renewable energy, inclusive of negative
environmental impact.
• The fossil fuel which possesses highest carbon content is coal. It is derived from the
plants and animals’ sediment over the years.
• Fuels like gasoline, diesel, petrol, jet fuel, etc. are derived from the extract of liquid fossil
fuel which is also called as crude oil or petroleum products.

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• Natural gas is extracted from the naturally processed remains of tiny sea plants and
animals in its early age. The main chemical compound present in natural gas is
methane.
• The nucleus of an atom when subjected to either nuclear fission or nuclear fusion,
releases nuclear energy.
• Uranium is a naturally formed radioactive element found in different rocks.
• Thorium is fertile rather than fissile and it is indirectly used in nuclear reactors. The
availability of thorium is higher than uranium in the world.
• Occurrences like increase in population, rapid modernisation, urbanisation and
industrialisation triggers the use and overuse of natural resources.
• Overuse of non-renewable natural resources will have a significant impact in a negative
way on our environment, economy and health.
• Conservation strategies restore the quality of nature and promote the use of renewable
energy sources.
• Sustainable human development and non-renewable resource development are
complementary and multidimensional. The dimensions of sustainability are based on
economic, social and ecological factors.
• Sustainable utilisation of resources should be in line with poverty elimination,
sustainable livelihood, women empowerment, environment protection and
regeneration, efficient governance.

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7. GLOSSARY
Anthropogenic: It refers to human activities that cause pollution and environmental
degradation.
Effluents: It is the discharge of waste sewage (water and gas) to natural bodies of water like
rivers or the sea.
Environmental economists: Those who study the economics of natural resources are called
environmental economists. They study the extraction and use of natural resources as well as
how economic incentives can be used to help the environment.
Marshes: A wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plant species. They can be found at the
edges of rivers, streams, lakes, etc., where there is a transition from terrestrial to aquatic
ecosystems.
Subsistence farming: When farmers grow crops and raise livestock sufficient only for their
own use (no surplus for trade), it is referred to as subsistence farming.
Solar farms: These are large-scale installations of solar panels. They are also called solar
parks and operate as power plants similar to natural gas power plants.
Terrestrial: This refers to things related to land like forests, deserts, grasslands, etc.

By-products: An incidental product produced during a production process.

Biomass: Plant or animal substance possessing the potential to generate heat or electricity.
Contamination: Contamination is defined as the presence of an undesired substance in the
resources and making it unfit for further usage.
Fertiliser: Natural or synthetic material possessing the potential to nourish the soil and
plants by providing essential nutrients.
Greenhouse effect: The process which increases the temperature of earth atmosphere. This
occurs when greenhouse gases attract the heat emitted by the surface of the earth.
Greenhouse gas: Gas which absorbs, store and reradiates the infrared radiation emitted by
Earth's surface.
Nuclear fission: Nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom is separated into multiple
lighter nuclei.
Oil spills: leakage of liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the earth surface.
Ore: Naturally available substance from the ground usually in the form of rock or sediments,
from which minerals or metals are extracted.

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Recycling: It is the process of converting unwanted material into useful products.

Renewable energy: Energy derived from nature will replenish naturally on a human
timescale.
Sustainability: Ability to provide and retain the resources incessantly.
Solar power: Conversion of sunlight into electricity.
Urbanisation: Process leading to the increase in urban area and decrease in rural area.

8. CASE STUDY
Starbucks
On January 21, 2020, Starbucks announced the decision to cut down the greenhouse gases
and other waste it releases to half over the next decade. Furthermore, by the year 2030, they
plan to replenish or conserve 50% of the water used for business operations and coffee
production.

The company proposed various long-term strategies for attaining the concept of getting
greener. The tiny footsteps towards getting greener are achieved by reusing packaging and
taking more healthy cuisine in their menu. By 2021 on its 50th anniversary, Starbucks plans
to disclose more data on its environmental goals.

The pertinacious nature of Starbucks on achieving its sustainability goals is questionable.

Starbucks accomplished the goal of purchasing enough renewable energy to power the
operations of entities in the US and Canada within the deadline. Whereas in 2008, Starbucks
set the initiatives to serve in reusable containers (25% of drinks served by 2015), but few
years later the goal was reduced to 5% and even by 2018, Starbucks was able to serve only
1.3% of its drinks in recyclable containers.

Starbucks must indulge in the determined attempt to reduce its environmental footprint
owing to the fact that the entity’s greenhouse gas emission is equivalent to pollution caused
by nearly fourteen power plants using coal as fuel or on par with giants like Microsoft.
Moreover, the water consumption of Starbucks is equivalent to the water sufficient to fill 4
lakhs Olympic-sized swimming pools.

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Reports from Starbucks revealed the fact that 80% of their carbon footprint attributes to the
consumption of energy in the stores. Hence, as an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint,
Starbucks aims to reduce energy consumption in its retail outlets by 25%.

Starbucks has been working in various directions of saving energy. By 2013, they attained
50% of their goal and since then they incessantly challenged themselves to attain 100% of
the goal set.

In tune with reducing the energy consumption, Starbucks replaced incandescent and
halogen lighting with LED lights in more than 7,000 stores across the United States, Canada,
Europe, and Asia to reduce the energy consumption by 80%. As per department of energy
reports, it is recorded that using LED lights save $30 in annual energy consumption costs.
This indicates that for a 1,000 square foot store, the average savings will be $600 per annum
and the equivalent CO2 elimination will be of 10 barrels of oil.

In the year 2016, Starbucks implemented an Energy Management System. Starbucks also
focused on pushing suppliers to come up with efficient energy saving equipment. However,
Starbucks had to offset the savings from replacing equipment with the cost associated with
changes in their menu. This is exemplified by the requirement and increased usage of oven
and refrigerator for heating stored food.

Renewable Energy
Despite the setbacks faced, Starbucks sets initiatives to invest in renewable energy. As per
EPA’s Green Power List, Starbucks is one among the pioneer buyers of organic electricity in
the whole coffee industry. They aim to stay with this by procuring Green-E certified
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

One of the prominent initiatives of Starbucks was to drive energy sustainability. This was
done by necessitating a few building standards, utility efficiency, and collaborating with
greener suppliers. Starbuck initiated this by creating a verification program called Greener
Retail which they want to implement in 10,000 new stores by 2025.

Another important initiative by Starbucks is the effort to make coffee 100% sustainable.
Starbucks established the group “The Sustainable Coffee Challenge” and partnered with
other entities to make coffee sustainable. The major goals of the initiative include:

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• Ensuring a profitable coffee production and subsequent improvement in the income for
associated stakeholders like producers, workers, and their families.
• Implementing sustainable agricultural practices and tripling the productivity as well.

Restricting the activities leading to deforestation of forests and reducing number of trees.

Starbucks gained competitive advantage over other entities in their sector through these
conservation methods for energy conservation.. With proper funding and plans, Starbucks is
well on the path and pace to becoming a leading entity in energy conservation.

Source- www.starbucks.in

Discussion Questions:
1. According to you, did Starbucks take the right step to protect the environment? How
will implementing ‘Green Retail’ practice help them?
2. List out ways through which companies can reduce consumption of any non-renewable
resources. What are the substitutes available to them?

9. TERMINAL QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. Define the term "renewable" in reference to natural resources.
Q2. Give a brief introduction to minerals and coals.
Q3. Briefly explain major fossil fuels utilised for energy generation.
Q4. List out the triggers that entail the usage of non-renewable energy resources.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1Write a short note on non-renewable natural resources.
Q2. What are the three main water source types?
Q3. Explain any three adverse effects of overexploitation of water resources.
Q4. Explain any four types of renewable energy sources.

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9.1
10.Answers
ANSWERS

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

1. B. Surface water, Groundwater, Frozen water
2. True
3. D. Waterlogging
4. Salinity
5. True
6. Sunlight, gravity
7. True
8. Photovoltaic
9. mechanical
10. C. By utilising rapidly flowing water from a high point or fast-moving rivers.
11. A. Within the Earth’s deep core.
12. B. It uses materials like uranium which are finite and not abundant.
13. D. All of the above.
14. D. All of the above
15. A. Used as fuel in nuclear power plants
16. C. Thorium is directly used in nuclear reactors, whereas uranium is indirectly used in
the nuclear power reactors
17. True
18. Fossil fuel
19. D. All of the above
20. D. All of the above
21. False
22. False
23. True
24. Emission

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TERMINAL QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer 1: The term “renewable” means something that can be used repeatedly or can be
replaced. When we use the term “renewable” with reference to natural resources, it denotes
those natural resources around us that never run out since they are naturally replaced.
Answer 2: Minerals used to obtain metals are classified as non-renewable natural resources.
Minerals include diamonds, gypsum, limestone, potash, salt, sulphur, and peat. Except for
diamonds, several metals derived from minerals have a low financial value.
Coal
Coal is a mineral, a black stone that may be obtained and consumed as a source of energy.
Coal combustion is responsible for the majority of the country's electrical generation. While
most coals are found in layer deposits, igneous outbursts can cause the reserves to be
exposed to increased pressure and temperature.

Answer 3: Fossil fuel plays a superior role in the worldwide energy system. Petroleum, coal
and natural gas attribute to the major share of fossil fuels used for energy production and
consumption.

A. Coal: Coal is an important substance in the worldwide electricity generation. Coal fired
power plants satisfy 37% of global electricity demand.
B. Natural gas: Natural gas is composed of hydrocarbon, and is categorised as fossil fuel.
It is utilised for heating, cooking, electricity generation, producing plastics and organic
chemicals and as vehicle fuel..
C. Petroleum or oil: Petroleum or crude oil is treated and refined to produce fuels for
consumption. The examples of petroleum products are gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil,
jet fuel, petrochemical feedstock, waxes, lubricating oils, and asphalt.

Answer 4: The increase in population, technological innovations and advancements,

industrialisation, urbanisation and urban development are some of the triggers that cause
use and overuse of non-renewable natural resources.

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LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Answer 1: Non-renewable natural resources are those resources that cannot be replenished
by the nature within a normal meaningful timescale after its utilisation. Most carbon-based
fossil fuels are examples of non-renewable energy resources. The main type of non-
renewable energy sources are coal, oil and natural gas.
Most non-renewable natural resources are formed from the remains of plant and animals
that lived millions of years ago. Replenishment of non-renewable natural resources will take
millions of years owing to the fact that the formation of most non-renewable energy
resources takes millions of years.

Non-renewable resources, whether in the form of gas, liquid, or solids, are exposed to
processing in order to purify them into edible forms. Non-renewable resources such as coal
and oil are the country's principal form of energy.

Answer 2: Water is found mainly in three forms in our environment:

• Surface water: This is the residue of melted snow and precipitation. It is also called
runoff. Bodies of water like rivers, streams, lakes form when the average rate of
precipitation exceeds the rate of evaporation, absorption by vegetation, or seeping of
water into the soil.
• Groundwater: Water that infiltrates and goes inside the earth’s surface becomes
groundwater. Water slowly goes down through layers of porous rocks and soils which
are called aquifers. This falling down of water happens due to gravity pull.
• Frozen water: Water exists in frozen form as glaciers, ice in cold regions.

Answer 3: Adverse effects of overexploitation of water resources are:

• Groundwater mining: Multinational companies play a vital role in overexploiting
groundwater resources. Classic examples of such companies are bottled water and soft
drinks businesses. Their plants in rural areas exploit water resources and pollute the
groundwater by releasing effluents. This continuous exploitation of underground
water has resulted in lower levels of water.
• Subsidence: Ground subsidence occurs if the groundwater is being withdrawn at a rate
higher than its recharge rate. Ground subsidence is a phenomenon in which the
sediments in the aquifer get compacted and result in the sinking of the land surface

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Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

over it. This leads to many economic losses and threats to lives like structural damages
in buildings, pipe fractures, a reversal in the flow of sewers, and tidal flooding.
• Water logging: With excessive irrigation, the water tables of the area being irrigated
can rise. This leads to waterlogging and salinity problems when salt in the rocks comes
in contact with this water. The salt then rises up and evaporates in the upper soil layer,
making it saline and hampering the fertility of soils.

Answer 4: The four types of renewable energy sources are as follows:

• Solar or light energy: Solar energy has been harnessed for a long time to grow crops,
dry foods, and stay warm. Solar systems are being used to provide electricity to homes
and businesses. Using solar farms, power can be generated to suffice the needs of
thousands of homes.
• Wind energy: Wind energy works by converting mechanical energy into electricity.
Wind energy is generated when the wind turns the blades of the turbines, which feed
an electric generator to produce electricity. The energy produced is then used to supply
power to homes, buildings, etc. Wind energy can also be stored in the power grid.
• Hydroelectric power: Hydropower comes from fast-moving water like a river or
water that is descending rapidly from a high point. Hydropower has been used for
thousands of years and is the largest renewable energy resource in the U.S (10% of total
electricity usage comes from hydroelectric power).
• Biomass energy: The organic materials from plants and animals constitute biomass
like wood, crops, ethanol (from plants like corn), sewage, etc. Biomass can create
energy since it has absorbed the energy from the sun.

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11. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND E-REFERENCES

BOOKS:
• Rajagopalan, R.(2016), Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure, Oxford University
Press.
• De, A. K. (2007), Environmental Studies, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
• Bharucha, E., Text book of Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses, 2ndedn.
Hyderabad Universities Press.

E-REFERENCES:
• The Approach-Facing the Land, viewed on 5th March, 2021,
<http://www.fao.org/3/x3810e/x3810e04.htm>
• Problems of Land Degradation, viewed on 5th March, 2021,
<https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/essay/problems-of-land-degradation-with-
measures/42504>
• Nuclear Techniques Help Address Land Degradation, viewed on 5th March, 2021,
<https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nuclear-techniques-help-address-land-
degradation>
• Renewable Energy: The Clean Facts, viewed on 5th March, 2021,
<https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts>

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Unit 4: Biodiversity and its Conservation 1

Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

Unit 4
Biodiversity and its Conservation

Table of Contents
Fig No /
SL SAQ /
Topic Table / Page No
No Activity
Graph
1 Introduction - -
3-4
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Meaning, Levels, and Types of Biodiversity 1 1 5-7
3 Biogeographic Zones 2 2 8-10
4 Biodiversity Patterns and Hotspots 3 3
4.1 India is a mega-biodiversity nation - - 11-15
4.2 Endangered and endemic species 4 -
5 Threats to Biodiversity 5 4, I
5.1 Conservation of biodiversity 6 - 15-21
5.2 Biodiversity values and services 7 -
6 Summary - - 22
7 Glossary - - 23
8 Case study - - 23-24
9 Terminal Questions - -
25-28
9.1 Answer Keys - -
10 Suggested Books and e-References - - 29

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1. INTRODUCTION
In the previous chapter, we learned about minerals, metals and different natural resources
such as coal, oil, natural gases, uranium etc. We also explained how these sources of energy
are used and how the overuse of these resources has brought many challenges and
consequences to our environment. The different conservation strategies and sustainable
utilisation of resources have been discussed in detail previously.

The next concept that we need to concentrate on is biodiversity, which measures the
variation of different living organisms from multiple perspectives such as terrestrial, marine,
and aquatic organisms, as well as the various ecological complexes to which they relate, and
includes diversity among species and ecosystems. Biodiversity has several ecological and
economic importance. It provides us with housing, fuel, nourishment, clothing and several
other resources. Monetary benefits can be extracted from it through tourism. Thus, it is
crucial to have a good knowledge regarding biodiversity to experience a sustainable
livelihood.

Biodiversity is the existence of variability among living organisms on the earth, including the
variability within and between species, and within and between ecosystems. There are three
types or levels of biodiversity: species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.
Biogeographic regions or biogeographic zones are geographical areas that are defined based
on the species found there.

It provides crucial information to ecologists and managers of natural resources to

understand large-scale processes that affect species and ecosystems. The understanding of
the fact that the number of species found on Earth varies globally, locally as well as time is
known as the pattern of biodiversity.

Biodiversity zones are bio-geographic places with large global biodiversity and
sustainability that are found along with an uncommon concentration of endemic species.
Geographically, India is situated at the confluence of three realms: Afro-tropical, Indo-
Malayan, and Paleo-Arctic. As a consequence, it has attributes from each of them.
Endangered plants and endangered animals are on the verge of extinction.

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Those species which are found in some unique areas and

nowhere in the world are known as endemic species. STUDY NOTE

Biodiversity is an essential factor for the survival of living 70% of the World’s species
are found in mainly 12
beings in this world. The major threats to biodiversity include countries which are Brazil,
Australia, India, China,
habitat loss, wild-life poaching and man-wildlife conflict. Columbia, Madagascar,
Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
Biodiversity provides us with various benefits such as Indonesia, Peru and Republic
of Congo.
biological resources, ecosystem services, social and aesthetic
benefits. There are two main methods that are used for the preservation of biodiversity - In-
situ Conservation and Ex-situ Conservation.

In this chapter, we will study the meaning and definition of biodiversity, its significance, the
different levels of biodiversity and different biogeographic zones. We will also discuss
biodiversity patterns and hotspots. We will focus on how India is a mega-biodiversity nation,
endangered and endemic species, different threats to biodiversity, methods of conserving
biodiversity, and different values and services provided by biodiversity.

1.1 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

❖ Explain the meaning of Biodiversity, its significance and its different types or levels
❖ Explain the meaning of Biogeographic Zones and different Biogeographic Zones of India
❖ Describe Biodiversity Patterns and Hotspots
❖ Explain India as a Mega-diversity nation, and list Endangered and Endemic Species
❖ Describe the Threats to Biodiversity and Methods of Conservation of Biodiversity
❖ Illustrate the Biodiversity Values and Services

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2. MEANING, LEVELS AND TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY

The expression "biodiversity" differentiates between two species of plants, animals, and
microbial organisms that exist in nature and the ability to perform everyday activities. It
incorporates the genetic information contained in these organisms. The richness and variety
of life on earth are described by biodiversity. Life would not be able to sustain without
biodiversity.

It forms the most complicated, yet significant feature of our planet. The term biodiversity
was coined in 1985. It forms a crucial part both in natural and artificial ecosystems. The
variability of nature and the variability among plants, animals and micro-organisms is dealt
with here.

Thus, biodiversity can be characterised as the variation among different living organisms
from multiple sources such as terrestrial, marine, and aquatic organisms, and the various
ecological complexes to which they contribute, which includes diversity among plants,
species, and habitats.

Significance of Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is significant in maintaining water cycles, oxygen production, carbon dioxide
reduction, soil protection, etc. It helps to preserve ecological processes, support global life,
fix and recycle nutrients, etc. Healthy biodiversity offers many benefits which are as follows:
• It helps in the regulation of different cycles such as a means of regulating the level of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by forests by the release of oxygen as a by-product
during photosynthesis. It controls rainfall and soil erosion.
• It prevents depletion, contamination, and pollution of water supplies.
• It aids in the development and preservation of the soil.
STUDY NOTE
• It helps in the storage and recycling of nutrients.
The highest tree
• It aids an ecosystem's recovery from unforeseen incidents. diversity is
reportedly found in
• It offers biological services such as food, medicine, wood Lambir hills National
Park, Sarawak.
products, prescription medications, breeding stock, and so on.
• It offers recreational and tourism services.

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Levels and Types of biodiversity:

The presence of heterogeneity among living organisms on the planet, including variability
within and between species, as well as within and between habitats, is known as biodiversity.
There are three types or levels of biodiversity, which are the following:
• Species Diversity: Species diversity refers to the various types of plants, animals,
organisms, and fungi that can be found in a given area. More than 30 million species are
estimated to be there on earth. Species diversity varies from one ecosystem to another.
Conservation biologists have described and classified about 1.8 million organisms to
date. Hotspots of diversity are areas of a high diversity of biodiversity. A tropical biome,
for example, has greater diversity than a temperate ecosystem. Invertebrates refer to
those animals that don’t have the backbone and these species are the most diverse in
nature.
• Genetic Diversity: Inside a population, genetic variability refers to the variety of genes
that exist. Genetic variation refers to the various forms of genes present in plants,
organisms, and microbes. It can happen both within a species and between species. This
genetic diversity is vital for the successful reproduction of a species' population. For
example, Poodles, German shepherds, and golden retrievers, , are all puppies, but they
have different appearances, colours, and skills.
• Ecosystem Diversity: The diversity in species, natural populations, and environments
is referred to as ecosystem diversity. It applies to the different interactions that animals
have with one another and their surroundings. Tropical and temperate forests,
mountains, grasslands, rivers, hot and cold deserts, lakes, and coral reefs are examples
of habitat diversity. Each ecosystem is made up of a complex web of interactions
between biotic and abiotic elements.
• High-temperature discharges
• Nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen)
• Microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses, and Giardia)

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Source- es.govt.nz
Fig 1: Levels of Biodiversity

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. Biodiversity doesn’t contribute to the stability of climate. [True/False]

2. The term biodiversity was coined in the year _______________.
3. Which of the following is/are type/s of biodiversity?
a) Species Diversity
b) Generic Diversity
c) Ecosystem Diversity
d) All of the above

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3. BIOGEOGRAPHIC ZONES
Biogeographic regions or biogeographic zones are geographical areas that are defined based
on the species found there. It provides crucial information to ecologists and managers of
natural resources to understand large-scale processes that affect species and ecosystems.

It is a biogeographic classification process that divides a large

area into distinct geographical zones. Each zone contains a STUDY NOTE
combination of species, habitats and physical features which are Drawing its objectives from
Convention of Biodiversity
unique or different from others. (CBD), National
Biodiversity Act aims at
Biogeographic zones of India: With 2.4 percent of the world's conserving biodiversity,
sustainable use and sharing
overall land area, India contributes to 8% of the world's of the benefits.

biological diversity. In terms of biogeography, India is divided

into ten distinct biogeographic areas, as follows:
• Trans-Himalayan Region: It encompasses the high mountain regions of Ladakh,
Jammu & Kashmir, North Sikkim, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, accounting for 5.6
percent of the total geographical area. Having alpine steppe vegetation, this zone has
various endemic species. It is the most suitable habitat for the world’s major
populations of wild sheep and goats and other rare fauna, including Snow Leopard and
the migratory Black-necked Crane. The cold desert of this zone represents an extremely
fragile ecosystem.
• Himalayan Zone: It covers 6.4 percent of the overall land area and contains some of
the world's highest peaks. The Himalayan zone is one of the richest zones in terms of
habitats and species. The grassy meadows, alpine forests and mixed deciduous forests
provide diverse habitats for endangered species such as Himalayan Tahr, Bharal, Takin,
Markhor and Ibex. Other such endangered species found in this region include Hangul
and Musk Deer.
• Indian Desert Zone: It accounts for 6.6 percent of the overall land area. It covers the
Thar and Kutch deserts. Grasslands host a variety of endangered mammals, including
the Wolf, Desert Cat, and others.
• Semi-arid Region: It contributes 16.6 percent of the total geographical region. It is a
zone of transition between the desert and the Western Ghats. Many artificial and

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natural lakes, marshy lands are present in this zone. The Lion, an endangered carnivore
species, Caracal, Jackal and Wolf are some of the endangered species that are
characteristic of this region.
• Western Ghats: It makes up 4% of the nation's total land area. It is one of India's largest
tropical evergreen forest areas. The Western Ghats are home to most of the vertebrate
species found in peninsular India. The significant species found in this region include
Nilgiri Langur, Lion Tailed Macaque, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Malabar Civet, Nilgiri, Tahr
and Malabar Grey Hornbill.
• Deccan Plateau: It is India's largest biogeographic region, occupying 42% of the
country's total land area. This semi-arid region falls in the rain shadow area of the
Western Ghats. The zone comprises deciduous forests and thorn forests. Species found
in this region are Chital, Barking deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Chou Singha, Gaur, etc.
• Gangetic plain: It accounts for 10.8% of the overall geographical area. The
characteristic fauna of this region includes Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo, Hog-Deer, etc.

Source- alchetron.com
Fig 2: Biogeographic Zones of India

• North East Region: It accounts for 5.2 percent of the overall land area. This region is a
transition zone between the Indian, Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese bio-geographical
regions. This zone is the biogeographical ‘gateway’ to most of India’s fauna and flora.

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• Coastal region: It is characterised by beaches, mangroves, coral reefs, and marine

angiosperm pastures, making them the wealth and health zones of India. The coastline
from Bengal to Gujarat is about 5,425 km long. 25 islets of coral origin constitute the
Lakshadweep and have a reef lagoon system that is rich in biodiversity. However, it has
no natural vegetation.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands: In India, it is one of three tropical moist evergreen
forest areas. Flora and fauna present on this island are special. These islands, which are
rich in endemism, are home to some of India's finest evergreen forests and a diverse
collection of corals. In India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the only place where
endemic island biodiversity is found. The endemic fauna includes Narcondam hornbill,
South Andaman krait, etc.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

4. Indian Desert Zone includes the deserts of Thar and Kutch. [True/False]
5. Semi-arid Region constitutes 42% of the total geographical area of India.
[True/False]
6. _____________________ are geographical areas which are defined on the basis of the
species found there.
7. Which of these endangered species is found in Himalayan Zone?
a) Ibex
b) Chital
c) Desert Cat
d) Narcondam Hornbill

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4. BIODIVERSITY PATTERNS AND HOTSPOTS

Patterns of Biodiversity: The understanding of the fact that the number of species found on
Earth varies globally, locally as well as with time is known as the pattern of biodiversity.
• Species varying globally: Species that are distantly related and living in habitats of
similar nature in different parts of the world generally act similarly. Example: Emus of
Australia, Ostriches of Africa are all flightless birds.
• Species varying locally: Galapagos Islands consist of a group of islands, located close
to one another but have different atmospheres and climates. Species on these islands
adapt to the atmosphere they live in.
• Species varying over time: Armadillo of modern times resembles the fossil remains
of glyptodont.

Biodiversity Hotspots: Biodiversity hotspots are bio-geographic areas with unusually high
levels of biodiversity and abundance and a high concentration of endangered species. These
animals, however, are under threat of exploitation and extinction. Listed below are two
conditions for a biodiversity to be considered a hotspot,
• There are at least 1,600 vascular plants that are endemic to the region.
• They must be in extreme danger of being lost.

Biodiversity hotspots have been designated in 35 locations around the world. The hotspots
cover 2.3 percent of the land area and host a variety of endemic plants and animals. Here we
have a few examples of different regions and countries falling in those regions:
1. North and Central America: California Floristic
STUDY NOTE
Province, Mesoamerica and Madrean pine-oak
44% of all plant species are
woodlands found in only 25 biodiversity
hotspots. Just 1.4 percent of
2. The Caribbean: Caribbean Islands the earth's surface area
contains 35 percent of all
3. South America: Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Chilean Winter terrestrial vertebrate animals.
Rainfall-Valdivian Forests, Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena,
Tropical Andes
4. Europe: Mediterranean Basin
5. Africa: Cape Floristic Region, Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, Eastern Afromontane,
Guinean Forests of West Africa, Horn of Africa,

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6. Central Asia: Mountains of Central Asia

7. South Asia: Eastern Himalaya, Nepal, Indo-Burma, India, Myanmar, Western Ghats,
India, Sri Lanka
8. South-East Asia and Asia-Pacific: New Caledonia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Polynesia-Micronesia, Sundaland, Wallacea,
9. East Asia: Japan, Mountains of Southwest China,
10. West Asia: Caucasus, Irano-Anatolian region,

Source-conservationbytes.com
Fig 3: Biodiversity Hotspots of the world

4.1 India as a Mega-Biodiversity Nation

India is one of the 12 super biodiversity countries on the planet. Ten biogeographic zones
have been developed in the region. The country's physical characteristics and climatic
environments have resulted in the creation of varied natural
STUDY NOTE
landscapes such as trees, deserts, coasts, grasslands, wetlands,
Asiatic Lion, also known as
and coastal ecosystems, all of which support vast biodiversity. the Indian Lion is only found
in and around Gir Forest
• India is geographically located at the crossroads of three National Park of Gujarat.
These are listed as
realms: Afro-tropical, Indo-Malayan, and Paleo-Arctic. As endangered species. These
are one of the five big cats
a result, it has traits from each of them. The country's found in India, the others
being Indian Leopards and
biological diversity is abundant and distinctive due to the Bengal Tigers.

combination of traits from three distinct domains.

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• India is one of the 12 main centres of origin for domesticated plants and animals. It is
thought to be the source of 169 important plant species and 116 domesticated animal
breeds.
• Around 5,000 species of flower plants are native to the region. North-East India, the
Western Ghats, the North-West Himalayas, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
all home to these creatures.
• About 62 percent of amphibian species are native to India, with the Western Ghats
accounting for the rest. India is home to over 1,300 bird species, 460 reptile species,
and 46, 000 plant species.
• The country has numerous alternative medicines prepared by plant-based raw
materials. Such medicines are Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathic system.
Herbal formulations for medicinal and cosmetic uses account for a significant portion
of India's conventional biodiversity.
• National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves have been developed to
conserve biodiversity. There are nearly 18 biosphere reserves in India.
• Approximately 4.3 percent of the country's total geographical area has been set aside
for biodiversity protection in situ. It has been created by way of a protected area of 86
national parks and 450 wildlife sanctuaries.

4.2 Endangered and Endemic Species

Endangered Species: The species that are at risk or threatened of extinction are known as
Endangered Species. These species are native to a particular region with a population
strength reduced from 50% to 5%.

Various factors such as hunting, climate changes, pollution,

STUDY NOTE
habitat loss and other natural calamities risk the survival of
The Tura Range in Garo Hills
animals and plants. Species having limited population strength of Meghalaya is a gene
sanctuary for preserving the
are more prone to become endangered. The extinction rate is rich native diversity of wild
citrus and musa species.
higher than before because of human activities like
deforestation, industrialisation, etc. Around 460 plant species, 120 mammals and 160 types
of birds are considered endangered in India. More species are becoming endangered every
year due to reasons such as overexploitation of resources and habitat destruction.

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Some of the critically endangered animals are:

Amur Leopard, Hawksbill Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, Javan Rhino, Sumatran Tiger, Cross
River Gorilla, etc.

Some of the endangered animals are:

Asiatic Black Bear, Great Indian Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant or Asian Elephant, Red Panda,
Blue Whale, Indus River Dolphin, Ganges River Dolphin, Capped Leaf Monkey, etc.

Endemic species: Endangered animals are those that are threatened by extinction. As a
result, the ‘endemic location,' ‘national endemic,' or ‘geographical area endemic' refers to the
place where the species is endemic. Kangaroos, for example, are native to Australia and are
found nowhere else on the planet. Humans introduced them outside their natural
environment while they were in captivity, which is why they have been seen in areas other
than their natural habitat. Plants and species that are native to a single geographical area are
more vulnerable to extinction. As a result, extra work is needed to save them. The following
are some of India's endangered species:
1. Asiatic Lion, Gir Forest
2. Lion-tailed Macaque, Western Ghats
3. Kashmir Stag, Kashmir Valley
4. Sangai Deer, Loktak Lake
5. Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Hills

Source-slideserve.com
Fig 4: Critically Endangered Species

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

8. Leatherback Turtle, Javan Rhino, Sumatran Tiger, are examples of endangered

animals. [True/False]
9. _________ is a bio-geographic area with unusually high levels of biodiversity and
abundance, as well as a high concentration of endangered plants.
10. India has alternative forms of medicines such as:
a) Ayurveda
b) Unani
c) Siddha
d) All of the above
11. Which of the following is/are critically endangered species?
a) Salim Ali's Fruit Bat
b) Sumatran Rhinoceros
c) Blue Whale
d) Both a and b

5. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is essential for the future of all living things on this planet. There would be a
decline in the number of humans as the number of plants and animals reduces. The following
are some of the main threats to biodiversity:
STUDY NOTE
• Habitat Loss: Misuse of natural resources has led to a
Mass extinction is a phenomenon
major loss of biodiversity. Urbanisation, rapid where large number of species is
permanently lost over a short
industrialisation and an increase in population has led period of time. This mainly
occurs due to changes in Earth’s
to massive deforestation and habitat loss. Productive environment and atmosphere.
forests have turned into deserts. Mangroves have been
cleared to make way for fuelwood and prawn farming, which has harmed aquatic fish
breeding.
• Poaching of wildlife: Poaching of animals for trade and economic purposes has been
a major cause of extinction of many animals and the endangerment of others, such as
whales and Asian tigers. Overharvesting for food is one of the major causes of extinction
followed by fashion and business. Elephants are poached for ivory, and leopards are
poached for their meat, resulting in significant habitat loss.

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• Man-wildlife conflict: It applies to the relationship between wild animals and humans,
as well as the negative consequences for both. Recently, the degree of conflict has
increased due to a gradual increase in the human population. Natural wildlife territory
has been displaced due to human race encroaching on wild animal habitats. The
decrease in the availability of natural prey has led these wild animals to seek alternate
sources. The major consequences of man-wildlife conflict are:
• It results in the loss of animal habitat STUDY NOTE
• It results in human and wildlife injury and death Scientists predict that human
activity would obliterate 10
• It results in crop and livestock depredation million animals (roughly) by
the year 2050. At the present
• It results in damage to human property rate of extinction, almost 25%
of the world's biodiversity
• It results in a decline in wildlife population will be extinct within a few
decades.
Apart from the above threats, biodiversity is also threatened by
climate change, non-native species invasion, and other factors.

Sources: scroll.in
Fig 5: Threats to Biodiversity
5.1 Conservation of Biodiversity
Biodiversity is of vital importance for living beings. Biodiversity provides us with various
benefits such as biological resources, ecosystem services, social and aesthetic benefits. are
Two main techniques used for the conservation of biodiversity are:
In-situ conservation: The conservation of species within their natural ecosystem of the
environment is known as In-situ or on-site conservation. It is considered the most practical

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method of biodiversity conservation. Here, the genetic resources are conserved through
their maintenance within the environment of their origin.
STUDY NOTE
Examples: National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, Gene
The illicit wildlife trade is
Sanctuaries, Wild Life sanctuaries, etc. In-situ conservation is expected to produce between
$8 billion and $25 billion in
advantageous in the following ways: revenue per year. In 2015, the
United Nations General
1. It is an economical and convenient method Assembly adopted a resolution
to combat wildlife trafficking.
2. It helps in preserving numerous organisms
3. Living organisms are allowed to adapt to environmental conditions in a natural habitat.

Ex-situ conservation: Ex-situ conservation refers to the preservation of different elements

of ecological diversity outside of their natural environments. This approach involves
removing threatened or endangered animals and plants from their natural habitat and
placing them in a special care facility where they will be safe and given the opportunity to
mature naturally. Plants and animals are cared for in this environment, which has been
created artificially. Captive breeding, seed banks, botanical gardens, in vitro fertilisation,
cryopreservation, tissue culture, and zoos are also examples of captive breeding. This
approach can be carried out in a variety of ways:
1. Creating gene banks, where sperm, ova, and seeds are preserved at temperatures that
are manually regulated.
2. By artificially propagating plants and breeding animals in captivity.

Source-sciencedirect.com
Fig 6: Biodiversity conservation

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5.2 Biodiversity Values and Services

Humans contribute basic values to biodiversity because we are so reliant on it for our
cultural, physical, and environmental needs. Biodiversity offers the following programmes
and values:
• Environmental Value: Observing each ecological phase and defining the resulting
ecosystem resources can be used to assess the environmental importance of
biodiversity. Wetlands, for example, serve as breeding and nursery areas for certain
fish and provide a safe haven for animals during droughts.
• Social Value: There are significant variations in landscape and biodiversity
preferences due to age, social conditions, and cultural factors. Peepal, Banyan, and Tulsi
trees are also revered in India.
• Economic Value: Biodiversity is a vital opportunity for a number of sectors that fuel
the global economy. Biodiversity is the foundation of the world's main fuel supplies,
such as wood and fossil fuels. Important chemicals are derived from a wide range of
flora and fauna and are used in a variety of medical
STUDY NOTE
fields.
According to the 2003 United
• Consumptive use value: This category includes natural Nations List of Protected
Areas, there are 1,02,102 sites
resources that are specifically used for cooking, such as under protection covering
18.9 million km2 and 1.65
wood, fuel wood, and so on. Humans use nearly 45,000 million km2 of underwater
protected area.
plant and animal species on a daily basis.
• Productive Use Value: These figures refer to items that are harvested and sold
commercially. Biotechnologists use wild plant species to produce higher yielding and
disease-resistant varieties.
• Ethical and Moral Value: These principles are linked to the preservation of
biodiversity. It is founded on the idea that all kinds of life on Earth have the right to live.
Morality and ethics teach one to protect all aspects of life and to prevent causing undue
damage to other species.
• Aesthetic Value: Biodiversity is responsible for the uniqueness of our planet; without
it, Earth would mimic most desolate worlds in the world. The uniqueness of an
ecosystem is due to biodiversity, which has contributed to eco-tourism.

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• Ecosystem Services: These services manage the human needs and activities by
managing production ecosystems. Some of the ecosystem services include:
• Plants and aquatic algae provide oxygen
• Vegetation slows runoff, traps sediment, and removes nutrients
• Soil, microbes break down pollutants
• Greenhouse gas mitigation by sequestering ambient carbon in biomass, among other
roles.

Activity 1
Think of all the activities in which you were engaged in the last week. List the products,
commodities or services which were made available to you by the different
components of biodiversity. Analyse each of them in detail, and segregate them under
different values which have been discussed above.

Repeat the same activity for another week. You will now be more conscious of the
different values and services of biodiversity in our daily life. Prepare a summarised
report of the values of biodiversity in real life aspects and the effect of its absence or
the problems we might face due to its absence.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

12. Social Value deals with recreational, cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values.
[True/False]
13. In-situ conservation refers to the preservation of different types of ecological
diversity outside of their natural environments. [True/False]
14. _________type of conservation is the retention of certain aspects of biological
diversity beyond their natural habitats.
15. Which of the following is a biodiversity value?
a) Ethical and Moral Value
b) Aesthetic Value
c) Both a and b
d) None of the above
16. Which of the following is a threat to habitat?
a) Habitat Loss
b) Wild-life Poaching
c) Man-wildlife conflict
d) All of the above

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Meaning and
Levels and Biogeographic
Types of Zones
Biodiversity Biodiversity and Its
Conservation
India as A Mega-
Biodiversity
Nation
Biodiversity
Patterns and Threats to
Hotspots Biodiversity

Endangered
and Endemic
Biodiversity
Species
Conservation Values and
of Biodiversity Services

Fig 7: Conceptual Map

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6. SUMMARY
• Biodiversity is the number of all the distinct species of plants, animals, and microscopic
creatures that exist on Earth, as well as the diverse environments in which they live.
• Biodiversity helps to maintain water cycles, oxygen production, carbon dioxide
reduction, soil protection, etc.
• Biodiversity has mainly three levels: Species Diversity, Genetic Diversity and
Ecosystem Diversity.
• Biogeographic regions or biogeographic zones are geographical areas that are defined
based on the species found there. There are around 10 biogeographic zones in India,.
• Biodiversity hotspots are bio-geographic areas with unusually high levels of
biodiversity and abundance, as well as a high concentration of endangered species.
• India is one of the 12 super biodiversity countries on the planet. Around 5,000 species
of flower plants are endemic to the region. India is home to over 1,300 bird species and
460 reptile species.
• The species that are under risk or threat of being extinct are known as Endangered
Species.
• Habitat destruction, animal smuggling, and man-wildlife violence are also significant
threats to biodiversity.
• In-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation are the two primary approaches for
habitat conservation.
• Biodiversity offers Environmental Value, Social Value, Economic Value, Ecosystem
Services, Consumptive Value, Productive Use Value, Ethical and Moral Value and
Aesthetic Value.

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7. GLOSSARY
Abiotic: The term which is used to describe the absence of life, refers to all the non-physical
elements of the ecosystem.
Biotic: The term which is used to describe the presence of life, refers to all the living
components of a community.
Depletion: The gradual decrease in the number of something, such as plants, animals, trees,
etc.
Ex-situ: A place that is situated away from the natural or the original location.
Habitat: The natural environment of an organism, where it lives and grow.
In-situ: A place where an event takes place, a place of origin.

8. CASE STUDY
MANDAVALLI FOREST RANGE
In the catchment of the river Sharavati, the village of Mandavalli is located 25Km from Sagar
Town, in the district of Shimoga in Western Ghats. The river has been dammed for
Linganamakki Reservoir. Mainly metamorphic rocks are found in this region with red sandy
and lateritic soil type. The forest is covered by deciduous and evergreen trees.

Principal Observations:
• A decade ago, the northern part of the village was covered by dense forests, but due to
deforestation only a thin forest remains.
• The water requirements are met by three lakes in the village.
• The overall literacy is 60% and female literacy is low.
• 148 species of medicinal plants are found in the forest, of which 15 are endangered.
• Trees constitute 48% of the plant population, herbs form 12%, shrubs form 32% and
climbers form 8%.
• It is a relatively high rainfall area with low development and low population pressures.

Threatening Factors:
• Rainfall has considerably decreased to an extent of 40% resulting in the death of
herbaceous species.
• In the last two decades, deforestation to an extent of 15% has been reported.

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• Water bodies have been silted up to 32% of their capacity which has resulted in
reduction in water-holding capacity.
• Honey Bee colonies have decreased to the extent of 70%.
• The dam has resulted in submersion of 15sq km of the forest area which has led to loss
to medicinal plants.
• Expansion of roads and installation of power lines has caused damage to forests.

Source: Article from Economic times newspaper

Discussion Questions:
Q1. What would the decrease in Honey Bee colonies lead to?
Q2. What else do you think can cause damage to the forest?
Q3. What can be done to prevent this ecological imbalance that this village is heading
towards?

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9. TERMINAL QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. Mention four significant uses of biodiversity.
Q2. What is genetic diversity?
Q3. What are the features of Western Ghats? Mention two species of animals found in the
Western Ghats.
Q4. List four endangered animals and endemic animals.
Q5. List four biodiversity hotspots around the world.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What are the types or levels of biodiversity?
Q2. What are endangered and endemic species? Give some examples.
Q3. What are the different threats to biodiversity?
Q4. What are the methods of conserving biodiversity?
Q5. What are the different services or values of biodiversity?

9.1 Answers
SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS:
1. False
2. 1985
3. D. All of the Above
4. True
5. False
6. Biogeographic Zones
7. A. Ibex
8. True
9. Biodiversity Hotspots
10. D. All of the Above.
11. D. Both a and b
12. True
13. False
14. Ex-situ

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15. C. Both a and b

16. D. All of the above

TERMINAL QUESTIONS:
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS:
Answer 1: Uses of biodiversity are:
• It helps in the storage and recycling of nutrients.
• It helps in checking pollution.
• It contributes to the stability of the climate.
• It helps an ecosystem to recover from unpredictable events.

Answer 2: Inside a population, genetic variability refers to the variety of genes that exist.
Genetic variation refers to the various forms of genes present in plants, organisms, and
microbes.. This genetic diversity is vital for the successful reproduction of a species'
population.

Answer 3: The Western Ghats cover 4.0 percent of India's total land area. It is one of India's
most important tropical evergreen forest regions. The Western Ghats are home to the
majority of peninsular India's vertebrate animals. Two species of animals found in the
Western Ghats are Nilgiri Langur and Lion Tailed Macaque.

Answer 4: Four endangered animals are:

o Asiatic Black Bear, Great Indian Rhinoceros, Indian Elephant or Asian Elephant, and
Red Panda.
Four endemic animals are:
o Asiatic Lion of Gir Forest, Lion-tailed Macaque of Western Ghats, Kashmir Stag of
Kashmir Valley and Nilgiri Tahr of Nilgiri Hills.

Answer 5: Four biodiversity hotspots around the world are:

1. North and Central America : California Floristic Province, Mesoamerica and Madrean
pine-oak woodlands,
2. The Caribbean: Caribbean Islands
3. South America: Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests,
Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, Tropical Andes

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4. Europe: Mediterranean Basin

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:

Answer 1: There are three types or levels of biodiversity which are the following:
• Species Diversity: Species diversity refers to the broad number of plants, animals,
organisms, and fungi that can be found in a given environment.
• Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity refers to the distribution in genes found within a
population.
• Environmental Diversity: The diversity of species, natural populations, and
environments is referred to as ecosystem diversity.

Answer 2: Endemic species: Endangered animals are those that are threatened by
extinction. .As a result, the ‘endemic location,' ‘national endemic,' or ‘geographical area
endemic' refers to the place where the species is endemic. Kangaroos, for example, are native
to Australia and are found nowhere else on the planet. Humans introduced them outside
their natural environment while they were in captivity, which is why they have been seen in
areas other than their natural habitat.

Answer 3: The following are some of the main threats to biodiversity:

• Habitat Loss: Misuse of natural resources that has led to a major loss of biodiversity.
Urbanisation, rapid industrialisation and an increase in population has led to massive
deforestation and habitat loss.
• Poaching of wildlife: Poaching of animals for trade and economic purposes has been
a major cause of the extinction of many animals and the endangerment of others, such
as whales and Asian tigers.
• Man-wildlife conflict: It applies to the relationship between wild animals and humans,
as well as the negative consequences for both. Recently, the degree of conflict has
increased due to a gradual increase in the human population.

Answer 4: There are two main techniques used for the conservation of biodiversity:
• In-situ conservation: The conservation of species within their natural ecosystem of
the environment is known as In-situ or on-site conservation. It is considered the most
practical method of biodiversity conservation. Here, the genetic resources are
conserved through their maintenance within the environment of their origin.

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• Ex-situ conservation: Ex-situ conservation refers to the preservation of different

elements of ecological diversity outside of their natural environments. This approach
involves removing threatened or endangered animals and plants from their natural
habitat and placing them in a special care facility where they will be safe and given the
opportunity to mature naturally.

Answer 5: The services and values of biodiversity are the following:

• Economic Value: Biodiversity is a vital opportunity for a number of sectors that fuel
the global economy. Biodiversity is the foundation of the world's main fuel supplies,
such as wood and fossil fuels. Important chemicals are derived from a wide range of
flora and fauna and are used in a variety of medical fields.
• Consumptive use value: This category includes natural resources that are specifically
used for cooking, such as wood, fuel wood, and so on. Humans use nearly 45,000 plant
and animal species on a daily basis.
• Productive Use Value: These figures refer to items that are harvested and sold
commercially. Biotechnologists use wild plant species to produce higher yielding and
disease-resistant varieties.
• Ethical and Moral Value: These principles are linked to the preservation of
biodiversity. It is founded on the idea that all kinds of life on Earth have the right to live.
Morality and ethics teach one to protect all aspects of life and to prevent causing undue
damage to other species.
• Aesthetic Value: Biodiversity is responsible for the uniqueness of our planet; without
it, Earth would mimic most desolate worlds in the world. The uniqueness of an
ecosystem is due to biodiversity, which has contributed to eco-tourism.

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10. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND REFERENCES:

BOOKS:
• Rajagopalan, R. (2016), Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure, Oxford University
Press.
• De, A. K. (2007), Environmental Studies, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
• Bharucha, E., Textbook of Environmental Studies for undergraduate courses, 2ndedn.
Hyderabad: Universities Press

E-REFERENCES:
• Conservation of biodiversity, viewed on 27 February 2021,
<https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/environmental_studies_co
nversation_of_biodiversity.htm>
• Biodiversity hotspots, viewed on 27 February 2021,
<https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/environmental_studies_bio
diversity_hotspots.htm>
• Threats to Biodiversity, viewed on 28 February 2021,
<https://www.tutorialspoint.com/environmental_studies/environmental_studies_thr
eats_to_biodiversity.htm>
• Values of Biodiversity, viewed on 28 February 2021,
<https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/biodiversity/8-main-values-of-biodiversity-
explained/30156>

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIORNMENTAL SCIENCE

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Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

Unit 5
Environmental Pollution & Policies -I

Table of Contents

SL Topic Fig No / Table SAQ / Page No

No / Graph Activity
1 Introduction - -
3-4
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Air Pollution - 1

2.1 Sources of Air Pollution 1 2

5-14
2.2 Effects of Air Pollution 2 3

2.3 Methods for Control of Air Pollution - 4

3 Water Pollution - -

3.1 Point & Non-Point Sources of Water 3 5

Pollution 15-23
3.2 Effects of Water Pollution on Human 4 6
Health
3.3 Control Measures for Water Pollution - 7
4 Soil Pollution - 8

4.1 Sources of soil pollution 5 9

- 10 24-29
4.2 Effects of Soil Pollution
4.3 Control Measures and Impact on Future - 11
of Soil Pollution
5 Summary - - 29-30
6 Case Study - - 31-33
7 Terminal Questions - - 33
8 Answers - - 34-39
9 Books & References - - 39-40

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1. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is pollution that harms the environment and ejects harmful gases, among other
things.

Air Pollution alludes to the condition where the presence of harmful substances in the air,
produced by different human activities and natural calamities like volcanic ejections, brings
about harmful impacts on the environment. As expressed here, this is an intense issue that
is hard to treat because of the idea of airborne particles.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), outside air contamination is arranged into four
principal classes: particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Also, air
contamination is additionally isolated into essential and optional poisons. Essential
contaminations are delivered directly into the air from a source, where optional poisons
happen because of complex compound reactions occurring from two toxins reacting with
one another (Kibble and Harrison 2005).

As we all know, One of the hazardous parts of biodiversity is water pollution. The basic and
essential need of living beings is water. It is inevitable. A major area
STUDY NOTE
of the Earth is occupied with water. Water is present in the
The shocking fact of
atmosphere in various ways, like vapours, in seas, oceans and the world is that most
of the people die from
underground. However, in several countries, the amount of drinking harmful
elements that are
freshwater available is limited. A lot of rainwater is wasted and is mixed with water
rather than dying on
not used effectively. Water extracted from the underground area road accidents, wars,
etc.
gets replenished by seepage of rainwater.

Due to a rise in population and industrial and agricultural activities, a huge amount of water
is consumed and contaminated. An enormous amount of water is required for construction
work, houses, offices, roads, shops, etc. This is due to the increase in demand for these things
by the increased population. Almost every industry utilizes water in its production process.
The rise in the number of industries causes depletion of water. A majority of farmers use
water for irrigation purposes, which has also led to a decrease in water levels.

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Water can be polluted through natural and man-made processes. To reduce water pollution,
various measures are required to be taken immediately. The discharge of hazardous
substances into the water bodies by the industries should be prohibited.

Pollution is harmful to all living kinds- be it plants, animals, or humans. It equally affects all
kinds of living creatures and can sometimes be life-threatening. We should consider it a
serious concern rather than adapting to these problems. Punishable actions should be taken
against those engaging in polluting, to make our world pollution-free.

we will also study a type of land pollution which is soil pollution, in detail. We should be
aware of soil pollution because it indirectly relates us to the cause of our living, i.e., food. The
autotrophs get adversely affected by those chemicals, sewage and many other kinds of
pollutants, which affect animal’s health that consumes it directly (Herbivores), and human
beings who consume plants in one or other form indirectly.

1.1 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
❖ Explain the meaning of Air pollution and sources of Air Pollution
❖ Describe the Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health and Environment
❖ Describe the effects of water pollution on the environment and human health.
❖ Elaborate on the various types of water contaminants.
❖ Explain the importance of soil on various components.
❖ State the consequences of soil pollution on future generations and suggest control
measures.

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2. AIR POLLUTION
When particles suspended in the air are combined with the gases, it is known as air pollution.
Particles may be suspended as a result of vehicle discharges, gases from production units,
burning fuels, dust, and mold spores. Ozone gas which also forms a protective layer against
UV rays, is a substantial source of air pollution.
STUDY NOTE
It is the presence of substances in the air that are destructive
Youngsters living close to
to the soundness of health people and other living creatures, contaminated zones are more
inclined to pneumonia and
or cause harm to the environment or materials. There are asthma. Numerous individuals
pass on consistently because of
various kinds of air poisons, like gases (such as, carbon the immediate or aberrant
impacts of air contamination.
monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and
chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both natural and inorganic), and organic particles.

Air contamination may cause infections, sensitivities and other problems to humans and the
environment. It might hurt other living and non-living things in the environment. For
example, food crops, animals, plants, humans and climate. Both human action and natural
calamities can create air contamination.

A. Negative impact of Air pollution

• It is a critical danger factor for various contamination-related sicknesses, including
respiratory diseases, coronary illness, Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disorder
(COPD), stroke and cellular breakdown in the lungs.
• The sweeping impacts of low air quality on human well-being majorly influence the
body’s respiratory and cardiovascular frameworks. Singular responses to air
poisons rely upon the kind of contamination an individual is presented to, the level
of exposure, and the person’s well-being status and hereditary qualities.
• Indoor air contamination and poor metropolitan air quality are recorded as two of
the world’s most exceedingly terrible harmful contamination issues in the 2008
Blacksmith Institute World’s Worst Polluted Places report.
• According to WHO reports, Ambient (outdoor air pollution) in both cities and rural
areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2016.
WHO also stated, “Approx. 7 million people lose their lives due to air pollution, as it

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causes serious health problems like heart failure, breathing problem, lung cancer,
and many other problems.
• Due to the high death rate because of air pollution, the Institute of Health Metrics
and Evaluation and World Bank estimated the total cost they lost in welfare losses
is approx. US$5 trillion. Different pollution control advances and systems are
accessible to decrease air contamination.
B. Types of Air pollution
STUDY NOTE
• Particulate Matter: It is the combination of two
Chemical reactions, agricultural
particles that are in the form of solids and liquids activities, and transportation
are the primary sources of air
which includes sulphate, nitrates, carbon, complex contamination. The clustering of
certain toxins can be reduced
chemicals, and water suspended in the air. These only by dispersion, or
breakdown whenever they are
generally vary in size as we can see with the naked released into the environment.
eye; this can be in the form of dust, soot, smoke or
dirt.
• Nitrogen dioxide: This is gas which comes from man-made sources such as
vehicles, heating plants, and power stations. Diesel vehicles are responsible for
emitting these gases.
• Sulphur dioxide: This is a colourless gas that cannot be seen and has a very
suffocating smell. This originates from burning oil and coal. The major source of
Sulphur dioxide gas is industries, which mostly burn fossil fuels.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. When particles suspended in the air are combined with the gases it is known
as ______________________.
2. Air Pollution majorly affects the respiratory and cardiovascular framework.
[True/False]
3. Sulphate and nitrates are among the particles that make up nitrogen dioxide,
which comes in the form of different substances. [True/False]
4. Which of the following result in emission of Nitrogen dioxide?
a) Heating plants
b) Power stations
c) None of the above
d) Both A and B
5. Sulphur dioxide is one of the gases that causes air pollution; the colour of
sulphur dioxide is:
a) Black
b) Brown
c) Colourless
d) Smoky grey

2.1 Sources of Air Pollution

Sources of air pollution refer to means by which air pollution is caused. These sources can
be natural or even man-made. Some of these sources are:
A. Toxic gases
B. Vehicular pollution
C. Industrial setups
D. Wood or other substances burning

Pollutants in the air can be released directly into the environment through basic flows or can
take shape as a result of compounding interaction with changing environment. According to

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WHO statistics from 2016, India is among top 5 polluted countries where more than 10 cities
have highest pollution.

Toxic emissions cause air contamination; however, a decline in toxic outflows do not always
result in equal reductions in pollutants. There are astounding connections between air
contamination outflows and air quality. Chemical variations, unusual changes in the
environment, exploitation of resources and global obligations, the effect of climate and
geography, are some examples of reasons that cause toxic emissions. Critical cuts in
emanations are fundamental for improving air quality.

Air poisons are transmitted from a scope of both man-made and common sources, including:
• Consuming of non-renewable energy sources in power age, transport, industry and
families
• In mining industries, the physical and mechanical activities take place in which they use
insoluble chemicals, materials that mix with air
• Farming and waste treatment
• Characteristic sources include volcanic ejections, windblown residue, ocean salt
shower, and outflows of unstable natural mixtures from plants.

There are four principal sources of air pollution:

1. Portable or mobile sources: These are sources that can move from one place to
another. Portable sources generally consist of vehicles, transports, planes, trucks, etc.
These sources create air pollution while running on fuels leading to carbon monoxide
being released into the air.
2. Fixed or stationary sources: These sources are those that remain stationary at one
location like power plants, petroleum processing plants, mechanical offices, and
industrial facilities. These are some of the major sources of air pollution all around the
world. The government usually mandates these plants to carry out different measures
to filter the gases before exposing them to the air.
3. Zone or area sources: These sources are usually those which are specific to a certain
region in the country like farming territories, urban areas, and wood-consuming
chimneys.

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4. Common or natural sources: These are the sources over which there is no control of
humankind and are natural phenomena like the wind-blown residue, fierce blazes, and
volcanoes

Source- nps.gov
Fig 1: Sources of Air Pollution

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

6. When _______________________ sources of air pollution run on fuel, carbon

monoxide is discharged into the atmosphere, causing pollution which
negatively affect the living beings.. Volcanic eruptions are an example of zone
source of Air Pollution. [True/False]
7. The fixed sources of air pollution pollute more than one region [True/False]
8. Which of the group is example of zone source of air pollution?
a) Car, plane, truck
b) Power plant, car, industrial unit
c) Volcanic eruption, wind-blown
d) Wood consuming chimneys, farming territories
9. Which of the sources of air pollution remain constant at a particular location?
a) Mobile sources
b) Natural sources
c) Stationary sources
d) Area sources

2.2. Effects of Air Pollution

The steady contamination of the air has extremely negative impacts on nature and human
well-being. Those long haul and medium-term impacts have become issues that are hard to
address. All of those significant impacts can increment if their causes are not quickly
followed. The vast majority of them result from excessive contaminating and uncontrolled
mechanical activity. Companies around the globe must oversee, treat and control the toxins
they radiate into the environment. The negative effects of air pollutants and toxins has a poor
impact on human health and environment.

A. EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

• A dangerous atmospheric deviation (GLOBAL WARMING): A dangerous
atmospheric deviation is perhaps the most stressful impact for researchers and
preservationists. A worldwide temperature alteration is an immediate result of the

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primary influence, which is delivered by the high outflow of CO2 and methane into
the air. A major amount of these pollutants comes from the manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing plants can either stop or prevent this by limiting activities, or the
government can impose restrictions and penalties on the businesses.
• Environmental Change: Environmental Change is another result of a dangerous
atmospheric deviation. At the point when the temperature of the planet rises, there
is an aggravation in the standard climatic cycles, quickening the progressions of
these cycles in an apparent manner.
• Acid Rain: The gases released by enterprises, power plants, boilers, warming and
transport are exceptionally poisonous. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides
(NOx) are released into the atmosphere due to the consumption of petroleum
products such as generators and cars.
• Smoking Fog (SMOG) Effect: The smoke occurs
when a dull haze is present over the urban areas STUDY NOTE
Contaminations can be regular,
and fields. That mist is a heap of toxins and can be like volcanic debris. They can
likewise be made by human
of 2 sorts: sulfurous exhaust cloud and action, for example, refuse or
spill over created by production
photochemical brown haze, both hazardous and lines. Contaminations harm the
nature of air, water, and land.
hurtful to well-being. The two sorts of brown haze
are a result of the modern and metropolitan activity. In any case, the sulfurous
brown haze has its root fundamentally in the utilization of coal in numerous
mechanical cycles. That has been decreased in the most exceptional nations – in any
case, there are as yet many non-industrial nations that don't have treatment
conventions for toxins.
• Deterioration of fields: Corrosive downpour, environmental change and exhaust
cloud affect the Earth’s surface. Contaminated water and gases permeate the land,
altering the composition of the soils. This directly affects agricultural activities,
changing production cycles, and the food chain hierarchy.

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Source- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_rain
Fig 2: Effect of Air pollution- Acid Rain

B. EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Both, healthy and unhealthy people can suffer from the negative effects of polluted air, such
as respiratory discomfort or breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities. The
actual risk of negative consequences is determined by the current health status, the
surroundings, toxin kind and intensity, and the duration of time an individual is exposed to
contaminated air.

Air pollution can have various serious impacts on human health, which may lead to death.
Certain air contaminants fall out of the air and end up falling in our meals, drinks, and soils,
such as mercury in fish. Climate change and air pollution are somehow linked with each
other, which also affects human health. Climate change occurs due to burning trees, fossil
fuels and so on, which directly affect the surroundings and create various health issues.

High air pollution levels can cause prompt medical conditions including:
• Disturbed cardiovascular and respiratory ailment
• Added pressure to the heart and lungs, which work towards supplying oxygen to
different organs of the body.
• Affected cells in the respiratory framework

Long haul exposure to polluted air can have lasting well-being impacts such as:
• Early-onset of maturing of the lungs
• Limitation of the functioning of lung capacity

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• The onset of infections like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and perhaps malignant
growth
• Life expectancy has been shortened

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

10. Air pollution has adverse effect on human health which causes certain
diseases and on environment which causes problem to living and non-living
things. [True/False]
11. The gases released by enterprises, power plants, boilers, warming and
transport are _________________________.
12. Which kind of problem to human health can be caused by the Air
contamination?
a) Respiratory or breathing problems
b) Infection
c) Lungs problem
d) All of the above
13. When the temperature of the planet rises, there is ____________________ in the
standard climatic cycles.
a) Aggravation
b) No effect
c) Less serious
d) None of the above

2.3. Methods for Control of Air Pollution

Air contamination control, the procedures utilized to decrease or dispose of the emanation
into the climate of substances that can hurt the climate or human well-being. Air
contamination control is one of the foremost zones of contamination control, alongside
wastewater treatment, strong waste administration, and perilous waste administration.
These remember antagonistic impacts on human well-being, property, and environmental
perceivability. The air is defenceless to contamination from natural sources, just as from
human exercises. Some normal marvels, like volcanic emissions and timberland fires,

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may have neighbourhood and local impacts as well as enduring worldwide ones. By the by,
just contamination brought about by human exercises, like industry and transportation, is
dependent upon alleviation and control.

The necessary steps needed to reduce pollution:

1. Usage of Public Transport: Since vehicular emission is one of the major sources of air
pollution, usage of public transport will reduce the said emissions.
2. Development of alternative fuel: When fossil fuels are burnt, they generate harmful
toxins. To reduce these, the usage of alternative fuels such as electricity and solar power
is the most effective way.
3. Eco-friendly packaging and products: When plastic is burned it releases harmful
toxins which can combine with the air and cause air pollution. If we start using eco-
friendly packaging it can be more environmentally friendly.
4. Avoid fireworks: The burning of fireworks releases huge amounts of carbon monoxide
and other toxins. This results in high pollution in the region where the fireworks are
being burnt. To reduce air pollution, avoiding fireworks is the best method.
5. Afforestation: When we plant more trees, more oxygen is produced hence improving
the AQI of the region.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

15. Planting of more and more trees is known as the _______________________.

16. Usage of public transport reduces carbon emission. [True/ False]
17. One of the ways to reduce air pollution what we can choose as best practise?
a) Use ecofriendy products and packaging
b) Increase bursting crackers
c) Increase use of personal vehicles
d) All of the above

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3. WATER POLLUTION
Water pollution occurs when there is an existence of harmful chemicals and biological
components that are mixed with freshwater. It also includes the injection of chemicals into
water bodies through various human activities. These toxins have the potential to harm the
human and aquatic ecosystem. The temperature of the water bodies is worse affected due to
discharge of hot water from some specific industries, which uses water for cooling in
different operations, and due to the release of water from dams.

Due to the effect on temperature, life-forms inside water bodies are in great danger. It can
encourage the growth of some species while harming some other species. It affects the
balance between the different organisms in the water bodies.

The eggs and larvae of different animals are specifically susceptible to temperature
changes—water pollution results in the removal of necessary substances from water bodies.
Plants and animals use dissolved oxygen for their survival in aquatic systems, and anything
that reduces its level, would badly affect the animals and the plants residing there.

3.1 Point & Non-Point Sources of Water Pollution

Every process on earth, whether it is man-made processes or natural processes, generate a
certain amount of by-product from that particular process. Generally, these by-products are
returned to the environment and are known as pollutants. The environment can “self-clean”
these pollutants if given enough time. But, the consistent and heavy flow of by-products into
the environment makes it extremely difficult for the environment to do its cleaning all by
itself. The sources of these pollutants can be classified into point sources and non-point
sources.

❖ Point sources:
Pollution arising from a sole, recognizable source, like a drainpipe from a sewage plant,
tunnel, well, vessel or factory, is known as point-source pollution. These pollutants in
groundwater and surface water are generally found on the top with the highest group of the
pollutant nearest to the origin and the declining group far away from the origin.

Point sources of pollution arise from agriculture, including animal feeding operations,
animal waste treatment lagoons, mixing and handling, storage, cleaning areas for pesticides,

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petroleum and fertilisers. Municipal pollution sources comprise landfills, motor pools, utility
stations, fleet maintenance facilities and wastewater treatment plants.

Source: savelakewinnipeg.com
Fig 3: Point Source & Nonpoint Source

These activities involve the usage of dangerous materials as raw materials used in the
process. Harmful substances are also discharged through these processes, which, if not
treated properly, can get mixed up with the surface water and cause pollution.
1. Groundwater: One of the most constant point-source pollutants in groundwater are
organic compounds, which encompass toxic substances like oils, paint, solvents and
fuel products. In general, these pollutants cause severe health issues. Once
groundwater is polluted, it is not possible to clean it up easily.
2. Surface Water: Some basic point-source pollutants are present in surface water which
are as follows:
• High-temperature discharges
• Nutrients (like phosphorus and nitrogen); and
• Microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses, and Giardia)

Nutrients and a temperature rise can result in excessive plant growth and decomposing
organic matter in water, reducing dissolved oxygen levels and causes a great threat to
aquatic life. Microorganisms are supposed to be dangerous for both human health and
aquatic life. Pesticides and other harmful substances are also considered as hazardous to

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both aquatic life and human health but are less likely to be present in surface water due to
high infusion rates.

❖ Non-point sources:
Pollution through non-point sources doesn’t have a sole and identifiable source. Pollution
through these pollutants occurs as water shifts across the land or through the ground and
carries natural and man-made pollutants, which can then get deposited in rivers, coastal
waters, wetlands, lakes and also groundwater.
STUDY NOTE
The water that creates non-point source pollution can arise from
The most prominent
natural processes like snowmelt or rainfall or human activities like source of water
pollution in India is
lawn maintenance and crop irrigation. They are also known as ‘untreated sewage’.
Other sources of
‘diffuse’ pollution. Its influence occurs over a large area and is not pollution are
unregulated small-
identified to a single source. The main types of non-point sources of scale industry waste
and agricultural
pollution are: runoff.

1. Sediment: It is the runoff of fertilizer and soil during a rainstorm. Sediment includes
fine particles like a slit and also suspended solids. Sediment enters surface waters from
surface runoffs and eroding stream banks. Sediments generate turbidity in water
resources, decreasing the amount of light going at the below depths, which can hamper
the growth of aquatic plants. This, in turn, will harm aquatic animals that depend on
those plants.
2. Nutrients: It refers to inorganic matter from runoff, livestock operations, croplands
and landfills. The two major ingredients are nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus is
most commonly transported to water areas through soil erosion and nitrogen is
transported by water as nitrate (NO3). A surplus amount of phosphorus leads to the
expansion of microscopic algae, which will lead to the huge growth of organic matter
that is eutrophication, i.e., lowering of oxygen level in the water bodies.
3. Pathogens: These are bacteria and viruses generally found in the water and cause
human diseases. They cause diseases when they get mixed in the public drinking water
supplies. It contains Salmonella, Parasitic worms, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia
lamblia. They can pollute runoff due to inappropriately managed livestock tasks, poor
pet waste management and polluted storm sewers.

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4. Toxic contaminants and chemicals: Compounds comprising heavy metals like lead,
zinc, cadmium, mercury and organics like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other substances are insusceptible to
breakdown. Toxic chemicals comprise organic and inorganic compounds like acids.
Pesticides are not breakable and thus sustain in the environment. The principal sources
of non-point sources of pollution are:
• Urban land use: In urban areas, rainfall drains as storm water, a pollutant that
influences water quality. Storm water is contaminated from animal feaces, dust, car
oil, sediments and industrial wastes from street surfaces.
• Agricultural land use: Pesticides, fertilizers, animal dung, and soil flow in the
streams of rainfall-runoff ultimately results in pollution. When livestock are
allowed access to watercourse areas, it pollutes the water and increases erosion
risks. When huge sectors of land are ploughed to grow crops, it uncovers and
loosens the soil, increasing soil erosion during rain and wind.
• Forestry land use: Forestry operations decrease the number of trees in the
environment, thus decreasing the oxygen level also. The excessive usage of bulky
machinery increases the chances of soil erosion. Thus, increasing the chances of soil
erosion and sediment runoff, contributes to non-point source pollution.
• Marinas and boating operations: Chemicals used for the maintenance of the boat,
such as paint, oils and other solvents, get to mix with water through runoff and
contaminate it. Spilling fuels and leaking fuels also contaminate the water. Improper
management of sanitary waste bins on the boat leads to a rise in the levels of solid
waste, that hamper the quality of water.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 5

18. Water pollution is referred to the existence of ________________ and ________________ in

water.
19. The _______________ & ___________________ ecosystems are majorly affected due to
water pollution.
20. Pollution arising from single and identifiable source is called
__________________________.
21. Pesticides, fertilisers, and animal waste can be found in the rain-runoff
waterways, which result in water pollution. . [True/False]

3.2 Effects of Water Pollution on Human Health

On the Environment:
• A healthy ecosystem consists of a bunch of flora, bacteria, fungi, and fauna, all
interacting directly or indirectly. Any problem to any of the above organisms can
develop a chain effect that affects the aquatic environment. When water pollution
causes algae to thrive in the lake, the increase of freshly introduced nutrients induces
plants and algae to grow, decreasing the water's oxygen levels. This deficiency of
oxygen is called eutrophication, which can create “dead zones” (where waters lack life)
by suffocating plants and animals. These hazardous algae blooms sometimes result in
neurotoxins that affect wildlife.
• Marine ecosystems are also included in the danger zone by the segregation of marine
waste that can choke, starve, and restrain animals. Dumping fishing nets and other tools
to clean water results in hurting more than 200 various species under marine life that
also affects the environment.
• Ocean acidification turns out to be more difficult for shellfish and corals to survive
under water. Ocean acidification is defined as the never-ending decline in the pH value
of Earth’s oceans that is caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. This process creates hurdles for shellfish and other marine species to
develop and affects the nervous systems of clownfish, sharks and other marine species.

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On Human Health:
• Contaminated water makes people ill and can also cause death. STUDY NOTE
Every year, contaminated water nauseates about one billion
About 80% of stomach
people, especially, the lower-income people, as they reside diseases in India are
caused due to unsafe
close to polluting industries. drinking water.

• Waterborne pathogens are disease-causing bacteria and viruses that take birth from
natural and man-made waste and are a main cause of illness from the intake of unsafe
drinking water. Diseases developed by unsafe water comprise of cholera, typhoid and
giardia. In developed countries, accidental or prohibited discharges from sewage
treatment facilities turn out from runoff from farms and urban areas that supply
dangerous pathogens to waterways. Thousands of people across the country are found
ill every year by Legionnaires disease.
• A large variety of chemical pollutants like arsenic and mercury are coupled with
pesticides and nitrate fertilisers and ultimately get into water supplies. Once they are
mixed, these toxic elements can cause severe health issues such as cancer, hormone
imbalances, weak neural system, etc. Also, from swimming, large number of people
contract health issues like skin rashes, respiratory infections, pink eye and hepatitis.
• Pollutants like nitrates are especially hazardous to babies
STUDY NOTE
that drink formula milk. It limits the amount of oxygen in the
According to UNICEF,
brain, causing the ‘Blue Baby’ syndrome. It is also termed children die globally
because of intake of
infant methemoglobinemia, which is a skin disease where a polluted water that can
increase the death
baby’s skin turns blue. It happens when babies are fed baby count to 3000 per day.

food that is nitrate-rich.

• Another harmful pollutant is ‘lead’, which can get accumulated in the body and can
cause harm to the central nervous system. Arsenic leads to liver damage, vascular
disease and skin cancer. A huge number of fluorides can make teeth yellow and harm
the spinal cord. An increase in the number of pollutants is the root cause of the high
rate of infant mortality.

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Source: learnpick.in
Fig 4: Effect of Water pollution on human health

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 6

22. Blue Baby syndrome is also termed as infant methemoglobinemia. [True/False]

23. What makes it difficult for shellfish and coral to survive?
a) Dumping fishing nets
b) Ocean acidification
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b
24. ___________________ is the insufficiency of oxygen due to filing of sediments in
water.
25. In formula milk, _____________________ pollutant is very harmful as this can
adversely affect the health of infants and cause major brain problems.

3.3. Control Measures for Water Pollution

Due to water pollution, water bodies are harmed and also water resources convert into
waste. Prevention of water pollution and conservation of water resources is extremely
important to ensure an abundance of safe water for ourselves and future generations.
Reducing pollution is inevitable for the good health of humans and the environment.
Following are the various ways in which water pollution can be controlled:
1. The most prominent way of controlling water pollution is prevention, and minimization
of gathering of pollutants into water bodies.

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2. The Indian government has implemented the Water Prevention and Control of
Pollution Act, in 1972. to restrict all types of water pollution in the country.
3. Each individual should show concern towards water quality and avoid polluting water.
Reusing, reducing and recycling should be done by every individual wherever possible.
4. Industries should do treatment of hazardous outputs before they pour them into water
bodies. They should reduce the level of water pollution through chemical processes like
coagulation, reverse osmosis and ion exchange method, etc.
5. At regular intervals, the monitoring of wastewater should be conducted.
6. There should be a setup of a well-structured effluent and sewage treatment plant.
7. Effective drain line maintenance should be done at every level in the country. There
should be no leakage in the drainage pipeline.
8. Both the government and the people of the nation should plant more trees around
water bodies as they will naturally help them incorporate and recycle the pollutants.
9. Natural pesticides and fertilizers should be used in place of chemical ones as they are
organic and safe for plants and water bodies.
10. Special plants like the Water Hyacinth must be grown in areas which are more likely to
have water pollutants. It will decrease the negative effects to a greater extent. This plant
absorbs dissolved toxic substances such as cadmium and mercury from water bodies.
11. A comprehensive water management plan should be developed for every affected or
prone-to-be-affected region, stating goals to achieve within a stipulated time.
12. Construction of proper storm drain and settling ponds should be done to reduce the
chances of water clogging and harming aquatic life.
13. Rainwater harvesting structures should be built at both household and official levels to
ensure zero water wastage.
14. People should be aware of the harmful effects of water
pollution and should be against dumping wastes into STUDY NOTE

freshwater. The people who dump wastes should be India is taking productive steps in
rebalancing the quality of its
punished through fines. water source. Gujarat government
launched new platform as the
15. Throwing of paint and petroleum products into toilets Reuse of Treated Waste Water
Policy, which aims to downsize
and sinks should be highly penalized as they cannot the use of the Narmada River.

be treated and adversely affect the water bodies.

16. Avoidance of oil spills in the ocean should be done.

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17. Landfills (the disposal of waste by burying it) should be undertaken as gases generated
in the landfill can be used for the generation of electricity.
18. Bioremediation should be done. It is a waste management technique. It involves the use
of organisms to neutralize or separate pollutants from contaminated sites. The
organisms break down the harmful substances into less toxic or non-toxic substances.
19. Rivers should not be used for washing clothes or bathing animals in them. Strict
surveillance should be made on rivers, ponds and lakes.
STUDY NOTE
20. Lastly, everyone should try to minimize the consumption of
The word pollution was
water and reuse water whenever it is possible to decrease the
derived from Latin
level of pollution. word ‘pollution’ which
means to make dirty.
Soil pollution is a type
of land pollution.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 7

26. Tertiary wastewater treatment stage is done to downsize the biological

components of the waste through aerobic biological processes. [True/False]
27. ______________________ are used majorly in industrial wastewater treatment plants as
they provide great quality.

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4. SOIL POLLUTION
Pollution is very hazardous to human life and can be categorised in various types such as, air
pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, litter, visual pollution, radioactive pollution,
thermal contamination, and plastic pollution.

First of all, we need to clearly understand the concept of the word pollution. Individuals may
purify their surroundings by implementing a variety of pollution-reduction techniques that
are not harmful to the environment. However, when the number of pollutants exceed a
certain threshold, it begins to destroy the environment.

Definition: Soil pollution is the pollution caused due to contamination of soil with the
absorption of toxic elements. Garbage, plastics, fertilisers, pesticides, and many more are the
causes of soil pollution.

Most of us know that soil supplies essential elements for human survival, such as food and
water. These contaminants have an impact on the crops that grow on that soil, as well as the
quality of the groundwater. As a result, we should make soil preservation a priority.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 8

28. ______________________ is the introduction of contaminated particles to the

environment that affects its components adversely.
29. Which of the following contribute to pollution?
a) Deforestation
b) Chemical release in environment
c) Urbanisation
d) All of the above
30. Which of the following can be categorised under causes of soil pollution?
a) Garbage
b) Pesticides
c) Oil spills
d) Both A and B

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4.1 Sources of soil pollution

“Essentially, all life depends upon the soil. There can be no life without soil and no soil without
life; they have evolved together.” -Charles Kellogg

Let’s have a look at various sources of soil pollution:

1. Agricultural sources: Agriculture focuses on organic farming of the products to
maintain the basics of our lives. Still, it uses pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers to
grow crops and livestock much faster than organic production leads to soil pollution.
2. Industrial sources: Industrial waste leads to soil pollution in the form of gas, liquid,
solid substances. CO2, NO2 are the gases that are released from industrial activities.
These wastes mix with rainwater and can result in acid rain that drastically affects the
soil’s pH.
3. Urban waste: Garbage dumped in urban areas contains food waste plastic, industrial
waste and general household wastes. In simple terms, urban waste refers to any waste
that comes out from household or industrial places, which goes into rivers, and various
other water bodies, which ultimately pollute environment.
4. Sewer sludge: Sewage sludge in the form of semi-solid material contributes to soil
pollution. The sewage sludge is generally processed with septic tanks before being
disposed of into land or water bodies.
5. Mining and smelting sources: Mining activities trigger soil pollution in huge numbers.
Erosion of soil containing some mineral ore traces results in soil degradation. It ends
up in the soil by irrigation of land.

There are numerous pollutants in today’s era that contaminate soil in one way or the other.
Let’s look at some of them for a better understanding of pollutants. Soil pollution can be
caused by the following:
✓ Microplastics
✓ Oil spills
✓ Mining and activities by other heavy industries
✓ Accidental spills
✓ Corrosion of underground storage tanks (including piping used to transmit the
contents)
✓ Acid rain

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✓ Intensive farming
✓ Agrochemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers STUDY NOTE

✓ Petrochemicals Mining activities are a

major source of soil
✓ Industrial accidents pollution as they lead
to release of chemicals
✓ Road debris in the soil.
✓ Drainage of contaminated surface water into the soil
✓ Ammunition, chemical agents, and another agent of war
✓ Waste disposal

Source: Springer Link

Fig 5: Pollutants Distribution

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 9

31. Industrial sources cause soil pollution by ___________________ of pH of soil.

32. Which of the following are agricultural sources of soil pollution?
a) Herbicides
b) Pesticides
c) Fertilisers
d) All of the above

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4.2. Effects of Soil Pollution

• Soil Life:
➢ Due to the presence of chemical substances, soil fertility decreases, thereby reducing
soil yield.
➢ The contaminated soil becomes useless for producing any type of crop.
➢ Degraded soil leads to the production of contaminated vegetables and fruits
consumed by various living organisms, and hence cause various diseases such as
food poisoning, weakness, etc.
• Agriculture:
➢ It decreases the quality of the crop.
➢ It affects the production of crops and also the success of Civilisation.
➢ It also affects the quality of food produced on that soil.
• Human Beings:
➢ Soil pollution adversely affects human health.
➢ It also causes neuromuscular blockage.
➢ It leads to various diseases such as nausea, skin rashes, fatigue, eye problems,
headache, etc.
• Plants and Animals:
➢ The decrease in pH of the soil leads to the sickness and death of various plants and
animals.
➢ It also leads to the destruction of the entire aquatic food chain.
➢ Soil pollution adversely affects the metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods,
which ends the primary level of the food chain.
• Ecosystem:
➢ Soil pollution increases soil acidity which negatively affects vegetation, making it
useless and barren.
➢ When any kind of crop grows on these kinds of lands, it leads to the growth of
poisonous crop.
➢ Consumption of such plants grown on degraded soil leads to various health issues
and the ecosystem would be adversely affected by this.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 10

33. Soil pollution leads to the ______________________ of pH of soil.

34. Degraded soils are
a) Acidic
b) Basic
c) Neutral
d) None of the above
35. Soil pollution leads to the destruction of food chain. [True/False]

5. CONTROL MEASURES AND IMPACT ON FUTURE OF SOIL POLLUTION

As we have studied various impacts of soil pollution on our health,
STUDY NOTE
and on this environment, we should start adopting various kinds of
Polluting our soil will
measures to make this environment safe and clean for our
pollute our future.
livelihood. Here are some minor steps which each individual can
take to make improvements:
✓ To bring greenery, start planting more and more trees and try to avoid cutting down
trees.
✓ Avoid various kinds of chemicals in agricultural practices.
✓ Try to dump the chemical wastes in a suitable place.
✓ Avoid the use of pesticides and chemical fertilisers as much as possible.
✓ Adopt the method of crop rotation in cultivation areas.
✓ Try to remove the weeds and various microorganisms that affect plants and soil.

Soil pollution has a very adverse impact on our future lives, which are as follows:
1. Soil pollution hurts biodiversity that leads to the extinction of flora and fauna.
2. It also reduces the soil fertility, which leads to the enhancement of barren land in our
country.
3. It causes a reduction of healthy crop cultivation, an increase in food quality
degradation.
4. It causes an imbalance of various nutrients in the soil responsible for healthy crop
growth.

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5. It also degrades groundwater quality, leading to an increase in contaminated water

scale.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 11

36. Soil pollution ____________________ of underground water level.

37. Which of the following method can be adopted as a control measure?
a) Crop Rotation
b) Crop Sedimentation
c) Crop Filling
d) All of the above

6. SUMMARY
• Air Pollution alludes to the condition where the presence of harmful substances in the
air, produced by different human exercises and characteristic marvels like volcanic
ejections, harms the government assistance of people and the living climate.
• Outside air contamination alone makes 4.21 million passing yearly. Generally, air
contamination causes the passing of around 7 million individuals worldwide every year
and is the world’s biggest single ecological well-being hazard.
• The impacts of air contamination on materials, vegetation, and creatures can be
estimated. The majority of the proof comes from toxins that the overall population is
exposed to.
• Types of Air pollution
➢ Particular Matter: It is the combination of two particles that are in form of solids and
liquids which includes sulphate, nitrates, carbon, complex chemicals, and water
suspended in the air.
➢ Nitrogen dioxide: This is gas and it comes from man-made sources such as vehicles,
heating plants, and power stations. Mostly Diesel vehicles are responsible for these
gases.
➢ Sulphur dioxide: This is a colourless gas that cannot be seen and has a very
suffocating smell. This type of gases originates from burning oil and coal. The major
source of gases is industries as they burn fossil fuels mostly.

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• Water pollution is referred to as the existence of harmful chemicals and biological

components that is mixed with freshwater.
• Primarily, two sources of Water Pollution exist i.e., Point and Non-point sources. Point
sources include groundwater and surface water while non-point includes urban,
agricultural, and forestry land use and marinas and boating operations.
• The effects of water pollution are Eutrophication, Contamination of waterways, Threat
to aquatic and human life, Ocean Acidification.
➢ The types of water contaminants are Physical, Chemical, Radiological, Biological,
Organic, Inorganic, Macroscopic, Thermal and Microbial Contaminants.
• Soil pollution is the pollution caused by the contamination of soil with incongruous
absorption of toxic elements.
• The contaminated soil becomes useless for producing any type of crop.
• Soil pollution increases soil acidity, which negatively affects vegetation, making it
useless and barren.

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7. CASE STUDY
DELHI POLLUTION (Air Pollution)
This has made an endeavour to dissect the effect of air contamination on wellbeing, its causes
and level of mindfulness by directing a field overview on the young people of Delhi,
concentrating in various colleges and schools in Delhi. The gathered information has been
evaluated with numerous strategies like engaging measurements, recurrence tables, cross
classification and chi-square trial of autonomy on sources, impacts, and answers for air
contamination. At long last, the examination reasons that an enormous number of
mindfulness missions ought to be coordinated including a more noteworthy cooperation
from all areas of the general public alongside better usage of present laws. More seasoned
individuals, children and patients with previous respiratory illnesses like lung irritation, flu
and asthma are defenseless to the specific matter suspended noticeable all around.
Furthermore, it’s not just outside air contamination, the suspended particulates clear a path
to indoor air in homes and stay suspended indoor. There were additionally expanded rates
of prohibitive and obstructive lung capacities. The high commonness of metaplasia and
dysplasia of aerial route epithelial cells likewise puts the population of Delhi in danger. The
sputum showed moderate to serious cytological changes, though the country's control
populace in West Bengal was ecstatically unmindful of this symptom of living in a
metropolitan city.

Conclusion:
While there has been enormous advancement on foundation and examination front,
nonetheless, the predicament of Delhi occupant isn't coming to at an end. While a few
investigations referenced above suggest an ecological relationship and can be utilized to
draw causal derivations, best case scenario, these are the best system and outlines accessible
to date to cause to notice this consuming issue. Lower emanation vehicles and usage of a few
rigid measures have brought about some improvement and alleviation from Delhi air
contamination. All things considered, the public authority and other power figures need to
send war-like measures to guarantee the prosperity and strength of the residents. Wellbeing
is an all extensive and all-inescapable viewpoint. While clean air is a resident's correct, it
can't be inside an administration's domain to control all the components. The residents

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additionally should be dependable. The vision of Clean Delhi is absurd without local area
cooperation.

Source- Times of India newspaper, 10 February 2021

Discussion Questions:
1. Is air pollution principally a neighbourhood issue or would it being able to travel
significant distances?
2. Does air pollution make Delhi an uninhabitable place?

E-Waste Polluting Delhi’s Groundwater and soil

Due to the advancement of technologies, the number of electronic wastes has increased
tremendously. Electronic wastes are produced by electrical devices such as PCs, mobile
phones, and many other electronic devices.

Improper dumping of these wastes leads to the contamination of groundwater quality and
soils. Researchers of Jamia Milia Islamia studied this.

The researchers examined the soil nearby Mandoli’s Krishna Vihar – where you can easily
find considerable amounts of unprocessed electronic wastes. Among various pollutants –
Copper was present in large quantities, i.e., approx. 283 mg/kg at the top soil. But just 4-5
km from the reference site (where an examination was going on), the amount of Copper was
just about 8.39 mg/kg.

In the same way, Lead (Pb) in the subsoil (the layer where the plant takes its roots) was
found to be 183 mg/kg and a few km away from that, the amount was only 0.43 mg/kg. This
contamination of subsoil results in the absorption of these contaminated particles into plants
and can reach human tissues.

Heavy metals such as lead, Cadmium, Copper in these areas were about 20 times more than
the normal amount as declared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The risks of consumption of heavy metals were also analysed. Organs that are vulnerable to
heavy metals are the liver and kidney. The consumption of these metals in long-run leads to
various diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and
multiple sclerosis.

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However, in March 2016, India made it compulsory for electronic goods manufacturers to
ensure the safe and proper disposal of these electronic wastes. This quantity was attached
to their annual sale and promised a per-year increment.

Still there is a situation such that nearly 80% of electronic goods are dumped unsafely from
which costly metals such as gold and silver were obtained and rest got disposed in the open
area leading to leaching of metal constituents into the soil.

Source: Article from The Hindu newspaper

Discussion Questions
1. How can you manage the waste disposal made on lands?
2. How do you think electronic waste affects human health?

8. TERMINAL QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
1. Define Air pollution. Who is at risk from Air pollution?
2. What are the two sources of water pollution?
3. What do you mean by the greenhouse effect and eutrophication?
4. What do you mean by food chain?
5. What do you mean by pollutants and what are their two types?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What is the impact of air pollution on human health?
2. What are the drastic effects of Water Pollution on the environment as well as on human
health?
3. Define Soil pollution. Write about its sources and what are the pollutants responsible
for its contamination?
4. How can we control soil pollution? What is its impact on our future lives?
5. What are the impacts of soil pollution on soil life, agriculture, human beings, ecosystem,
plants and animals?

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9. ANSWERS
Self - Assessment Questions
1. Air pollution
2. True
3. False
4. D. Both A and B
5. C. Colourless
6. Portable or mobile sources
7. False
8. False
9. D. Wood-consuming chimneys, farming territories
10. C. stationary sources
11. True
12. Poisonous
13. D. All of the above
14. A. Aggravation
15. Afforestation
16. True
17. A. Use eco-friendly products and packaging
18. Chemical & Biological
19. Human & Aquatic
20. Point source pollution
21. True
22. True
23. B. Ocean acidification
24. Eutrophication
25. Nitrates
26. False
27. Construction wetlands
28. Pollution
29. D. All of the Above

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30. D. Both A and B

31. Altering
32. D. All of the above
33. Decrease
34. Acidic
35. True
36. Degrade
37. A. Crop Rotation

Terminal Questions
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer 1: Air pollution is brought about by gases and particles radiated to the environment
by an assortment of human exercises, like the wasteful ignition of energise agribusiness, and
cultivating. Additionally, regular sources add to air contamination, remembering particles of
soil residue and salt for ocean splash.

Individuals' well-being hazard from air contamination changes generally relying upon age,
where they live, their hidden well-being, and different variables. Numerous investigations
show that individuals with lower financial status and minority

• Individuals with lung sicknesses, like asthma, constant bronchitis, emphysema, and
ongoing obstructive aspiratory infection
• Babies and little youngsters

Answer 2. The two sources of water pollution are the point and non-point sources of
pollution. Pollution that arises from a common, recognizable source, like a drainpipe from a
sewage plant, vessel or factory, is commonly termed as point-source pollution. Pollution
through non-point sources doesn’t have a sole and identifiable source.

Answer 3: The greenhouse effect is the process of warming the earth’s atmosphere by
trapping sunlight. Eutrophication is the increase in the concentration of nitrogen,
phosphorus and other nutrients in the aquatic ecosystem such as a pond, lake, and so on.

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Answer 4: A food chain is a series of organisms, each dependent on the next as a source of
food. It is generally a link of who eats whom. Soil pollution adversely affects the metabolism
of microorganisms and arthropods, which ends the primary level of the food chain.

Answer 5: The unwanted substance which causes various kinds of pollution is called
pollutants. Two types of pollutants are: naturally occurring and man-made pollutants. Due
to industrialisation, the introduction of various chemicals, garbage, and many more day-to-
day activities play a major role in creating various kinds of pollutions in which we are used
to some kinds of pollution and it's difficult to deal with some others.

Long Answer Questions:

Answer 1: The impact of air pollution on human health is as follows:
• It causes both intense infection and persistent illness. There is solid proof connecting
long haul exposure to air contamination with an expanded danger for ischemic
coronary illness, stroke, persistent obstructive aspiratory infection (COPD), lung and
upper aero digestive and others.
• The WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRCA), has assigned air
contamination as a cancer-causing agent. Some quick well-being impacts of its
exposure include disturbance of the eyes, nose and throat, windedness, hacking, and
compounding of previous conditions, similar to asthma assaults and chest torment.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) limits the exchange of oxygen to tissues and can be deadly in
exceptionally high focuses. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), is a powerful lung aggravation
influencing the soundness of those with a previous respiratory infection (asthma and
COPD), particularly those living and working near SO2 sources.

Answer 2. The effects of water pollution on the environment and human health are:
• A healthy ecosystem consists of a bunch of flora, bacteria, fungi, and fauna, all
interacting directly or indirectly. Any problem to any of the above organisms can
develop a chain effect that affects the aquatic environment.
• Marine ecosystems are also included in the danger zone by the segregation of marine
waste that can choke, starve, and restrain animals.
• Ocean acidification turns out to be more difficult for shellfish and corals to survive
under water.

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Answer 3: Soil pollution is the pollution caused with the contamination of soil with
incongruous absorption of toxic elements. Garbage, plastics, fertilisers, pesticides, and many
more are the cause of soil pollution. Human-made chemicals are pesticides, fertilisers and
improper disposal of waste.

Sources:
1. Agricultural sources: Agriculture focuses on organic farming of the products to
maintain the basics of our lives, but the methods like pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilisers used to grow crops and livestock much faster than organic production leads
to soil pollution.
2. Industrial sources: Industrial waste arises from soil pollution and can be caused in the
form of gas, liquid, solid substances. CO2, NO2 are the gases that are released from
industrial activities. These wastes mix with rainwater and can cause the generation of
acid rain that drastically affects the soil’s ph.
3. Urban waste: Urban waste is simply garbage that has already been deposited and it
includes plastic, food waste, industrial waste, and regular household waste. It would
seem that organic garbage and non-biodegradable rubbish may be recycled and
discarded in places meant for natural breakdown.

Pollutants: Soil pollution can be caused by the following:

✓ Microplastics
✓ Oil spills
✓ Ammunition, chemical agents, and other agents of war

Answer 4: Control Measures:

✓ Reduce deforestation and begin afforestation.
✓ Avoid intensive farming and reduce your footprint.
✓ Maintain a vegetation cover, especially in vulnerable areas.

Impact on the Future:

1. Soil pollution hurts biodiversity that leads to the extinction of flora and fauna.
2. It also reduces the fertility of the soil, which leads to the enhancement of barren land in
our country.

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3. It causes a reduction of healthy crop cultivation, an increase in Food quality

degradation.
4. It causes an imbalance of various nutrients in the soil which are responsible for healthy
crop growth.
5. It also degrades groundwater quality, leading to an increase in contaminated water
scale.

Answer 5: Impact of soil pollution on:

1. Soil life:
• Due to the presence of chemical substances, the fertility of soil decreases which
decreases the soil yield.
• The contaminated soil becomes useless for producing any type of crop.
• Degraded soil leads to the production of contaminated vegetables and fruits consumed
by various living organisms and hence, causes various diseases such as food poisoning,
weakness, etc.
2. Agriculture:
• It decreases the quality of the crop.
• It affects the production of crops and also the success of Civilisation.
• It also affects the quality of Food produced on that soil.
3. Human Beings:
• Soil pollution adversely affects human health.
• It also causes neuromuscular blockage.
• It leads to various types of diseases such as nausea, skin rashes, fatigue, eye problems,
headache and so on.
4. Plants and Animals:
• The decrease in the pH of the soil leads to the death and sickness of various plants and
animals.
• It also leads to the destruction of the entire aquatic food chain.
• Soil pollution adversely affects the metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods,
which ends the primary level of the food chain.

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5. Ecosystem:
• Soil pollution increases soil acidity, which negatively affects vegetation, making it
useless and barren.
• When any kind of crop grows on these kinds of lands, it leads to the growth of a
poisonous crop.
• Consumption of such plants that are grown on degraded soil leads to various health
issues and the ecosystem would be adversely affected by this.

10. BOOKS
• Bhola R Gurjar, (2010), Air Pollution: Health and Environmental Impacts, CRC press
• David H. F. Liu, (2018), Air Pollution, CRC Press
• Pallavi Saxena, (2018), Air Pollution: Source, Impacts and Controls, CAB International
• C.A. Brebbia, Water Pollution (2014), WIT Press Publishers
• Pardeep Singh, Arif Ahamad, Contamination of Water: Health Risk Assessment and
Treatment Strategies, (2021) Elsevier Science Publishers
• Soil pollution- An emerging threat to agriculture, Jayant k. Saha, Rajendiran Selladurai,
M. Vassanda Coumar, M. L. Dotania, Samaresh Kundu, and Ashok. K. Patra
• Soil pollution: Origin, Monitoring, and Remediation, Ibrahim A. Mirsal

REFERENCES:
• Air Pollution, viewed on 05 March 2021, <https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-
pollution-everything-you-need-know
• Details of Air pollution we need to know, viewed on 05 March 2021,
<https://www.britannica.com/science/air-pollution>
• Air Pollution and Plant Biotechnology, viewed on 05 March 2021, <
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Air_Pollution_and_Plant_Biotechnology/Ey
npCAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=air+pollution+and+plant+biotechnology&printsec=
frontcover>
• Source of Air Pollutants, viewed on 05 March 2021, <
https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Unraveling_the_Exposome/OalxDwAAQBAJ
?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Kibble+and+Harrison+2005&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover>

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• Water Contaminants, viewed on 28 February 2021, <https://www.epa.gov/ccl/types-

drinking-water-contaminants >
• Water Contaminants and their treatment, viewed on 28 February 2021,
<https://www.fluencecorp.com/water-contaminants-and-their-treatment/>
• Water Quality Parameters, viewed on 28 February 2021,
https://www.slideshare.net/bala1957/water-quality-parameters
• Soil pollution- An emerging threat to agriculture, Jayant k. Saha, Rajendiran Selladurai,
M. Vassanda Coumar, M. L. Dotania, Samaresh Kundu, and Ashok. K. Patra
• Soil pollution: Origin, Monitoring, and Remediation, Ibrahim A. Mirsal

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Unit 6
Environmental Pollution & Policies -II

Table of Contents

SL Topic Fig No / Table SAQ / Page No

No / Graph Activity
1 Introduction - -
4-6
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Overview and Sources of Noise Pollution 1 1

2.1 Basic Conceptualities Related to Noise 2 - 7-14

Pollution
2.2 Sources of Noise Pollution 3, 4, 5 -
3 Effects of Noise Pollution - 2, 3

3.1 Effect of Noise Pollution on the 6, 7 -

Environment 14-21
3.2 Control Measures for Noise Pollution 8, 9 -

3.3 Measures of Effective Control of Noise 10 -

Pollution
4 Solid Waste and its Management 12, 13 4, 5, 6

4.1 Meaning and Definition of Solid Waste - -

Management
4.2 Classification of Solid Waste - - 22-32

4.2.1 Classification Based on the Source of - -

Origin
4.3 Solid Waste Management Methods 14, 15 -
5 Climate Change 16, 17 7, 8, 9, 10

5.1 Global Warming - -

33-40
5.2 Ozone Layer Depletion - -

5.3 Acid Rain - -

6 Environment Laws - 11
40-45
6.1 Important Environmental Laws in India - -

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7 International Agreements - 12 45-47

8 Case Study - - 48
9 Summary - - 49-51
10 Terminal Questions - - 52
11 Answers - - 53-56
12 Books & References - - 57

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1. INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we will introduce the notion of Noise Pollution—another type of pollution that
exists in the environment. This topic will help you to get in-depth insights into noise
pollution-its meaning, examples, basic concepts, sources, effects, examples of controlling
different noise pollution, and measures to be adopted to control noise pollution.

The word noise refers to the illness in which one feels vomiting and originates from the Latin
word 'Nausea'. Hence, noise is an unwanted and nasty sound that causes discomfort to living
organisms.

The slightest sound that a human ear can hear is 1 dB. Noise pollution is increasing daily;
thus, one has to take measures to reduce noise pollution. The major sources of pollution are
firecrackers, vehicles, loudspeakers, aircraft, machines, and many more. Other devices, such
as radio, transistor, television, etc., pollute noise when used at high volume.

In the present times, our environment faces many environmental issues such as loss of
natural resources, global warming, pollution due to development, etc. Environmental studies
help us to understand the various environmental phenomena occurring naturally within our
environment.
STUDY NOTE
We know that our lives are directly linked with the
The source of outdoor noise
surroundings; thus, the production of wastes is inevitable. worldwide is mainly caused
by machines, transport, and
However, it is our responsibility to manage them efficiently and propagation systems.

take care of the environment. An environmental study is a basic

and an applied science, which mostly talks about the social sciences.

In environmental studies, we study each component of the environment interact with the
surrounding physical environment and with each other. The ecosystem is expansive and
spread out over a wide region. Wastes are products that are unwanted or unacceptable.
Every material that is wasted after use, or is no longer useful, is referred to as a waste.
Municipal industrial waste, drainage, hazardous waste, nuclear waste, and other forms of
waste are some examples.

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Environmental policies and their elements play a crucial role to give importance to
identifying objectives for each challenging area towards relevant implementation. This
includes designing long-term vision documents for forecasting a sustainable and healthy
utilization of natural resources. The current environmental standards entirely revolve
around the concentration of pollutants in emission and effluents. The guidelines and norms
of environmental policies are to be further revised for laying down mass-based regulatory
standards.

This will then set the necessary limits for promoting the limitation of waste, encourage
reusing and recycling materials, along with conserving natural resources. Standards aren’t
solely a regulatory tool but are the very key to encouraging technological up-gradation for
conserving resources, reducing or mitigating pollution, and further managing waste. For this
very purpose, environmental practices and policies are modified for individual processes.

The environmental impacts from the disposal of varied products that are toxic and
dangerous are to be analyzed carefully and monitored in the regulations. In this chapter on
environmental policies and practices, you will learn in-depth about varied sub-topics like
global warming, climate change, environmental laws and acts, ozone layer depletion, and so
on.

The main purpose of this chapter is to educate you on the harmful impacts of pollution on
the environment. Changes in the climate are a fundamental challenge for the global nation
today. Each one of us plays a role in contributing to the adverse consequences on the
environment. The chapter offers deep insights into topics like international agreements,
tribal population and rights, and even human-wildlife conflicts in India.

We will comprehensively study what has shaped the environment today. All types of
pollution, be it air, water, soil, etc., play a quintessential role in impacting not only our
environment but also animals and other living creatures. It further creates a harmful
atmosphere for us to live in. We will study the different environmental policies and practices
that are being implemented for conserving the natural resources and restricting pollution.

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1.1 Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
 Describe the Effects of Noise Pollution
 Explain the Control Measures for Noise Pollution
 List the types of solid waste.
 Recognize the impacts of environmental damage and pollution
 Recall the regulatory and legal frameworks that promote sustainability

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2. OVERVIEW AND SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution is an invisible danger. Noise pollution is any unpleasant and disturbing sound
that affects human creatures' physical condition and well-being.

The word noise refers to the illness in which one feels vomiting and originates from the Latin
word 'Nausea'. Hence, noise is an unwanted and nasty sound that causes discomfort to living
organisms. The intensity of sound is measured in decibels (dB). The slightest sound that a
human ear can hear is 1 dB. Noise pollution is increasing daily; thus, one has to take measures
to reduce noise pollution. The major sources of pollution are firecrackers, vehicles,
loudspeakers, aircraft, machines, and many more. Other devices, such as radio, transistor,
television, etc., pollute noise when used at high volume.

Noise pollution refers to high-level sounds that irritate living organisms' hearing capacity. It
can result from machines, high music, and elevated vehicle sounds. Noise pollution is a
disturbance that leads to severe health hazards and environmental problems, which should
be controlled. Noise pollution refers to the undesired and unpleasant sounds that are
hindering modern day development and disrupting the activity or stability of animal and
human life.

Noise pollution is the pollution caused due to higher volumes or intensities of noise. Each
organism or thing possesses a different type of noise, and these noises severely impact
people. Due to the functioning and operations of urban regions, the environment gets
polluted. This leads to higher volumes of factory noise, vehicle noise, etc. Noise pollution
typically creates several risks like diseases, death, etc. In addition, excessive noise pollution
may cause the person to lose hearing ability.

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Source: thelivenagpur.com
Fig 1. Noise Pollution

Listed below are examples of noise pollution:

 Unnecessary usage of fireworks
 Construction noise
 Unnecessary usage of horns
 Noise from aircraft and railway
 Using loudspeakers for political or religious purposes
 Industrial noise

2.1 Basic Conceptualities Related to Noise Pollution

Noise is referred to as an unwanted sound. In addition, it is deemed as a disruptive and loud
sound. Noise Pollution is an unfortunate, uncomfortable, and loud sound that prompts
uneasiness and discomfort in individuals. Noise pollution is usually produced in some
workplaces and industrial facilities and comes from aeroplane traffic, construction activities,
trains, highway traffic, and heavy vehicles. It affects the well-being and comfort of all living
creatures, both ashore and in the ocean, from road traffic noise to live concerts; many sounds
cause stress, hypertension, hearing activities, and so on. Here are four concepts that are
related to noise pollution.

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Sound
pressure level

Noise
Sound level
exposure
metre
limits

Decibel

Fig 2. Basic Concepts Related to Noise Pollution

 Sound pressure level – This level indicates the human perception of sound. This level
varies among people.
 Noise exposure limits – It highlights the desirable and acceptable limits of noise that a
human being can undertake; the World Health Organization provides these limits.
 Decibel – It is depicted as the standard unit for measuring sound and sound vibrations.
It is abbreviated as dB.
 Sound level meter – This meter is depicted as an instrument that facilitates control over
the sound.

2.2 Sources of Noise Pollution

Sources mean how noise pollution can be created. There is much noise in a region but
identifying the source of noise pollution needs to identify the decibel level of these noises.
Mechanical hardware and cycles are made from different sources such as interior ignition
motors, stators, rotors, electrical machines, gears, tempestuous liquid streams, vibrating
boards, fans, sway measures, and so on.

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Source: eschooltoday.com

Fig 3. Sources of Noise Pollution

Industrialization: Industrialization has brought a rise in noise pollution. Industries use

laborers and capital goods in large quantities in their production process. Various noise-
producing machines are used in the production processes. Various machines or ornaments,
such as compressors, generators, etc., are used for production purposes. These machines
produce noise to excessive limits. The designing plants, factories, metal enterprises, and
print machines have been a leading cause of noise pollution. Most of these sources use heavy
machinery, which results in heavy noise. In addition, they have hardware such as crushing
factories, blowers, generators, and exhaust fans which raise the noise levels in the
surrounding.

Poor urban planning: The people living in urban areas possess luxurious vehicles, which
may cause severe problems. Most people live with bigger families but in smaller places. The
parking lots constructed in urban areas generate a hub of noise pollution. People
unnecessarily honk in public places, which results in noise pollution. Thus, these things
create immense noise pollution, which disrupts the effective functioning of the environment.
Developing countries habitually lack proper urban planning, which leads to small industry
proliferation, small spaces, congested housing and a lack of enough parking spaces. Poor
urban planning thus adds to environmental noise through fights or social and basic
amenities, wrangles over parking spaces, noise from small manufacturing industries, noise
from playing children, and family quarrels from the neighbouring houses.

Social events: Social events such as parties, marriages and so on include music played at
high volumes. The administration and concerned authorities have issued certain rules
restricting music in high volumes. However, people do not follow such rules, creating a huge
nuisance. Due to the higher intensities of noise pollution, people's health conditions have
worsened in urban areas. Weddings, festivals, public gatherings, and occasions involve
loudspeakers playing music, thus producing unwanted noise in the surroundings.

Transportation: The automobile industry has become huge, especially in urban areas. In
the modern era, there is a rise in traffic due to the increase in the number of vehicles such as

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cars, buses, ambulances, jeeps, trucks, trains and so on. As a result, many vehicles are plying
on the roads. People stuck in traffic jams are also habitually impatient and continuously blow
their horns to alert the drivers ahead of them to move. Their frequent honking creates
immense noise pollution. As a result, people's hearing abilities get hampered. Moreover,
continuous honking produces unbearable noise in the neighbouring areas and the
environment. Aeroplanes also create a problem of noise in main urban towns. Most airports
are placed near residential areas producing a high sound level while taking off and landing.

Source: www.bing.com
Fig 4. Noise Pollution by Vehicles

Construction activities: Construction cannot be avoided anywhere as it has become pivotal

in each part of the world. Activities such as the construction of houses, mining and so on take
place so that the overall demands of the increasing population can be fulfilled. The noise from
the construction of buildings, highways, dams, streets, and houses is a foremost contributor
to noise pollution. For instance, the construction of buildings, highways, and houses require
equipment such as air hammers, bulldozers, loaders, air compressors, and dump trucks. This
scenario tends to create a higher level of noise pollution. The different machines and
equipment used in constructing buildings and roads are also crucial causes of environmental
noise pollution. The machinery used for construction, such as loaders, bulldozers, air
compressors, dump trucks, pneumatic hammers, pavement breakers, etc., is also a great
contributor to noise pollution.

Household chores: These days, households are often equipped with gadgets such as
vacuum cleaners, mixer grinders, mobile phones, etc. People majorly use these gadgets and
create higher intensities of noise pollution. This noise pollution often negatively impacts the
neighbours and society as a whole. Household activities such as furniture movement, loud

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doors banging, crying infants, noises from playing children, loud arguments and fights,
noises from entertainment equipment like loudspeakers, television sets, video games, and so
on also contribute to the overall noise pollution.

In addition, household equipment such as vacuum cleaners, pressure cookers, exhaust fans,
washing machines, mixer grinders, sewing machines, air-conditioners, and desert coolers
produce much noise.

Fireworks: Fireworks are a common scenario in various events such as occasions,

marriages, festivals, etc. They hamper the quality of life by creating painful noises and
producing too much pollution, both sound and air. Indian festivals such as Diwali, Dusshera,
marriages, and so on use fireworks for celebrations. Bursting firecrackers results in health
hazard as well as noise pollution. The noise produced is hazardous and can sometimes lead
to non-recoverable hearing loss.

Source: th.bing.com
Fig 5. Noise Pollution by Firecrackers

Agriculture machines: Agricultural practices have become mechanized due to the

technological revolution. As a result, several machines and tools such as drillers, tractors,
harvesters, powered tillers, thrashers, and tube wells are used for farming, causing heavy
noise pollution.

Defence equipment: Defence equipment is used by almost all countries for progress and
national protection. Explosives and military equipment are used to protect the nation.
Besides that, satellite launches facilitate countries toward progress. However, the use of such

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equipment creates immense noise pollution. Military aeroplane drills, artillery tanks,
explosions, rocket launching, and shooting practices are serious noise polluters. Likewise,
the sounds of jet engines produce deafening impacts.

Miscellaneous causes: Boilers, air conditioners, plumbing equipment, fans, and generators
greatly pollute noise. Also, the noise created by people in public places affects the health of
living beings. For instance, loudspeakers create high degree/amplitude noise.

 Automobile repair shops: Automobile repair shops and workshops also contribute to
noise pollution by using heavy equipment such as air compressors, oil drains, jacks,
engine hoists, spanners, tools, strut compressors, air conditioning machines, and many
more.
 Market places: Besides the huge traffic jams and parking troubles, continuous honking
has made the lives of people in some localities very tough. Vendors selling fruits and
vegetables, chit-chat of ladies, vehicles in market areas, machines, generator noise, and
shouting voices of people contribute to the noise pollution.
 Schools: Students talking with each other, laughing and shouting, the noise of the
teacher, the sound of footsteps and bell ringing, sound of various objects such as pencil,
fan, pen, spoon, water bottle, air conditioning, etc., creates noises.
 Bus stands: People waiting at the bus stops are exposed to high noise levels. In
addition, bus drivers are more vulnerable to noise pollution's auditory and non-
auditory ill effects. Also, buses use air horns in the cities that do not follow standards,
thus polluting noise.
 Office hardware: In workplaces, there are printers, scanners, and typewriters, among
other hardware, which add to noise pollution in the working spots and their
environment.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. The intensity of sound is measured in ______________________.

2. Which among the following is correct in regard to noise pollution?
a) Parties and marriages include music played in high volumes.
b) Military aero plane drills, artillery tanks, explosions, rocket launching, and
shooting practices are serious noise polluters.
c) Furniture movement and crying infants also contribute to noise pollution.
d) All of the above

3. EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION

Effects of noise pollution refer to the constant interference of noise or unwanted sound in
the environment, which can influence human health.

Noise Pollution impacts a large number of individuals constantly. The most widely
acknowledged medical problem it causes is NIHL which stands for Noise-Induced Hearing
Loss. These diseases can impact all age gatherings, especially youngsters. Several youngsters
who live close to roads or loud airport terminals have experienced the ill effects of stress,
pressure, and several issues like consideration level, understanding of expertise, and
memory loss.

3.1 Effect of Noise Pollution on the Environment

 Noise pollution is also dangerous for both plants and animals. The sources of noise in
the environment are trolleybuses, cars, compressors, aeroplanes, trains, machinery,
and many more. The acceptable noise level, which is easily bearing, ranges from 30 dB
to 60 dB. But the statistics generally go beyond these figures and reach 100 dB.
Moreover, numerous tests have established that some plants died because the leaves
released too much moisture, owing to high sound. Again, this happens because noise
pollution crosses the acceptable range. Therefore, the life spans of trees in big cities are
much less, and with the sound of a jet engine, bees lose their ability to navigate space.
 Human activities on the seas like infrastructure, shipping, wind farm development,
fishing, and mining, are increasing, thus increasing the level of sound and noise in the
oceans. The most extensive pollution source is ship noise, which occurs everywhere

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and every time. The most hazardous forms generate the most extreme noises, i.e.,
underwater bomb explosions of dynamite for fishing. All these activities affect marine
animals to a great extent. As a result, there is a bigger urgency to take suitable actions
appropriately and quickly.

Source: wildwhales.org
Fig 6. Effects of Noise Pollution on Marine Animals

 The noise pollution limits the freedom of birds, insects, and animals. It desists them
from roaming, sleeping, and eating. The environment refers to the surroundings which
are naturally created or made for animals, plants, or humans. Unfortunately, noise
pollution disrupts the whole environment. It constrains the movements and
interactions of all living organisms. Thus, it affects animals, and through them, the
stability of ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial, is negatively distorted.

EFFECT OF NOISE POLLUTION ON CROPS:

Noise pollution reduces the quality of crops because plants require a calm and quiet
environment to grow. Additionally, noise pollution affects bugs and insects, which are
essential for natural resources. Scientists have found that long-lasting noise pollution can
hinder normal plant growth, with the effects showing in habits years later.

EFFECT OF NOISE POLLUTION ON BUILDINGS:

Noise pollution affects the whole structure of the building. The noise pollution cracks the
framework of the building. The high density of noise, such as vibrations emitting from heavy
equipment and machinery, causes the shattering of window panels and glasses, breaking

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down the hangings in the house, cracks in household crockery walls, and losing the plaster
of house walls. It also damages the paintings and so on.

EFFECT OF NOISE POLLUTION ON HUMAN HEALTH:

STUDY NOTE
The living organism's physical, mental, and social activity
According to the reports of
represents human health. Human health is affected by several BioMed Central in 2017,
about 36% of people
types of environmental pollution. Noise Pollution can be exposed to noise pollution
areas suffer from a change
dangerous to human health in the following manner: in pulse rate, heart rate and
stress level.
 High Blood Pressure: The loud noise causes the heart to
beat fast, which results in high blood pressure. The music played on high-volume sound
instruments increases blood pressure. Work environments include factories and
construction sites that increase human blood pressure. High noise levels raise blood
pressure and pulse rates, making humans susceptible to heart attacks. Hypertension is
an immediate consequence of noise pollutants caused by raising blood pressure for
longer. In addition, noise pollution causes heart attacks due to sleep interference.
 Loss of Hearing Ability: Noise pollution damages cells and membranes. Long-term use
of music systems harms the ear cells. Loud noise harms a human's inner ear and can
lead to death. Continuous exposure to loud noise beyond the acceptable range can
damage the eardrums, thus resulting in hearing loss. Hearing impairment induced by
noise pollution causes temporary or permanent deafness.

Source: www.fashionlifestylefood.com
Fig 7. Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health-Hearing Loss

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 Disturbance: Effects of noise pollution include not only disturbed sleep but also affects
mental health. Unnecessary sounds can have a major effect on mental health as well.
Noise pollution causes sleep disturbance, leading to depression and anxiety. Noise
pollution leads to disturbance in the concentration level of humans in the workplace.
Some psychologic more problems than humans due to noise pollution because al effects
of noise pollution are losing peace of mind, depression, stress, getting irritated more
frequently, anxiety, waking too early, and so on. Lack of concentration can also be
examined due to unwanted sounds and noise.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

3. Wildlife animals faces more complications as compared to humans due to

noise pollution because animals depend on ____________.
4. The acceptable noise ranges from 35 dB to 65 dB. [True/False]
5. The impact of noise pollution on human health is governed by _______________.
a) Intensity of noise
b) Sensitivity of human ear
c) Socio-economic status of an individual
d) Both A. & B.
6. Which among the following are adverse effects of noise pollution?
a) There is a partial loss of hearing.
b) Fetus may develop defects.
c) It affects human performance in task in communication skill and thinking.
d) All of the above

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3.2 Control Measures for Noise Pollution

It includes the usage of any measure that will decrease clamor being created and diminish
the noise transmission through the air or the design of the work environment. Such
measures incorporate hardware changes, the working environment activities, and the design
of the workroom.

Source: www.wikihow.com
Fig 8. Control Measures for Noise Pollution

Examples of Controlling Different Noise Pollution

Examples of Controlling Construction Noise:
 Using bulldozers and air compressors and with less noise. These are to be avoided in
highly populated regions.
 Using low-noise loaders and trucks.

Source: contractoradvantage.ca
Fig 9. Controlling Construction Noise

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Examples of Controlling Transportation Noise:

 Stop road traffic noise by issuing challans.
 Aircraft noise to be decreased by developing the newest engines.
 Noise from railroads to be reduced using new ways to run rails. For instance – Metro
trains.

Examples of Controlling Social Events Noise:

 Avoid using loudspeakers and DJs.
 Use musical instruments wisely.

3.3. Measures of Effective Control of Noise Pollution

Noise pollutants can be adequately constrained by taking the following measures:
Control at Receiver's End: For individuals working in loud establishments, ear-security
helps such as noise caps, earplugs, earphones, earmuffs and so on should be given to lessen
occupational openness. People working in noisy regions should be provided with ear
protection aids.

Controlling at Source: The best control method for noise pollution is to reduce the noise
from the source. Noisy machines with sound-absorbing materials should be installed. This is
appropriate if methods and strategies are improved by:
 Installing noisy machines in sound verification chambers.
 Using glass covered with a sheet of punctured metal with the aim of mechanical
assurance.
STUDY NOTE
 Designing, manufacturing, and using calmer machines
Psychology Today reports state
to replace noisy ones. that hearing loss is the topmost
cause of noise pollution. It is not
 Reducing the commotion delivered from a vibrating with age but the noise. Older
people are at a higher risk of
machine by vibration damping; for instance, making a hearing damage.

layer of damping material such as plastic, neoprene, elastic, stopper, underneath the
machine.

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The measures for effective control of noise pollution are as follows:

Measures for effective control of noise pollution

Lubrication and better maintenance of machines Innovative designing

Soundproofing Go green by planting trees

Use of earplugs

Fig 10. Measures For Effective Control of Noise Pollution

 Innovative designing: Properly designing windows and doors and sealing them well
will help in reducing noise. Innovative building patterns and designs can reduce the
intrusion of noise.
 Soundproofing: Soundproof windows and doors need to be installed to prevent
unwanted noise from outside. Industrial plants that generate much noise from using
the machinery must use soundproof materials to lessen high sound frequencies. In
addition, one can install soundproofing items at home that stop the noise and unwanted
vibrations. Double-pane windows, for instance, can be a unique method for blocking
noise pollution.
 Use barriers or go green by planting trees: Planting bushes and trees effectively
reduces noise pollution. It is technique popularly called as green muffler. However, a
simple way to decrease strong sound waves and vibrations is by using barriers like
planting trees around buildings, houses, and companies. These barriers will absorb the
waves and lessen environmental noise drastically.
 Lubrication and better maintenance of machines: Regularly servicing automobiles
can successfully reduce noise pollution. When the components of engines and machines
are well lubricated and well maintained, it enhances efficiency and helps decrease
noise. The cause is that lubrication and proper maintenance decrease friction between
moving parts. Noise mufflers are to be used to avoid noises.
 Use of earplugs: One of the most effective solutions to reduce noise pollution is to wear
earplugs. They could be worn while sleeping or in working places to decrease the

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amount of noise from the environment. In addition, they have health benefits as well,
like healthy sleeping habits and preventing damage to the eardrum.

Source: th.bing.com
Fig 11. Using Earplugs to Reduce Noise Pollution

With the projections of rapid urban growth and the consequent rise in transport demand, it
is possible to estimate a simultaneous rise in noise exposure and, thus, the adverse effects.

Subsequently, it is important to implement policies that protect our health and wildlife
instantly. These policies and actions are particularly required during festive seasons when
noise pollution is more obvious.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

7. Which among the following sound is pleasant to our ears?

a) Transportation equipment
b) Musical instruments
c) Heavy machinery
d) None of the above
8. Which among the following measures will help in reducing noise pollution?
a) Automobiles to be fitted with silencers.
b) Factories need to be located near residential areas.
c) Use loudspeakers only when required.
d) Both A. & C.

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4. SOLID WASTE AND ITS MANAGEMENT

Solid waste refers to the rubbish that consists of wasteful items discarded by the public on a
daily basis. It comes from various human activities in the form of wasteful material during
household activities, industrial activities, and other commercial activities by organisations.
The increase in the utilisation of different resources has led to the production of more waste.
In this section, we will study what comprises solid wastes generated in our environment, we
will also study the origins and the types of different resources and their management. It is
essential to understand the importance of the disposal of solid wastes, and identify the
problems that may arise related to each type of waste.

We should understand the mechanism of waste disposal so that it has a minimal effect on
our environment. It is also critical to understand that as humans, it is our utmost
responsibility to take care of the wastes we generate. The
processing of urban solid wastes, along with the high organic STUDY NOTE

content of wastes, and its often inaccurate disposals, result in Waste is regarded as
something undesirable
substantial biological emissions, as well as the emission of or not in use anymore.
When we buy or
methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), all of which add to the produce something, the
wastes left after their
greenhouse effect.
use becomes solid
wastes.
As a result of this environmental challenge, local governments are
attempting to introduce more efficient techno-economic, social, and political strategies to
handle the growing amounts of urban solid wastes generated in the environment.

4.1 Meaning and Definition of Solid Waste Management

Every day, thousands of tonnes of solid wastes are disposed at landfills. These solid wastes
are created at homes, offices, and by a number of other companies. If wastes are not
adequately handled, these landfill sites emit a foul odour. When hazardous wastes such as
lead-acid batteries, poisons, washing solvents, cadmium, arsenic, or zinc, as well as
radioactive products, are disposed and combined with paper and other scraps, and burned,
gases such as dioxins are released.

These gases are carcinogenic and poisonous, and they pollute the air and waters, posing a
significant threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Certain kinds of wastes are

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considered dangerous because they have an immediate impact on humans or the

environment. Municipal solid waste (MSW) or refuse, on the other hand, refers to any non-
hazardous solid waste from a city that requires collection and transport to an appropriate
recycling or disposal site.

Garbage and rubbish are used with refuse. Garbage is normally decomposable food waste;
however, it may also be dry materials such as glass, paper, or wood. Trash will also contain
heavy items such as couches or old refrigerators. Trash necessitates special treatment and
collection. Solid waste is a term used to describe the unnecessary or harmful solid materials
produced by humans in industrial and residential areas.

Strong waste disposal is important because it limits the detrimental effects on public health
and the environment. A municipality's waste materials are efficiently managed using a
variety of approaches. Monitoring, collection, transportation, sorting, recycling, and
eventually, disposal, are all included. An urban population's socio-economic status directs its
lifestyle, which leads to the different quanta of waste generation.

Solid Waste
Garbage disposal is referred to as solid waste management. Garbage or solid waste has been
a huge problem for people since they began to live in cities. Global cultures accumulate more
solid waste than any prior human society.

Industrialization has impacted people's daily lives significantly, as they accumulate several
pounds of solid waste per user. The production of wastes take place both directly inside
homes and indirectly in factories that manufacture consumer products. Solid wastes, also
known as trash, is broadly classified as follows:
1. Organic waste: Kitchen wastes, vegetables, flowers, leaves, and fruits are all included
in organic wastes. Because of an inefficient waste collection scheme, urban solid wastes
accumulate on the highways. People clean their own homes with care, but they litter
their surroundings, which has an adverse impact on the communities and, indirectly,
on them.
2. Toxic waste: Paints, chemicals, old medicines, bulbs, spray cans, fertilizers, pesticide
containers, batteries, shoe polish, etc. are some examples of toxic waste.
3. Recyclable: Paper, glass, metals, plastics are some examples of recyclable waste.

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4. Hospital waste: Hospital waste includes products used in hospitals such as clothes,
gloves, hand rubs, syringes, etc.

Dumping of solid wastes contributes to the decomposition of biodegradable products in

unsanitary and unregulated environments, resulting in foul odours, which provides a
breeding ground for a number of infectious organisms and insects. Hazardous wastes and
radioactive metals that are released from industrial solid wastes also cause changes in the
physiological and biological characteristics, and affects the fertility
of soil as well. Biological characteristics of solid waste include STUDY NOTE
human and animal excreta, which can be decomposed, as Hospital supplies are
severely considered as
compared to other solid waste items. harmful solid wastes,
which cannot be easily
Wastes like paper scraps and non-toxic materials, which are recycled or disposed.

recyclable but are not recycled properly, hampers the productivity

of soil. Furans, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls are generated when products like
cans, cleaning solvents, pesticides, radioactive materials, plastics, etc. are burned, causing a
variety of cancers. Such kinds of adverse effects have made it more necessary to understand
waste management.

The following are some of the methods to classify and manage solid wastes:
1. Centralized method: This approach entails the disposal of urban wastes using the land
filling method. The solid wastes are collected by a Municipal Corporation's waste
keeper and later handed over to a recycling team. The waste is then disposed in a dump
by a recycling crew.
2. De-centralized method: Waste is obtained by wards and divided at a source into non-
biodegradable and biodegradable materials. The process of composting is used to
transform biodegradable wastes into compost. Non-biodegradable wastes are divided
further into paper, plastic, metal, and other wastes before being processed by recyclers
for up-cycling. This model is observed in south India-Andra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

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Source: Wikipedia.org

Fig 12: Solid Waste

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

9. Which of the following items do not fit in a trash?

a) Micro-organisms
b) Plastics
c) Papers
d) None of the above
10. In the decentralised method, a non-biodegradable waste is ____________________.
11. Toxic wastes include ______________________, ______________________ and
___________________.

4.2. Classification of Solid Waste

We have discussed so many types of wastes that are produced at different sites. The
enormous amount of wastes produced can be classified into a number of categories. The
classification can be done into two ways:
 Classification based on the source of an origin
 Type-based classification

The classification based on the source of an origin directs wastes based on their origins. They
are categorised as residential, commercial, institutional, municipal, industrial, agricultural,
and open areas.

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The other type of classification is based on types, i.e., physical, chemical, and biological
characteristics of a waste. They can be categorised as animal waste, sewage waste, hazardous
waste, construction and demolition wastes, abandoned vehicles, dead animals, street wastes,
and bulky wastes.

4.2.1 Classification Based on the Source of Origin

1. Residential: This contains waste from residential areas, such as homes and
apartments, which include leftover fruits, vegetable peels, plastics, garments, and
ashes, among other items.
2. Commercial: This includes waste caused by supermarkets, restaurants, markets,
hotels, motels, auto-repair shops, medical services, and other businesses, such as
leftover food, glasses, metals, and ashes.
STUDY NOTE
3. Institutional: This mostly consists of paper, rubber,
There have been some
glasses, and other materials originating from
recent initiatives taken by
instructional, administrative, and public buildings such as the people to classify dry
and moist residential
classrooms, universities, offices, and prisons. wastes separately to
recycle them more easily.
4. Municipal: This includes dust, leafy matter, building Indore is one such city
wastes, leftover sludge from treatment plants, and other where the municipal
corporation has taken this
civic operations such as renovation and demolition, street initiative.

sweeping, landscaping, and so on.

5. Industrial: Industrial wastes are the waste from an industry's operations, which
include process wastes, ashes, renovation and building wastes, toxic wastes, and so on.
6. Agricultural: This includes ruined food grains and vegetables, agricultural waste,
trash, and other materials produced by vineyards, farms, fields, orchards, among other
locations.
7. Open areas: This covers pollution from parks, sidewalks, alleys, vacant lots,
playgrounds, beaches, roads, and recreational areas, among other locations.

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Source: brainkart.com

Fig 13: Classification based on source

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 5

12. Which of the following is not an origin-based classification?

a) Residential
b) Industrial
c) Municipal
d) Hazardous waste
13. Pesticide containers are a part of:
a) Institutional wastes
b) E-commerce wastes
c) Agriculture wastes
d) None of the above

4.3. Solid Waste Management Methods

A solid waste management system (SWM system) is a set of different functional elements
that work together to handle solid wastes. The system assists in the storage and recycling of
solid wastes at low prices while protecting public health. The functional aspects of SWM are:
1. Waste generation: Wastes are inevitable as they will be generated at every stage–from
production to consumption. Households, factories, industrial areas, institutions,
commercial areas, street sweeping, and other public utilities, for example, produce

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wastes. The detection of wastes is the most important feature of this section of the SWM
scheme.
2. Waste collection: This involves storing wastes and transporting them to a recycling
station, dump site, or recycling plant after a collection vehicle has been cleared. The
amount of waste disposal, the number of containers used, and the types of collection
systems affect waste collection. Waste collection is offered in a variety of management
arrangements, ranging from local to franchised services, as listed below:
 Transfer and transport
 The type of transport operation equipment, accessories, capacity, and environmental
specifications have an impact on the design of a transfer station
 Recovery and recycling
 Sorting
3. Waste storage: Since waste is never collected at its source, storage is a necessary
functional feature. The heterogeneous wastes generated in households must be taken
off within eight days because of a lack of storage space. Onsite storage is very critical
because of aesthetic consideration and public health. Some of the storage options used
are oil drums, plastic containers, used oil drums, big storage bins, etc.
4. Waste disposal: All solid wastes, including household wastes, agricultural wastes,
urban semi-solid wastes, incinerator residues, composts, or other items of no other
utility to a community, will eventually be disposed of. As a result, land serves as a
preparation area for landfill operations, being a prime determinant in their collection,
nature, and service. As a result, the final use of reclaimed land is one of the most
important practical aspects of SWM.

4.1 Landfills
Garbage is distributed in thin layers and enclosed with plastic form or clay in landfills. The
bottom of a modern landfill is covered with a water-proof liner, different layers of sand, clay,
and thick plastics. Because of the percolation of leachate, which is pumped and sent for
treatment, this impermeable liner serves as a barrier of protection for the groundwater.

When a landfill is completed, it is surrounded by grit, mud, asphalt, and topsoil to prevent
water from seeping in. Many wells are dug near landfills to see if there is any groundwater

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pollution due to leaks. Methane is created by anaerobic decomposition, and is extracted and
burned to generate heat or electricity. The principles for selecting a Sanitary Landfill Site are:
 It cannot be used in a rock quarry because water will leak through a water fracture
system through the cracks in rocks.
 It should not be put in gravels or sandpits because of their high leaching ability.
 It must not be situated in a flood plain. The bulk of a garbage is less compact than water,
but if it rains in a landfill, the garbage will rise to the surface and flow away
downstream.
 It should not be close to human and animal habitats as it may adversely affect the health
of living beings due to the emission of various types of gases while decomposing.

Landfill activities can have a number of detrimental effects. These consequences may include
fatal injuries, contamination, and infrastructure damage; the rotting of organic wastes create
methane, which is a hazard to residents; and a poorly built landfill harbours disease vectors
such as flies or rats.

Source: study.com
Fig 14: Sanitary landfills

4.2 Incineration
STUDY NOTE
Incineration refers to an act of burning something until only ashes
remain. An incinerator, which is a device or facility that burns A landfill is an area for
the disposal of solid
garbage and other forms of waste until it is reduced to ash, is a tool wastes as a method of
filling and excavation
used in this process. To avoid the release of excessive quantities of after a certain period.

exterior heat, an incinerator should be made of thick, well-

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insulated materials. The high temperatures of heat are retained in the furnace, which is used
to rapidly and effectively burn the waste.

If we don't regulate the heat, the waste in an incinerator won't burn as thoroughly. It is a
form of waste management, in which a large amount of solid organic wastes are subjected to
burning and converted into gaseous materials or residues. This method aids in 20 to 30
percent of the reduction of solid waste loads of their initial volume.

Incineration, also known as ‘thermal treatment’, is a heat-based waste treatment technique.

Wastes are converted into coal, fire, smoke, and steam in incinerators. Industries perform
incineration on a large scale, while individuals perform it on a smaller scale. Strong liquid
and gaseous wastes are all disposed in an incineration process. It is often used to dispose off
hazardous waste products in a practical way. Incineration is a contentious waste disposal
process because it results in the release of gaseous contaminants. These gases are hazardous
for life, due to which they cannot be reused as they are the smallest form of waste.

4.3 Composting
Since garbage capacity is scarce in major cities, biodegradable wastes (which is kept separate
from urban wastes) are permitted to decompose in a medium. To boost soil fertility and
conditions, environmentally sustainable and high-quality manure are mixed. Organic
matters account for 35 to 40 percent of India's urban solid wastes, which can be recycled
using this composting process.

In the Indian history, composting is one of the oldest ways for the disposal of waste. The
natural biological mechanism of organic waste decompositions creates manure or compost,
which is extremely nutrient-dense. Composting is a biological mechanism in which
microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria degrade food waste into a humus-like material.

This finished product, which resembles compost, is rich in carbon and nitrogen, making it a
perfect growing medium for plants. A composting process means that kitchen wastes should
not be dumped carelessly and left to rot, but it should be recycled as the nutrients from a
compost contributes nutrients to the soil. Composting will dramatically minimise discarded
waste, in addition to being clean, affordable, and safe.

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Instead of artificial fertilisers, we should continue to use organic fertilisers, which are safer
for crops. It enhances the soil's ability to absorb water while also making it easy to grow
crops. Composting helps in keeping a plant’s nutrients in the soil.

Vermicomposting has gained a lot of attention in the recent years. Worms are added to a
compost in this process, which aids in the breakdown of waste and also adds worm excreta,
which provides additional nutrients.

Every responsible citizen should aim to make a compost pit; the steps for doing so are as
follows.

 You must first pick a shady and cool spot in your garden or in your institution’s grounds,
and then dig a pit that is approximately 3 feet deep. For aerobic composting, this depth
is ideal.
 To prevent nitrite pollution of the highly radioactive subsoil water, the pit should be
lined with brick or granite. When you add an organic matter to the pit, make sure to
cover it with a thin layer of dirt or dry leaves. This encourages oxygen to penetrate the
pit, which helps to control the foul odour. After nearly 40 days, the rich pure organic
matter is available for use. Composting has many benefits, like:
 It increases the retaining power of plant nutrients.
 It provides the plants with vital nutrients.
 It aids in the reduction of the negative effects of high acidity, alkalinity, or chemical
fertilisers’ use.
 It makes it easy to farm soil.
 It aids in maintaining the soil's temperature.
 It aids in the prevention of soil erosion and the growth of weeds.

4.4 Recycling
Recycling is a method of converting garbage into something valuable. It reduces the volume
of garbage that needs to be handled by lowering the cost of handling and landfill disposals.
It also helps to save natural resources by lowering the amount of energy used to create new
materials. Upcycling and downcycling are two words for recycling.

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Upcycling a product entail updating it by various recycling systems. Making roads out of
cheap plastic is an example of upcycling. Downcycling is a practise of lowering the value of a
product by multiple recycling methods. Downcycling is a method of breaking down high-
quality plastics at high temperatures into lower-quality plastics, which can be used to
produce a range of products.

Source: community.materialtrader.com
Fig 15: Recycling

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 6

14. The most famous method of composting is ________________________.

15. We should use _________________________ when vermi-composing.
16. Incinerators should be made from the following things. Choose the correct
answer.
a) Conductors
b) Insulators
c) Both of these
d) None of these

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5. CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change has become one of the most critical and
STUDY NOTE
significant issues that have put the global environment at a risk.
Climate change, with time, will have several hazardous effects on The UN Framework
Convention solely aims at
the environment worldwide, socio-economic and other relevant stabilizing greenhouse gas
concentrations present in
sectors, including food security, water resources, human health, the atmosphere at a layer
that can limit dangerous
agriculture, coastal zones, biodiversity, and ecosystems. The interaction with the
alterations in rainfall patterns will further result in extreme climate system.

water shortages and even flooding. Climate change as a whole is

a severe threat to the citizens across the globe.

The melting of glaciers tends to cause soil erosion and flooding. Increasing temperatures will
further lead to changes in the crop growing seasons, which will impact food securities, and
even increase disease causing vectors like mosquitoes. This can put people’s health at an
extensive risk. The climate change crisis will make individuals more vulnerable to diseases
like dengue and malaria. Rising temperatures may simultaneously enhance extinction rates
for a wide range of species and habitats.

Climate change is a rather paradoxical matter. While several scientific details suggest that
the climate change crisis is an absolute threat to humanity and its future, the public
responses, and political discussions haven’t played their role in truly recognizing climate
change and its criticality.

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Source: iberdrola.com

Fig 15: Social and Economic Impact of Climate Change

Potential Causes of Recent Climate Change:

The recent climate change crisis is not a result of recent activities altogether. It is a result of
human activities from the last few decades. However, the potential causes of climate change
can be categorized into three elements – Natural internal climate mutability, natural effects
that force shifts, and man-made effects that force shifts.

Natural factors may be anything from the sun’s energy output, the presence of volcanic
elements in the stratosphere, and the earth’s orbit around the sun. Man-made factors,
however, are factors such as greenhouse gases, small particles like soiling effects of sulfates,
and so on.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 7

17. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions that often develop depends on
___________.
18. Compared to today’s condition, more greenhouse gases may warm us in the near
future.
[True/ False]

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5.1. Global Warming

In simple terms, global warming refers to the process of a gradual temperature increase near
the earth’s surface. This phenomenon has been in existence for the last two centuries, and
has severely affected the climate of the planet. There are over a multitude of causes of global
warming, and all these causes negatively impact the human species, animals, and even
plants. The factors responsible for global warming can either be the result of human
activities or due to natural circumstances. To reduce the phenomenon of global warming, it
is crucial that every individual understands the adverse impacts of global warming.

3.1 Effects of Global Warming

The prime effects of global warming are briefly explained below.
 Climate change: The most severe effect of global warming STUDY NOTE

is climate change. Global warming has resulted in a critical Asthma, allergies,

infections disease
impact on climatic conditions. Several places are outbreaks, etc., are prone
to become more
experiencing droughts, which is further causing a climatic widespread and common
due to the rise of pollen-
imbalance. producing parthenium,
increased levels of air
 Rise in Temperature: Global warming has also resulted in pollution, and the transfer
of conditions ideal to
an extensive rise in the temperature of the surface of the mosquitos and pathogens.

earth. Ever since 1880, the temperature of the earth has

increased by at least 1.1 degree Celsius. This has additionally caused a deliberate
increase in the melting of the glaciers. Due to this, there has been a rapid rise in the sea
level, and this can severely affect the coastal regions.
 The threat to the ecosystem: Global warming has adversely impacted the coral reefs,
which has resulted in the loss of animal and plant lives. A rise in the global temperature
has put coral reefers in a vulnerable position.
 Spread of diseases: Global warming has unfortunate and terrifying impacts on human
lives. With the alteration of heat and humidity patterns, global warming has put the
lives of humans at a greater risk. For instance, the rise in the temperatures because of
global warming also increases the population of mosquitoes, which puts humans in a
vulnerable environment.
 Loss of natural habitat: Due to the global shifting of the climate, there has been a
massive loss of animal and plant habitats – animals have been forced to migrate from

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their homes/natural habitats. On the other hand, some plants and animals have also
become extinct.
 Increased mortality rates: Due to the rise of tsunamis, floods, droughts, and other
natural calamities, the average death rate has rapidly increased, thereby hampering
human life as a whole.

3.2 Causes of Global Warming

1. Man-Made Causes: The prime man-made causes that have led to global warming are
briefly explained below.
 Chlorofluorocarbon: With extended use of refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.,
humans have increased chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the environment. This has
further affected the atmospheric ozone layer. The ozone layer plays a fundamental
role in securing the earth’s surface from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
 Deforestation: Plants are the most significant contributors of oxygen in the
atmosphere. They release oxygen by taking in carbon dioxide and thus maintain the
harmony of the environment. With the excessive rise of deforestation, the
environment is faced with an imbalance. Forests are being cut down or depleted for
a wide range of commercial and domestic purposes, thereby leading to global
warming.
 Agriculture: Several farming activities release methane gas and carbon dioxide,
which further contribute to the greenhouse gasses present in the atmosphere,
thereby raising the earth’s temperature.
 Industrial growth: The growth of industries has also given rise to global warming.
Industrialization has resulted in the rise of the temperature of the earth. Factories
emit harmful gases, thereby impacting the earth’s temperature severely.
 Overpopulation: Overpopulation is one of the most prime causes of global warming.
With more people breathing and living, there is a rise in the level of carbon dioxide.
An increase in population also means an increase in the resources used for sustenance
of a human life, which will further impact the global warming in one way or the other.
 Usage of Vehicles: Excessive use of vehicles results in the emission of a wide range
of gasses, thereby increasing the carbon dioxide gas content in the atmosphere.

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2. Natural Causes: The crucial natural causes of global warming are briefly explained
below.
 Water Vapor: Water vapor is recognized as a type of a greenhouse gas. With the rise
of the earth’s temperature, there is a rise in the evaporation from water bodies. This
process contributes to global warming.
STUDY NOTE
 Volcanic eruptions: Volcanic eruptions emit excessive
The ozone layer was
ash and smoke. This leads to an imbalance of the climate. discovered in 1913 by
Charles Fabry and Henri
 Forest fires: Forest fires or forest blazes secrete a Buisson, who were French
physicists.
broadened amount of carbon-containing smoke, which
further affect the temperature of the earth.
 Melting permafrost: Another natural cause of global warming is the melting of
permafrost. Permafrost is present where glaciers are situated. As the permafrost
melts, it excessively releases gases into the atmosphere, leading to the rise of the
earth’s temperature.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 8

19. Early snowmelt is not a cause of global warming. [True/ False]

20. Which of the following leads to the extinction of flora and fauna?
a) Improved weather condition
b) Advancement in agricultural activities
c) Improvement in the current habitat
d) Disruption of habitats like alpine meadows and coral reefs

5.2. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is recognized as one of the prime strata of the atmosphere. The ozone layer
consists of comparatively higher concentrations of O2 (oxygen). This layer absorbs over 93%
– 99% of the ultraviolet rays of the sun. About 91% of this layer is present in the earth’s
atmosphere. It is chiefly situated in the stratosphere’s lower portion, about 10 to 50 Kms
above the Earth. The thickness of this layer entirely depends on geographic and seasonal
factors.

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The ozone layer present in the stratosphere takes a a part of the sun’s radiation, thereby
limiting it from reaching the earth’s surface. The most fundamental characteristic of this
layer in the stratosphere is that it absorbs the ultraviolet rays of the Sun. Ultraviolet B (UVB)
is correlated to harmful effects like cataracts, skin cancers, and other critical effects on
marine life and crops.

Ozone concentrations present in the atmosphere primarily vary with seasons, sunspots, and
latitudes. These procedures are predictable and well analyzed. Every natural reduction that
occurs in the ozone layer has been monitored and assessed by a recovery. Back in 1970,
scientists found out that the ozone shield was exhausted above all natural processes.
Atmospheric concentrations of the ozone layer depend on the weather, altitude, latitude, and
even temperature. Such factors are also dependent on natural calamities like droughts and
volcanic eruptions, which impact the ozone levels.

'No natural phenomenon resulted in depletion of ozone levels'. The scientific evidence
suggested that a majority of the cause of the depletion of the ozone layer was due to man-
made impacts. These ozone-depleting elements were first established in the 1970s. The wide
use of consumer and industrial appliances like extinguishers, refrigerators, air conditioners,
and so on were found to be major factors that severely caused the depletion of the ozone
layer. When bromine and chlorine atoms blend with each other and are in contact with the
stratosphere’s ozone layer, they exhaust the ozone molecules.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 9

21. The depletion of the ozone layer is found in which layer of the atmosphere?
a) Lithosphere
b) Ionosphere
c) Stratosphere
d) None of the above
22. Which of the following causes the depletion of the ozone layer?
a) Chlorofluorocarbon
b) Methane
c) Carbon dioxide
d) Nitrous oxide

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5.3 Acid Rain

When fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, coal, etc., are burned, several chemicals like sulfur
trioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. are released into the air. One of the prime results
of air pollution is acid rain. It often occurs when factories, heating boilers, cars, and other
such elements emit gases into the atmosphere. When in contact with water, these gases
become sulphuric acid, sulfurous acid, and nitric acid. Such phenomena also occur when
natural calamities like volcanic eruptions take place.

5.1 Effects of Acid Rain

 Acid rains are one of the most critical factors that can affect agriculture, animals, and
even plants. It eradicates all the essential nutrients that are necessary for the survival
and development of plants. Acid rain impacts agriculture by changing the compositions
of a soil. It even causes respiratory issues among humans and animals.
 When acid rain flows down ponds and rivers, it impacts the aquatic ecosystem. Acid
rain changes a water body’s chemical composition and causes harm to an aquatic
ecosystem.
 Acid rains cause severe damage to monuments and buildings made up of metals and
stones.
 Acid rains erode water pipes. It then leads to the leaching of extensively heavy metals
like lead, iron, copper, etc., into drinking water.

Source: epa.gov

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Fig 16: Acid Rain Pathway

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 10

23. Which of the following occurs when emissions from cars and factories come in
contact with atmospheric water?
a) Burning of Fossil fuels
b) Ozone layer depletion
c) Acid Rain
d) None of the above
24. Acid rain erodes ______________________.

6. ENVIRONMENT LAWS
The environmental challenges faced by humanity (be it an individual, private companies,
communities, governments, etc.) all throughout the world are tremendous and complex.
Many civil societies, governments, and companies have come to realize that environmental
issues are strongly linked with social, economic, and cultural issues. To promote an economy,
most governments have recognized that the only path forward is by safeguarding human
health, their culture, and the environment. But due to decades of mismanagement of
environmental resources, there are legacy issues in most countries, which need to be
rectified.

Here is a glimpse of the global environmental problems in a nutshell:

 Water and air pollution STUDY NOTE
 Deforestation The history of
environmental laws goes
 Climate changes back as early as 80 AD,
when the senate of Rome
 Land and soil degradation aimed to secure clean
supply of drinking water
 Depletion of non-renewable energy sources in the city.

 Non-sustainable depletion of natural resources

 Environmental impacts of reservoirs and water abstraction
 Ocean and freshwater deoxygenation
 Persistent toxins and waste management
 Impacts of mining

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 Loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation and fragmentation

 Ozone depletion
 Pressure on the environment due to population explosion
 Nuclear risks

Many of the issues mentioned above transcend national and other administrative
boundaries. This nature of trans-boundary challenges makes it imperative that there are
management agreements and processes devised for decision-making. Environment
conservation needs laws around dispute resolutions that go beyond individual and national
borders. A socially acceptable and ecologically sustainable development requires the
creation of legal and administrative structures.

In the following sections we will look into some important environmental laws imposed in
India such as:
 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
 The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

6.1 Important Environmental Laws in India

The constitutional framework of India facilitates the conservation and protection of our
environment. The same is reflected in international commitments. In the constitution under
Part IV A (which is a part of Article 54 – Fundamental Duties), every person has the duty of
securing and enhancing the natural environment including forests, rivers, wildlife, and lakes.
The Article 51-A (g) Act says that the citizens of India must have compassion for all living
creatures around them. This is further strengthened by Article 48A (Directive Principles of
State Policies), Part IV by stipulating that the state will strive to improve, preserve, and
protect the environment by taking care of the wildlife and forests of the country.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF), along with CPSB (Central
Pollution Control Board) and SPCBs (State Pollution Control Board) has laid down the
following important environmental legislations:

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 The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: This Act protects wildlife that includes plants, wild
animals, birds, and other species. This act’s objectives are as listed below:
o Killing, capturing, poisoning, or trapping wild animals is prohibited
o Hunting is prohibited
o Wildlife habitats are to be protected and managed
o Protected areas for wildlife should be established
o Management of zoos
o The trade of products that are derived from wildlife should be regulated and
controlled
o No part of a wild animal’s body can be destroyed, injured, or removed
o For reptiles and wild birds, the act forbids disturbing or damaging their eggs.
o This act opposes taxidermy

This Act has provisions for the formation of wildlife wardens and advisory boards and
specifies their powers and duties. The National Board for Wildlife is an Advisory Board
constituted as a statutory organization under the provisions of the Wildlife protection Act. It
is the apex body for reviewing and approving all matters pertaining to development and
conservation of forests and wildlife. Agencies like the police, CBI, Customs, and the forest
departments can punish offenders of this protection Act.

 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: It is also known as the
‘Water Act’ and was established to ensure the prevention of water pollution and restore
the wholesomeness of water all through the country. The objectives of this act are:
o Penalties are laid down if this law is violated.
o The CPSB is at the center of the Water Act, which forms the foundation for
controlling and preventing water pollution.
o The SPCBs function under the supervision of the state government and the CPSB.
In 1977, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act decided to levy a
certain tax on people who consume water for carrying out specific types of industrial
activities. This tax aims at augmenting CPSB and SPSBs’ resources to implement the
Water Act. The Water Act was last amended in the year 2003.
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: It provides control,
inhibition, and mitigation of air pollution. It also provides for the establishment of

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Boards in order to carry out the objectives of this Act. Air pollutants can be in any form
– solid, liquid, and gas, which are present in such a concentration in the air that it can
prove to be harmful to the well-being of humans and other living creatures.
 The Environment Protection Act, 1986: It aims at enhancing and protecting the
environment. Under this Act, a framework is provided on how to study, plan, and
implement long-term requirements of environment safety. Here are the salient features
of this Act:
o The environment consists of air, water, plants, and the land and their inter-
relationships amongst themselves as well as human beings, animals,
microorganisms, and property.
o It sets standards for the discharge and emission of pollutants in the atmosphere by
people who carry out industrial activities.
o It regulates where an industry can be located.
o Lays down rules of managing hazardous wastes.
o Any non-compliance with this Act is punishable and a person can be in jail for up to
5 years or pay a fine of INR 1, 00,000 (or both).
o If the punishable act is continued even after the conviction of the act is over, then
an additional charge of INR 5000 per day is levied on an offender for as long as the
contravention of the Environment Act continues.
 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: It provides for the creation of the National
Green Tribunal (a specialized judicial body that has the expertise solely for adjudicating
citation related with the environment of the country). The Tribunal was set up based
on the recommendations from the Law Commission of India, the Supreme Court of
India, and India's International law obligations. The need for the tribunal arose from
the fact that environmental cases are best addressed in a specialized forum since these
cases involve multi-disciplinary issues. The Tribunal addresses issues related to the
conservation of forests (and other natural resources) and environmental protection. It
also enforces any legal rights related to the environmental protection. The key features
of the tribunal are:

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o The orders passed by the Tribunal are binding and it has

STUDY NOTE
the right to grant relief to the affected parties in the form
Convention on
of compensations. International Trade in
Endangered Species
o The tribunal is present in 5 zones in India – the North, (CITES) is a multilateral
treaty, which aims to
Central, East, South, and the West protect endangered plants
and animals. The Wildlife
o ○The principal tribunal bench is located in the North Protection Act helped India
become a part of CITES.
Zone with its headquarter in New Delhi.
o The central zone bench of the Tribunal is in Bhopal, South Zone in Chennai, East zone
in Kolkata, and West Zone in Pune.
o The head of the Tribunal is its chairperson who sits at the principal bench and it has
at least 10 members (but not more than 20).
o The subjects that the Tribunal deals with are: STUDY NOTE

 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Vienna Convention on
the law of treaties, held in
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1969 contains the
definitions for the
1977. international treaties.

 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
o The Tribunal’s decisions can be cited in the Supreme Court within 90 days of a
decision.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 11

25. The ______________________ ensures that any compliance with the act is a
punishable offence and a person can be in jail for up to 5 years or pay a fine of
INR 1, 00,000.
26. Which of the following acts restricts hunting?
a) Environment Protection Act
b) National Green Tribunal Act
c) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
d) Wildlife Protection Act
27. Who is responsible for testing the air quality in pollution control areas?
a) State pollution control board
b) The central pollution control board
c) Police in the area
d) The Forest department

7. INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
International agreements are signed between two or more participating countries, who
formalize certain understandings and commitments on a specific issue. A ‘bilateral’
agreement is an agreement where only two countries are involved, whereas a ‘multilateral’
agreement is established between many countries. A treaty is a legally binding agreement
between countries, based on international law.

Many Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) at the international level have been
introduced in the past. These agreements aim to create cooperation between its members
by creating procedures and rules that are based on international laws. Some of the important
international agreements that India has signed are outlined below.

 The Antarctic Treaty (Washington, 1959): This treaty had the aim to keep the
Antarctic a peaceful zone and to prevent it from being an object of international discord.
The treaty covers the range area of the south of 60 degrees S Latitude, which is called
the ATA (Antarctic Treaty Area). According to this treaty, there can be no territorial
claims or military activities in this region. It also imbibes the freedom of scientific
inquiry with international cooperation in scientific undertakings. India signed the
Antarctic treaty in 1983 as a CEL (Consultative party member).

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 Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987: Famously
known as the Montreal Protocol, it aims at reducing the production and consumption
of ODS (Ozone-depleting substances). The protocol also identifies countries that
produce more ODS than other countries, and recognizes that nations should reduce
ODS (in terms of technological and financial abilities). This protocol came into force in
1989 and was adopted by India in 1992. The MoEF has formed an Ozone cell to
supplement the Montreal Protocol. The cell comprises a steering committee to
implement the India country program.
 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 1992: In an endeavor to
regulate and contain greenhouse gas emissions, the UNFCCC sought international
cooperation through this agreement. This framework aimed to bring down the
emission of greenhouse gases to a level that the consequences of the change in climate
and global warming are offset. India became part of the convention in 1992, and ratified
it in 1993. At the time of the convention, India was a developing nation (according to
the UNFCCC) and not bound to commitments to mitigate greenhouse emissions. But
this changed after the Paris agreement in 2015 and India commits, under the UNFCCC,
to take part in multilateral negotiations. India has shown leadership in this
commitment with policy frameworks like NEP (National Environment Policy) and
NAPCC (National Action Plan on Climate Change).
 Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992: It is an enforceable framework geared
towards conserving biodiversity. The convention was put in force in 1993 and has a set
of complex requirements to promote a sustainable way of using biological resources
and preserve natural habitats. In article 6 of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), nations that are part of the convention are instructed to form national strategies
and programs for the conservation of biodiversity. In 2002, India passed the Biological
Diversity Act, which provides a legal framework for addressing concerns regarding
biodiversity in the country.
 UN Convention on Desertification, 1994: This convention seeks the participation of
local users of land and non-governmental organizations to alleviate desertification and
its effects. India, along with 7 South Asian countries, has signed this convention with a
regional action program to combat desertification issues and address them in drought-
prone areas.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 12

18. A ____________________________ international agreement is an agreement between

more than two countries.
19. Which amongst the following protocols deals with the origination and
ingestion of ODS (Ozone-depleting substances)?
a) The Antarctic Treaty
b) The Montreal Protocol
c) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
d) Convention on Biological Diversity
20. Why do we need international agreements for the environment?
a) An international agreement has more value than a national agreement.
b) The harmful effects on the environment are not restricted to a specific
country and it is not in isolation.
c) An international environmental agreement can be enforced while national
ones are not binding.
d) International agreements put more pressure on participating countries to
enforce an agreement.

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8. CASE STUDY
DELHI POLLUTION, INDIA
Back in 2011, an examination by the Center of Science and Environment (CSE) has affirmed
that New Delhi is the most intense city in India. The level of noise in the roads can go over
110 decibels, which is a few times louder than Singapore. The noise level has arrived at
hazardous levels, past the suggested rules of 50-55 decibels for private zones.

Delayed openness to this degree of commotion has brought about the expansion of danger
in hearing misfortune for the residents. As per the studies, the normal age of residents in
New Delhi are 12 years older in terms of hearing, which implies they are at more serious
danger of losing their hearing in their 50s or mid-60s.

The uproarious noise is frequently created by the honking of cars, which means changes in
behavior and attitude can decrease the key source of the noise. Though, this is an obstacle as
the habit of honking is ingrained into their everyday routine.

The roads of New Delhi are shared by people, vehicles, cyclists, individuals, and many more.
Traffic on the roads is very heavy, thus the use of honk of an approaching vehicle is necessary
to warn people. As this concerns individual security, the honking behavior will be a strong
internal hurdle as the drivers can't just quit honking.

Source: Article from The Times of India newspaper

Discussion Questions:
Q1. Being a General Manager to control noise pollution, what activities according to you can
the state of Delhi restrict to reduce noise pollution?

Q2. Highlight the sources and the impact of noise pollution discussed in the above case.

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9. SUMMARY
 Noise pollution refers to high-level sounds that irritate living organisms' hearing
capacity. It can result from machines, high music, and elevated vehicle sounds. Noise
pollution is a disturbance that causes severe health hazards and environmental
problems and should be controlled.
 Noise pollution refers to the undesired and unpleasant sounds that are hindering
modern day development and disrupting the activity and stability of animal and human
life.
 Noise pollution is usually produced in some workplaces and industrial facilities and
comes from aeroplane traffic, construction activities, trains, highway traffic, and heavy
vehicles. It affects the well-being and comfort of all living creatures, both ashore and in
the ocean, from road traffic noise to live concerts; many sounds cause stress,
hypertension, and hearing activities.
 Various measures can be taken to reduce the level of noise like covering noise
delivering machines, leaving behind sound-retaining materials to check noise creation;
installing noisy machines in sound verification chambers; using silencers to control
noise from autos; designing, manufacturing, and utilizing calmer machines to supplant
the uproarious ones; and proper oiling and better support of machines.
 To lessen noise pollution, one must use earplugs at construction sites. In addition,
soundproof windows and doors need to be installed to prevent unwanted noise from
outside. Finally, an effortless way to decrease strong sound waves and vibrations is by
using barriers like planting trees around buildings, houses, and companies.
 Any undesirable or unusable thing is called a waste.
 Developing industrialisation has led to the generation of more waste.
 Wastes are inevitable; however, we should know how to manage the waste in our
environment.
 There are various types of wastes, and they are classified on the basis of their origin.
 Municipal solid wastes are a type of waste that are generated from household activities
and industrial activities.
 There is a need to create public awareness to think about the proper disposal of wastes.
 Proper waste disposal methods should be designed.

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 Landfills, incineration, recycling, composting are different methods used for disposing
waste.
 The earth’s climate has drastically changed in the past few decades. Climate change is
real and visible in temperature, wind patterns, precipitations, and others.
 Global warming is the rise of the average world temperature as a result of the
greenhouse effect.Global warming adversely impacts ecosystems through water
shortages, temperature increases, raised fire threats, droughts, insects and pests
upsurge, severe storm damage, and salt invasion, among many others.Global warming
is caused by natural causes like forest fires, glacier melting, volcanic eruption, etc., and
human activities like deforestation, industrial growth, farming, burning of fossil fuels,
overpopulation, etc.
 The depletion of the ozone layer refers to the increase in the amount of ultraviolet (UV)
rays that enter the surface of the earth.
 Acid rains greatly affect agriculture, animals, and even plants. It drains aluminum from
the soil that may be dangerous for plants and animals. It also eliminates nutrients and
minerals from the soil that plants and trees need for their growth.
 Environmental laws are based on the following principles:
o The precautionary principle: This principle states that if an activity has a high
probability of causing environmental damages, it must be controlled immediately
rather than looking for empirical proofs.
o The prevention principle: Most of the environmental legislations are passed after a
catastrophe has occurred. But preventing a hazardous situation is a much cheaper
and wiser decision than reacting or managing a disaster or harm, which has already
been done.
o The ‘Polluter pays’ Principle: This environmental regulation forces a producer to bear
the cost of pollution.
o The integration principle: This principle says that all the concerns of environmental
safety should be fully considered while decisions on any activity are taken.
o The public participation principle: When a decision is taken regarding environmental
protection, it is often done by integrating public opinion on a particular matter.
 Some of the important environmental laws in India are:

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o The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: This act protects wildlife, which includes plants,
wild animals, birds, and other species.
o The Water (Prevention And Control Of Pollution) Act, 1974: It is also called the “Water
Act” and was established to ensure water pollution is prevented and controlled with
the wholesomeness of water restored all throughout the country.
o The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: It provides control, security,
and preservation from air pollution.
o The Environment Protection Act, 1986: The Environment Act aims at enhancing and
safeguarding the environment.
o The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010: It provides the development of the National
Green Tribunal (a specialized judicial body that has the expertise solely for
adjudicating cases related to the environment in the country). The need for the
tribunal arose from the fact that environmental cases are best addressed in a
specialized forum, since these cases involve multi-disciplinary issues.
 International agreements are signed between two or more participating countries and
understandings and commitments on a specific issue are formalized.

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10. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. How do agricultural machines contribute to noise pollution?

Q2. Mr Frank's family wants to purchase a house. They have been offered two houses, one
facing a busy street and another away from the busy road. If you were Mr Frank, which house
would you recommend to your family to purchase? Justify the answer with a suitable reason.

Q3. Name the top 6 effects of climate change.

Q4. List the top 5 causes of global warming.

Q5. What is the prime gas that destroys the ozone layer?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. 'Constant interference of noise or unwanted sound in the environment influences human
health.' Explain.

Q2. Explain the main sources of noise pollution.

Q3. Why it is important to dispose waste properly?

Q4. How is acid rain harmful?

Q5. Explain the need for international environmental agreements.

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11. ANSWERS
Self-Assessment Questions
1. Decibels
2. D. All of the above
3. Sound
4. False
5. D. Both A. & B.
6. D. All of the above
7. B. Musical instruments
8. D. Both A. & C.
9. A. Micro-organism
10. Recycled
11. Materials with lead, mercury
12. Hazardous
13. Agriculture
14. Vermicomposting
15. Organic fertilizers
16. Insulator
17. Energy use, new technologies, population growth, and so on.
18. True
19. False
20. D. Disruption of habitats like alpine meadows and coral reefs
21. C. Stratosphere
22. A. Chlorofluorocarbon
23. C. Acid rain
24. Water pipes
25. Environment Protection Act
26. D. Wildlife Protection Act
27. A. State pollution control board
28. Multilateral
29. B. The Montreal Protocol

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30. B. The harmful effects on the environment are not restricted to a specific country and
it is not in isolation.

Terminal Questions
Short Answer Questions
Answer 1: Agricultural practices have become mechanized due to the technological
revolution. As a result, several machines and tools such as drillers, tractors, harvesters,
powered tillers, thrashers, and tube wells are used for farming, causing heavy noise
pollution.

Answer 2: I would recommend purchasing the house far away from the busy road. As houses
facing busy streets will have a lot of noise and air pollution, houses away from busy roads
will have less traffic and less noise. The concentration of noise reduces with the decrease in
the distance between the receiver and the source.

Answer 3: Effects of Climate change:

 Increase in maximum temperatures
 Increase in minimum temperatures
 A rise in ocean temperatures
 Increase in sea levels
 Shrinking glaciers
 Thawing permafrost

Answer 4: The top 5 causes of global warming include:

 Agricultural activities
 Industrial activities
 Deforestation
 Natural calamities
 Variations in the intensity of the sun.

Answer 5: Ozone depletion destroys the ozone layer. When bromine and chlorine atoms are
exposed to the ozone layer in the stratosphere, they harm and further destroy the ozone
molecules.

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Long Answer Questions

Answer 1: Noise Pollution can be hazardous to human health in the subsequent manners:
 High Blood Pressure: High noise levels raise blood pressure and pulse rates, making
humans susceptible to heart attacks. In addition, noise pollution causes heart attacks
due to sleep interference.
 Loss of Hearing Ability: Continuous exposure to loud noise beyond the acceptable
range of sound can harm the eardrums, thus resulting in hearing loss. Hearing
impairment induced by noise pollution causes temporary or permanent deafness.
 Disturbance: Effects of noise pollution include not only disturbed sleep but also affects
mental health. Some psychological effects of noise pollution are losing peace of mind,
depression, stress, getting irritated more frequently, anxiety, waking too early, and so
on. Lack of concentration can also be examined due to unwanted sounds and noise.

Answer 2: The sources of noise pollution are as follows:

 Social events: Weddings, festivals, public gatherings, and occasions involve
loudspeakers playing music, thus producing unwanted noise in the surroundings. The
administration and concerned authorities have issued certain rules restricting music in
high volumes. However, people do not follow such rules, creating a huge nuisance.
 Fireworks: Indian festivals such as Diwali, Dussehra, marriages, and so on use
fireworks for celebrations. Bursting firecrackers is a health hazard and creates noise
pollution. The noise produced is hazardous and can sometimes lead to non-recoverable
hearing loss.
 Defence equipment: Military aeroplane drills, artillery tanks, explosions, rocket
launching, and shooting practices are serious noise polluters. Likewise, the sounds of
jet engines produce deafening impacts.

Answer 3: It is important to dispose waste properly because the ill disposal of waste can
lead to a number of effects like:
 Soil Contamination: Contamination happens when toxic components are buried or
spilled in dirt. As a result, we must exercise caution when treating liquid hydrocarbons,
solvents, chemicals, heavy metals, and lead.

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 Air contamination: Hazardous wastes, such as bleach and acids, must be disposed off
safely and only in designated bins with clearly labelled labels. The ozone layer is
affected by the burning of papers and plastics in landfills, which releases chemicals and
methane.
 Water contamination: Hazardous wastes in the atmosphere seep deep into the earth,
eventually contaminating groundwater, and is used for a variety of purposes including
drainage and drinking.
 Bad impact on human health: Inadequate waste management may have a major effect
on the health of the people who live near contaminated areas or landfills. Landfills
facility stakeholders are also at a higher risk.

Answer 4: Acid rain is extremely harmful and hazardous to forests. It seeps into the ground
and can further dissolve nutrients like calcium and magnesium. These nutrients are required
by plants to stay healthy and grow. Acid rain can moreover release aluminum into the soil.
This can hinder the growth of trees and get in the way of trees absorbing water.

Answer 5: Since the human-induced effects on the environment are profound, they need to
be measured and an assessment of the performance of processes involved is needed. The
harmful effects on the environment are not restricted to a specific country and it is not in
isolation. Hence, these far-reaching effects affect the earth in complex ways, and there is a
need for some level of organization that is not just local or national but is formed at an
international level. This organization must bring about a sense of how human beings can
approach ecological processes. Laws of international agreements must be initiated by an
international organization, which aims at seeking the cooperation of diverse participants
irrespective of their concerns or agendas.

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12. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND E-REFERENCES

BOOKS:
 Wang, L. K., & Pereira, N. C., 1st Edition. Air and Noise Pollution Control. The Humana
Press, Clifton, New Jersey.
 Agarwal, S. K., (2015). Noise Pollution. APH Publishing.
 Rajagopalan, R. (2016), Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure, Oxford University
Press.
 De, A. K. (2007), Environmental Studies, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi.
 Bhatia, S.C., 1st Edition (2007). Noise Pollution and its Control. Atlantic Publishers and
Distributors (P) Ltd.

E-REFERENCES:
 Noise Pollution | Environmental Pollution Centers, viewed on August 13, 2022, <
https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/noise-pollution/#:~:text=Noise%
20pollution%20is%20generally%20defined%20as%20regular%20exposure,of%20h
ow%20long%20or%20consistent%20the%20exposure%20is. >
 Delhi Noise Pollution, viewed on August 15, 2022, < https://timesofindia.indiatimes.
com/city/delhi/dpcc-to-add-26-stations-to-check-noise-levels-in-capital/articlesho
w/72420983.cms >
 Principles Of Environmental Law, viewed on 16th March, 2021,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/environmental-law/Principles-of-environmental-
law.
 Environment and Ecology By Majid Husain for Civil Services Examination, viewed on
8th March, 2021, <https://freenotes.in/environment-and-ecology-by-majid-husain-
download-pdf/>

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BACHELOR OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

SEMESTER 1

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

Unit 7
Human Communities and the Environment

Table of Contents
Fig No /
SL SAQ /
Topic Table / Page No
No Activity
Graph
1 Introduction - -
4-5
1.1 Learning Objectives - -
2 Human Population Growth - 1
2.1 Aspects of Population that Affect
- - 6-9
Environment
2.2 Factors Affecting Population Growth - -
3 Human Health and Welfare - 2, I
10-12
3.1 Government Family Welfare Programme - -
4 Resettlement and Rehabilitation - 3
4.1 Causes for Displacement of People - -
13-16
4.2 Issues with Resettlement - -
4.3 Objectives of Resettlement - -
5 Disaster Management - 4
5.1 Types of Disasters - - 17-21
5.2 Four Aspects of Disaster Management - -
6 Environmental Ethics - 5
6.1 Environmental and Ethical Philosophies - - 22-24
6.2 Types of Environmental Ethics - -
7 Environmental Communication and Public
- 6
Awareness
7.1 Why do we Need Environmental
- -
Communication? 25-27
7.2 Important Advocacy Campaigns and
- -
Landmarks
7.3 Organisations for Climate Movements - -
8 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - 7 28-33

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8.1 History of Environmental Impact

- -
Assessment
8.2 Contents of EIS (Environmental
- -
Impact Statement)
8.3 EIA Methodology 1 -
9 Summary - - 33-36
10 Glossary - - 37
11 Case Study - - 38-39
12 Terminal Questions - -
40-43
12.1 Answer Keys - -
13 Suggested Books and E-References - - 44-45

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1. INTRODUCTION
The word ‘population’ has its origin in the Latin word ‘populus’, which means people. A
population is used to describe a group of individual species who inhabit a definite and same
geographic area at a given time.

A population is a dynamic entity, and recent years have seen massive changes in birth rates
and population growth across countries and continents. The global population is now
growing by more than 80 million in a year, and is estimated to grow till the rest of this
century.

Human societies have few fundamental aspects like the size of a population, the composition
of the people in it, and the rate of the growth of a population. All these aspects and trends of
a population affect economic prosperity, education, health, crime patterns, family structures,
cultures, languages, etc in India.

Let us look at some terms and definitions related to population before we delve into it in
detail.
• Population growth rate: At any given time, the change in population per unit area is
called population growth. The formula for finding the growth rate is given by:

Population growth rate = (Population at the end of the time period - Population at the
beginning of the time period)/Population at the beginning of the time period

• Population density: The number of people residing in per unit area or unit volume of
an environment gives the population density of that environment.
• Carrying capacity: The maximum number of populations that can be organized by the
available resources of an environment is termed as a carrying capacity.
• Demography: This is a study of human populations. Demography draws insight from
multiple disciplines like history, economics, statistics, sociology, biology, medicine, and
anthropology.
• Closed population: A population where there are no emigrations and no immigrations.
Additions and reductions in such a population can happen only by births and deaths,
respectively.

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• Overpopulation: This happens when the population of a place exceeds its carrying
capacity that its environment has.
• Doubling time: The time required to double the size of a population is referred to as
doubling time period.

The primary parameters that affect trends in a population are:

• Natality (Birth rate): The number of new born per thousand persons in a given year
constitutes the birth rate of a population.
• Death rate: The number of deaths per thousand persons in a year with a possible count
is termed as the death rate of a population.
• Immigration: When people arrive in a population from neighbouring regions, it is called
immigration.
• Emigration: When people migrate or disperse from their original population area to a
new area, it is called emigration.

We will now look into where the human population stands today and the reasons for the
tremendous growth in population. We will also consider how this population trend affects
human welfare and the various measures taken by the governments to control and manage
growing populations. STUDY NOTE
The UN has projected that the
1.1 Learning Objectives global population would be
9.7 billion in 2050, and by
After studying this chapter, you will be able to: 2100, we will be 10.9 billion in
size.

❖ Explain the meaning of population and other terms

surrounding this concept.
❖ Define the various reasons for population growth and how it affects our environment.
❖ Explain the different measures taken by the governments to slow down the population
explosion.
❖ Describe resettlement and rehabilitation of populations and issues around them.
❖ Explain why we need environmental communication and maintain environmental ethics.
❖ Describe what disasters are and how they can be caused.

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2. HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH

The world population stands at 7.3 billion people as per the data collected in the year 2015.
This means that we have more than 7 billion bodies that need food, clothes, education, jobs,
entertainment, etc. Apart from the enormous resources to maintain so many lives, we also
have vast amounts of waste being produced and disposed every day. As a result, the increase
in human population affects the environment mainly by two ways:
• Resources such as land, fossil fuels, water, air, food, minerals, etc. are being consumed
in huge quantities.
• The massive production of waste products, air and water pollutants, greenhouse gases,
and many other toxic materials are pervading our ecosystem.

Apart from the size of a population, another issue is the issue about what is happening within
a given population. The population distribution (migration, urbanisation, density, etc.),
population composition (age, gender, income levels, etc.), and their consumption patterns
also play an equal role in affecting our environment adversely. We shall look at these issues
closely now.

2.1 Aspects of Population that Affect the Environment

It is not enough to focus solely on a population’s number to get a clear picture of what is
happening around us. We must understand the multifaceted relationship between human
communities and the ecosystem.

• Population size: We are all aware of the fact that with

STUDY NOTE
growing populations, there will not be enough fertile land
The amount of
to produce food, forests, fisheries, or drinking water. The environmental resources
consumed in the last 50
human carrying capacity of the earth has been a matter of years is more than what the
whole of humanity
debate for hundreds of years. There is still non consensus consumed before that
period.
over and how many is too many and it has a wide range
from 500 million humans to more than a trillion.

The huge variability in the carrying capacity of the earth is because scientists do not agree
on the accuracy of the methods that are used to determine these numbers. The consumption
of resources has huge variations across the globe. If everyone on the Earth consumed

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resources at the same rate, then the carrying capacity of the Earth could be only 2 billion. But
if people consumed only as much as needed to survive, the Earth could support a much larger
number of human lives.

• Population Distribution: The manner in which a population is distributed also affects

the ecosystem. For instance, the birth rates in developing countries are more than that
in the developed countries due to less access to education and family planning as well
as high poverty levels. This rapid growth in the population of developing countries adds
more pressure on the environmental resources.
• Population Composition: If there are more young people in an environment, there are
higher chances of their migration to urban areas, which will result in an intensification
of urban environmental concerns. Currently, India has the highest percentage of youth
in urban cities. Another part of this component is an uneven distribution of incomes,
which puts pressure on the environment.

To survive, the poorest people resort to using resources in unsustainable ways like burning
tires, rubbish, plastics, etc. To feed their families, the poorer population may also be forced
to deplete forests or animal populations. On the other side of the spectrum are the rich, who
consume large proportions of resources by driving cars, living in big houses, and other
environment unfriendly lifestyle choices.

• Population Consumption: Governments and advertisers in many developed countries,

in their pursuit to increase their economy, have promoted a culture where the pattern
of consumption and production has become unsustainable. It has gotten imbibed
deeply in their culture to own bigger homes, buy commodities for luxury, own a faster
and costlier car, etc. These are seen as signs of success in these nations, but this pattern
has a negative impact both on our environment and or our emotional wellbeing. This
kind of production leads to excessive usage of energy and the release of excess toxins
and pollution. The impacts of such high consumptions of energy are not only confined
to the local areas where the energy is consumed, but its impacts are felt globally in the
form of increase in the CO2 levels or the depletion of the ozone layer. The ecological
footprints of developed countries are much bigger in size than that of developing
countries.

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2.2 Factors Affecting Population Growth

Overpopulation has many reasons attached to it; some of the most prominent ones are
briefly explained below.
• High birth rates and reduced death rates: With the development in the world of
medicines and technology, the standard of living has significantly improved. There are
many immunisations, antibiotics, clean water, air, and better food production available
to people, which has increased their longevity. The rate of birth is higher than the death
rate, ultimately leading to more people alive in a given region.
• Social customs, beliefs, literacy level, and needs: In some parts of the world where the
literacy rate is low, people are not well informed about the benefits of having fewer
children. Some need more children so that their offspring can help them in agriculture,
growing crops, or other fieldwork. Some are bound by the desire to have a male child,
so they keep bearing children till they have a boy in their family.
• Public health programs: Many government health programs have improved the living
conditions and life expectancy of people.
• Fertility rates: Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is defined as the
STUDY NOTE
number of children a woman can give birth to, in a lifetime.
The highest Total
Some countries experience rapid population growth Fertility Rate in the
world is 4.6, which is in
temporarily with an increase in the average fertility rates sub-Saharan Africa.
of women of that country. After that rapid growth, the TFR
comes down. Currently, the average global fertility rate is 2.5 children per woman. In
the pre-modern era, the average fertility rate used to be 6.5 to 7 children, and the
decline in this rate can be attributed to education and increasing labour market
participation, which has empowered women so that they can exercise their rights in
deciding how many kids they want to have. Another reason for the lowering in the
fertility rates is the rising cost of bringing up children.
• Decline in Maternal mortality rate (MMR) and Infant mortality rate (IMR): IMR and
MMR have declined all around the world due to the availability of more health centres
and health programs. The infant mortality rate is the number of children under 1 year
of age dying per 1,000 live births in a particular year.

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• Rise in food production: After the World War II, there has been a steep rise in food
production with the advent of the green revolution.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 1

1. Based on the discussions above, which of the following is not an aspect of

population that affects our environment?
a) Population consumption pattern
b) Population Composition
c) Population Distribution.
d) The male and female ratio in a population.
2. How does a younger composition of a population affect environment?
a) A younger population consumes more food, which puts pressure on the
environment.
b) A younger population takes up more jobs, which contributes to
environmental pollution.
c) A younger population is more likely to migrate to cities for jobs, which
will intensify urban environmental concerns.
d) Young people are more negligent towards environmental degradation.
3. The term that defines the number of kids that a woman can possibly bear in
a lifetime is______________.
4. The decline in death rates is one of the reasons for the rise in population.
[True/False]

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3. HUMAN HEALTH AND WELFARE

Human welfare in a nutshell means health, happiness, good fortune, and prosperity of
individuals, groups, communities, etc. Human welfare is closely related to their health, which
is inseparably intertwined with the environment. Population growth, aging population,
urbanisation, migration patterns, etc. pose severe challenges to the overall wellbeing of the
world's population. Amongst all these reasons, population growth coupled with a disparity
in population distribution is one of the biggest reasons for the degradation in health and
well-being.

Human health impacts the economic development of a country in the form of market failures
and distortions. The advancement in technology, use of fertilizers and pesticides have
degraded the environment and caused several health issues. Environmental pollution causes
millions of deaths every year. The major factors influencing human health are briefly
discussed below.

• Malnutrition: WHO (World health organization)

STUDYNOTE
published a report in 2005 that defined overpopulation
In 2019, a bill called the
as the breaking down of the ecological balance due to a ‘Population Control Bill’ was
proposed in the Indian
population’s size exceeding the carrying capacity of its parliament and signed by 125
members of the parliament. This
environment. Such a situation results in a weakened bill is yet to become an act of law.
The bill states that people who
food production system. With less food, there is opt for a smaller family will be
given incentives in the form of
inadequate food consumption and people suffer from tax relaxations, free education,
employment, etc.
malnutrition. The WHO had also cautioned in 2011 that
dangerous strains of man-made viruses are likely to cause a huge count of deaths in the
future since a lot of people have weakened immune systems, owing to malnutrition.
• Migration: Population growth can make job opportunities a struggle for people, which
results in their migration to other countries that have better job prospects. Migration
causes ‘brain drain’, which means that there may be a lack of access to skilled healthcare
workers in certain areas from where they have migrated.
• Easy spread of diseases: When the population in a certain area increases, it becomes
easier for infectious airborne illnesses to propagate fast and wide. In 2012, there were
8.6 million cases of tuberculosis.

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• Water pollution: Overpopulation pollutes the water supply at a faster rate.

3.1 Government Family Welfare Programme

India was the first country in the world that launched a family planning program in 1951 to
control the population growth of the country. Many pilot activities were done during this
family welfare program, which were geared towards helping women who were at risk of
unwanted pregnancies. The slogan of this program was ‘We two, ours two’ (hum do, hamare
do). The government utilised all forms of modern as well as traditional communication
systems to propagate and develop social support for this program.

The main objectives of this program were to:

• Reduce fertility to slow down population explosion. The program aims to bring down
the TFR in India to 2.1.
• Provide clinical and educational services to remote villages to help couples decide and
choose how many children they want to have and when.
• The program also provides information on how to manage birth spacing, control birth,
and proper healthcare for a mother and her new born.
• The program has also reduced the number of illegal abortions in a year and reduced
the rate of deaths due to pregnancy. Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is the number of
women who die per 100,000 live births in a given time period. The major reasons for
MMR have been identified as toxaemia (Hypertension
during pregnancy), haemorrhage (both ante and STUDY NOTE

postpartum), puerperal sepsis (infections after Malnutrition has increased by

37% from the year 1950 to 2007
delivery), anaemia, obstructed labour, and unsafe and is one of the main reasons
for the deaths of 6 million
abortion haemorrhage. These deaths can be prevented children in a year.

if:
o Good antenatal care is provided.
o There is timely identification of pregnant women who have complications related to
their pregnancy, and are referred to healthcare professionals.
o Timely provision of emergency obstetric care

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Activity 1
Collect the maternal mortality rate and malnutrition rate of your state for the last five
years. Check for the programmes initiated by your government to control the
prevailing rates and assess the success of these programmes using the data collected.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 2

5. One of the aims of the family welfare program launched in India is to reduce
TFR. [True/False]
6. The name of the proposed bill in the Indian Parliament in 2019 that aims at
controlling population is __________.
7. According to the ‘Human Health and Welfare’ section that was discussed, an
aging population affects the environment because:
a) Older people are not aware of sanitation rules.
b) Older people tend to contaminate the environment more.
c) The elderly consume more resources and put pressure on the
environment.
d) The elderly are more likely to suffer from disease like diabetes, arthritis,
heart diseases, dementia, etc., which puts pressure on the healthcare
system.
8. What is maternal mortality rate?
a) Number of women who can bear children at any given time.
b) The number of women who die every year.
c) The number of women who die per 100,000 live births, in a given time
period.
d) The number of women who give stillbirths every year.

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4. RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION

Due to natural and human-caused disasters, people are forced
STUDY NOTE
to move out of their original land. For instance, when a
One of the recent nuclear
disasters has been the Tsunami happened in South Asia in 2004, or the massive
‘Fukushima nuclear disaster’
in Japan, which forced many earthquake that happened in Latur and Gujrat, and many other
people to leave their homes
for their safety. incidents of flood or drought in different parts of the world
that rendered thousands of people jobless and homeless. One
prime example of a human-made disaster is the Bhopal gas tragedy, which happened in the
union carbide factory. Apart from disasters, there are other
reasons that displace people from their homes such as many STUDY NOTE
development projects (construction of dams, roads, flyovers, One of the biggest natural
disasters in India was the
canals. etc.). drought in 1987, which
affected 15 states and
displaced 300 million
The process of settling in a new location is termed as people.

resettlement. The rehabilitation of an environment occurs

when a lifestyle restores the environment to its former state.

4.1 Causes for Displacement of People

People are displaced from their original place of living due to various reasons. In the past,
some of the most prominent reasons for displacements, resettlements, and rehabilitation
have been:
• Natural disasters: Earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods,
prolonged drought conditions, hurricanes, etc.
• Industrial accidents (Man-made disasters): Nuclear accidents like the Bhopal gas,
tragedy, Oil spills (Exxon Valdez oil spill), etc.
• Relocation while searching for better job prospects.
• Development projects like construction of irrigation canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.
• Infrastructural projects such as the construction of flyovers, roads, bridges, etc.
• Transportation activities like highways, roads, etc.
• Energy-related projects such as oil explorations, power plants, mining activities,
pipelines (for example HBJ pipeline), etc.

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• Projects that are linked with conserving wildlife like national parks, biosphere
reserves, sanctuaries, etc.
• Agricultural projects.

4.2 Issues with Resettlement

The World Bank has estimated that close to 10 lakh people are displaced around the world
for varied reasons. There are development projects happening that only have economic
efficiency as their objective, and many a time, such projects fail to see that there are many
people who stand to lose all they have because of such developmental projects.

Rehabilitation is a continuous and slow process and needs a lot of organised effort. One of
the strategies of rehabilitation is to take preventive actions so that resettlement is not
needed. For example, building earthquake-proof houses, be informed about cyclones in
advance so that evacuation can be planned ahead of time, construct appropriate bunds in
areas that are prone to floods, etc. All these measures can avoid a plethora of issues
surrounding resettlement as outlined below:
• Lack of support: Displacements mainly affect rural and tribal people who do not get
much support from the government.
• Meagre compensation: Many a time, no compensations are given on the land lost by
people in the name of mega developmental projects. Even if compensations are paid,
they are much delayed and too low both in monetary terms as well as the social changes
that are forced upon the displaced people.
• Loss of livelihood: Displacement is a huge phenomenon in the lives of people who get
displaced. The ancestral lands and forests on which they have depended all through
their lives are lost. Most people do not have enough skills to pick up any other activity
or occupation to earn. Usually, the land offered to them is of low quality and cannot be
used to earn a living.
• Lack of facilities: There is no basic infrastructure and amenities provided in the new
area offered to the displaced people. Most of the time they live in temporary tents,
which later become their permanent abodes.
• A rise in stress levels: The shock of purposelessness created in human beings who are
resettled is humungous. They are filled with emptiness and there are quarrels within a

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family on the share that each must receive from the resettlement amount given to them.
Their family lives wither with their prestige of land ownership after they are displaced.
Often, the daughters of refugees find it difficult to get good matches for marriages form
the neighbouring villages.
• Increased health issues: With their forest and agriculture-based livelihood gone, there
is a general decline in the health conditions of refugees. Most tribal and rural people
depend heavily on their herbal homemade remedies, which are submerged due to the
development projects.
• Identity loss: Tribal people have unique lifestyles, which STUDY NOTE
are community-based. Displacement hampers their During the process of
exploiting oil and constructing
culture and spiritual existence in multiple ways. Their a connected pipeline in the
Eastern Upper Nile region, 48
loss of connection with their environment and their villages were burnt, and
55,000 people were displaced.
indigenous knowledge about wildlife are the biggest
losses in a resettlement process.
• Exploitation due to lack of knowledge: Tribal people are not well versed with market
trends, policies, price of commodities, and other details of a city life. This lends them to
exploitation from shopkeepers and others in new and foreign areas.

4.3 Objectives of Resettlement

STUDY NOTE
Before giving an alternative site to a displaced group of
Due to the fire episode in
people, there are few objectives of resettlement that must be Jharia coal fields, 3 lakh
people were affected and
met. about 115 crore INR was
spent in putting out the fire.
• Tribal people should have the freedom to live their lives
on their own accord and nothing should be imposed or forced upon them.
• Villagers should be given an option to move out and stay together as a community.
• They must be given means and facilities so that they can pursue and develop their
traditional art and culture in ways that suit them.
• Rehabilitation must focus on removing poverty.
• The fruits of a development must be shared appropriately with the people who were
displaced due to a development project.
• Job opportunities must be provided to the displaced people.
• Resettlement must be provided in an area nearby their original land.

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• In case resettlement is not possible in neighbouring areas, the new area must be well
equipped with all amenities and infrastructure like schools for children, irrigation
facilities, wells, supply for basic agricultural activities, primary healthcare units,
drinking water, grazing grounds, and other necessary facilities.
• Every stage of rehabilitation must be done by taking the respective villagers into
confidence. Villagers should be well informed and educated through public meetings
about the different legalities around the land acquisition act and other provisions of
rehabilitation.
• Any sort of decision-making must be taken with the view and advice of the elderly
people of the village.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 3

9. Rehabilitation is a slow process. [True/False]

10. The difference between resettlement and rehabilitation is:
a) Resettlement means settling in a new area and rehabilitation is the
compensation received.
b) Resettlement and Rehabilitation are the same.
c) Resettlement is a slow process whereas rehabilitation is a faster process.
d) Resettlement is a process of settling in a new location and rehabilitation is
when the lifestyle of displaced people restores to the former state.
11. Which of the following is not true about resettlement and rehabilitation?
a) There is a loss of livelihood of displaced people.
b) Marriages are difficult for resettled people as neighbouring villages do not
want to marry refugees.
c) There is a rise in health-related issues with a resettled population.
d) Resettled people easily get jobs to restore their livelihood.
12. Which of the following is not a natural disaster that causes resettlement?
a) Cyclones
b) Earthquakes
c) Development projects
d) Tsunamis

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5. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster management is a methodology employed to deal with the impacts of a disaster.
Disaster management is a process that defines:
• how we prepare for a disaster
• how we respond to a disaster
• how we learn from these disastrous happenings.

The main causes of disasters are mostly natural though there have been many cases of
disasters that have human origins. A disaster is a combination of a hazard, the vulnerability
of the people involved, and their incompetence in the reduction of the negative impacts of
the hazard. Mathematically we can depict it as:
Disaster = (Vulnerability + Hazard)/Capacity, where:

• Hazard: A dangerous event or condition that has the potential to damage lives,
properties, or the environment.
• Vulnerability: The extent to which a community or geographical area is affected by a
hazard. Vulnerability depends on the construction of an area, proximity to hazardous
terrains, etc.
• Capacity: The resources or means that are present within households and communities
to prevent, cope with, and mitigate the negative effects of a hazard.

The first people who respond to a disaster in an area are the ones who live in that local
community. They are the first to start rescue and relief operations. Therefore, it is important
for societies to focus on preparing communities for a potential disaster. This will reduce their
vulnerability and strengthen their capacities to overcome a disastrous event.

5.1 Types of Disasters

STUDY NOTE
Disasters can be caused by nature, could be human-
The International federation
induced, pandemic emergencies, or could be a result of advocates with international
organisations, governments, and
multiple hazards. We will now look into the details of each humanitarian donors to have
better practices and accountability
of these types of disasters. in managing a disaster, which
shows greater respect for the
affected and vulnerable people.

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• Natural disasters: A natural disaster could be any rapid or slow onset of a natural or
physical phenomenon, which has an immediate impact on human health and can cause
deaths and sufferings of various kinds. The UN Office for disaster risk reduction
categorises national disasters based on their intensity or magnitude, speed of their
onset, the area or extent to which they cover, and duration of their occurrence. For
example, earthquakes have a short duration and cover small areas, whereas droughts
develop slowly but take time to vanish and affect huge areas. The different types of
natural disasters are:
o Geophysical (earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions)
o Climatological (droughts and wildfires)
o Biological (disease epidemics, insect or animal plagues)
o Hydrological (avalanches and floods)
o Meteorological (storms or wave surges and cyclones)
• Man-made disasters: Disasters that occur close to a human settlement, which is often
caused by technological or environmental emergencies are man-made disasters. They
include:
o Accidents (industrial, transport that involves production, technological, using or
transporting hazardous materials, etc.)
o Environmental pollution and degradation
• Complex emergencies: There are disasters caused by a hoard of hazards that are a
combination of man-made and natural events. This results in authority breakdown,
looting, attacks on strategic locations, wars, etc. Reasons for such disasters could be
food insecurities, armed conflicts, epidemics, displaced populations, etc. As per the
International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), such emergencies are often
accompanied by:
o extensive violence
o loss of lives
o need for large-scale humanitarian support, which can require multiple agencies
o A threat to the security of humanitarian relief workers
o Constraints (political or military) that restrict or prevent humanitarian assistance.
• Pandemic emergencies: Pandemic is derived from two Greek words, ‘Pan’, which means
‘all’ and ‘demos’, which means ‘people’. A pandemic occurs when an unknown disease

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spreads and covers a large population of an area (covering human and animal
populations), which affects their health and disrupts economic and social activities. The
disease might have existed for a while in a specific region, but a pandemic happens
when there is an unforeseen and abnormal increase in cases of such a disease. A certain
region could be free from a disease but, in a pandemic, such a region will also see a
sudden appearance and rise of that particular disease, which is plaguing other areas.
The many pandemics that have occurred in the past include diseases like Ebola,
malaria, cholera, avian flu, zika virus, yellow fever, and the recent COVID-19.

5.2 Four Aspects of Disaster Management

There are four key aspects of a disaster that allows for a more organised management of
resources and responsibilities.

They are:
• Disaster prevention: As per the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNISDR), disaster prevention is a phenomenon of engaging in those activities that help
in preventing the potential adverse effects of a disaster. These actions are taken in
advance, which provides protection from the occurrence of a disastrous event. The
World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) says that it is not possible to
prevent all disasters but one can reduce the risks to life and mitigate major risks by
having a good evacuation plan, good risk management, and better environmental
planning and design. In India, the apex body for disaster recovery management is The
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), which is headed by the Prime
Minister of India.
• Disaster preparedness: The International Committee of
STUDY NOTE
the Red Cross (ICRC) defines disaster preparedness as
the measures taken that prepares a community to 13th October is celebrated as
the world disaster recovery
reduce the effects of a disaster. If the disaster day all over the world. It
denotes how communities are
preparedness of a society is improved, it can result in reducing their exposure to
disasters.
maximum lives being saved and enable an affected population to get back to normalcy
soon after a disaster is over. Physical therapy practice management must emphasise
enhancing community-based preparedness and management of disasters.

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• Disaster response: Disaster response or relief is focused primarily on the short-term

and immediate needs of an affected population. Some of the response actions are the
provision of temporary housing and water, which could also extend till the recovery
stage. A disaster response’s main goal is to rescue survivors from immediate perils and
stabilise their physical and emotional conditions. It also includes recovering the dead
and restoring essential services like power and water supply. This stage of disaster
management requires a coordinated multi-agency response with many relief activities
like relocation, rescue, prevention of diseases, provision of food and water, provision
of temporary shelter, restoration of essential services like transport and
telecommunications.
• Disaster recovery: After the initial crisis is over, an affected STUDY NOTE

crowd continues to be vulnerable for a longer period of time. In 5 seconds, avalanches

can acquire a speed of 80
A disaster recovery is that part of a disaster management miles an hour.

that goes beyond the immediate relief activities. It includes the following activities:
o Rebuilding important infrastructures like schools, hospitals, roads, etc.
o Developing policies and procedures aimed at mitigating similar situations in the
future
o Health care
o Other development activities such as creating human resources for health

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 4

13. Which of the following is an example of a geophysical disaster?

a) Floods
b) Droughts
c) Avalanches
d) Earthquakes
14. What is the difference between a disaster response and a disaster recovery?
a) A disaster response means providing accommodation while a disaster
recovery means providing provisions of basic amenities like water.
b) A disaster response is how a society prepares for a disaster and a disaster
recovery is a process of using those resources after the disaster has
occurred.
c) A disaster response is an immediate and short-term response like
providing temporary shelters while a disaster recovery is a process after
the initial response is over like building schools and hospitals.
d) Both disaster recoveries and disaster responses are the same processes.
15. The term used to describe a usually unknown disease spreading over the
huge population is ______________
16. Complex emergencies result from a mix of natural and man-made disasters
and are often accompanied by violence. [True/False]

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6. ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Environmental ethics is an arm of the environmental
philosophy that considers how human ethics are deeply STUDY NOTE

related to the environment. Environmental ethics believe There are few other philosophies
around environmental ethics and
that human beings are as much part of nature as other one of them is Psychocentrism,
which believes that human beings
plants and animals. These ethics talk about the moral are the most valuable species in the
environment since their mental
obligations that we as human beings have towards the capacities are better developed and
more complex.
environment we live in.

When we think of the environment, we think of the current degradation like global warming
and global rising sea levels. We must understand that these issues are strongly linked with
our activities, which cause air pollution and depletion of natural resources like forests, water,
etc.

Humans have now (in the past few decades) started understanding how important it is for
our environment to be sustainable and started studying the ethical and moral relationships
that integrate an individual with the environment. There are sustainability specialists,
environmentalists, conservationists, and geoscientists who spend a major part of their
careers preserving the non-human world.

Experts started finding a connection between technology, commercial industries, global

population growth, and their impact on the quality of the environment. If people do not value
the environment, they will never get involved with various movements like preservation and
conservation. Some of the basics of environmental ethics are:
• Humans and other organisms on earth are interdependent.
• Human beings are not superior to other species.
• Humans should not harm any natural entity.
• We should not try to change, control, or manipulate our ecosystem.

6.1 Environmental and Ethical Philosophies

The purpose of sustainability might be still unclear to those who are not familiar with
environmental ethics. Many approaches and principles have been invented in order to
determine how we should value our environment.

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In order to understand what environmental ethics is all about, we must look into the
different philosophies which are related to it.
• Conservation ethics and conservatism: Conservation is an activity of protecting and
safeguarding what is available in the environment. Conservation depends on how much
respect humans have for their environment. It works towards protecting available
resources for the future and improving the ecosystem and human communities. This
ethics recognises the ongoing relationship of nature with STUDY NOTE
humans. The word ‘Ecofeminis’ was
coined by the French writer
• Anthropocentrism: This is in contrast to the conservation Françoise d'Eaubonne in
her book ‘Le Féminismeou
ethics and believes that humans are the most important la Mort’.

species in the world. Since this philosophy does not put

other plants and animals on the same level as humans in the hierarchy, it allows
humans to exploit nature for their own benefits. There are two distinct types of
anthropocentrism given by Peter Vardy:
o Strong Anthropocentrism: This holds that human beings are the centre point of the
world and most important since they rightfully deserve to be there.
o Weak Anthropocentrism: This holds that human beings are most important since
environmental situations can be interpreted only through human perspectives.
• Libertarian extension philosophies: Libertarian extension philosophies are a complete
opposite to Anthropocentrism and extend the same importance to animals and the
environment as given to humans.
• Holism: Jan Smuts first developed the term holism in his book ‘Holism and Evolution’.
According to the holism theory, the environment is a whole system rather than having
many individual parts like humans, plants, animals, etc.

6.2 Types of Environmental Ethics

The disclosure of various philosophies around environments has given rise to different
environmental ethics. There are primarily three types of environmental ethics:
• Social Ecology: This studies people and their environment and how they are
interdependent.
• Deep Ecology: This promotes an intrinsic value and worth of every living being,
regardless of whether they have any instrumental utility to human beings.

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• Ecofeminism: This type of ethics considers the Earth as a strong woman with the same
qualities of a woman, so that we can relate and respect it.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 5

17. Environmental ethics is an arm of an environmental philosophy that considers

how human ethics are deeply related to the __________.
18. Anthropocentrism believes that all living beings hold the same importance in
the world. [True/False]
19. The _______ philosophy believes that the environment should be considered as a
whole and not in parts.
20. Which of the following choices best describe the Libertarian extension
philosophies?
a) It studies how people and the environment are interdependent.
b) It considers human beings as the most important part of the entire
ecosystem.
c) It considers the earth as a woman so that it can be respected better.
d) It considers all parts of the environment (humans, plants, animals, etc.) to
have equal importance.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS

Environmental communication encompasses all the diverse forms of mediated
communication between organisations, interpersonal, public, and different groups. Such
communications give rise to social debates about issues pertaining to the environment and
human connection to it.

Anyone who participates in discussions about the environment is part of the environmental
communication system. It could be passionate environmental advocates or those who
fiercely propagate ecological preservation. It could also be a casual activity that anyone can
partake in, though it is also a field of practice created by professional environmental
communicators.

Environmental communication can also be deemed as an interdisciplinary stream of study

that looks at the techniques, influence, and the role of communication in environmental
matters. Environmental communication draws its theory from environmental studies,

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communication, sociology, psychology, and political science. It is a pragmatic approach to

persuade, educate, alert, mobilise, and help solve environmental problems.

Developing an effective environmental message requires communicators to outline the goals

that an intended communication wants to achieve, identify stakeholders, and identify key
messages and communication methods to disseminate information.

7.1 Why Do We Need Environmental Communication?

If more than 7 billion people are constantly using and abusing our environment, then an
apocalypse might come sooner than we think. Some studies suggest that if the current
pattern of waste disposal continues, by 2050, there will be 4 billion people living in areas
facing severe water-related issues.

One can grow environment sensitivity in a country only through intensive public awareness
campaign utilising several tools like the press, electronic media, schools, and colleges.

Public awareness would bring about the following improvements:

• Protection of the atmosphere.
• Management of biotechnology and hazardous waste would become more environment
friendly.
• Land resources would be protected.
• Biological diversity will be preserved.
• The living and working conditions of the poor would improve by stopping the
degradation of the environment. This would further
STUDY NOTE
help in eradicating poverty.
Guerrilla gardening is a protest
directed at land rights and land
7.2 Important Advocacy Campaigns and reforms. It aims to reclaim land
that is either being misused or
Landmarks neglected and promotes
reconsideration of land rights
and land ownerships.
Some of the landmarks in the environment advocacy
campaigns that have shaped and made an indelible mark on
the current environmental movements are briefly discussed below.

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• Guerrilla gardening: In this type of gardening, gardeners create gardens in areas in

which they do not have a legal right to do so. They utilise an abandoned area or uncared
area to create an ‘urban foodscape’, which allows foraging. It increases local food
security, self-sufficiency, and brings back the food growing skills in urban civilisations.
One thing to note is that Guerrilla gardening is illegal by definition and it is a civil
trespass against a person who owns the land.
• Greenpeace campaign: Such campaigns design campaigns to protect forests.
• Green consumers: Green consumers gain information on an enterprise’s environmental
behaviour and boycott buying products from companies that adversely impact the
environment and society. They reward companies that show green policy and approach
through their daily shopping preferences.

7.3 Organisations for Climate Movements

Many climate organisations have come up and are striving to keep the environment clean
and create a sustainable ecosystem. Some of the famous ones are:
• 350.org: It is an international organisation that aims to end the era of fossil fuels and
build a world that works solely on renewable energy sources. They want to stop any
new fossil fuel projects through community resistance and local resolutions. They work
by providing support to community-led energy solutions and cutting licenses and
stopping finances to fossil fuel industries.
• Grist.org: This is a news outlet consisting of a network of innovators. The goal of this
organisation is to get people to start talking, thinking, and taking actions to better the
ecosystem. They reach out to more than 2 million people in a month out of which 65%
start working on guidelines based on the grist.org content. Their publication takes out
a daily digest of environmental news and provides a forum for green advocates, and
diverse voices and influencers to promote green living.

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SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 6

21. Environmental communication is not a necessity since most people are globally
aware of issues around the environment. [True/False]
22. _________ boycott buying products from companies that adversely impact the
environment and society.
23. 350.org aims to reduce the usage of _______ and promote renewable energy
sources.
24. Which of the following is not true about guerrilla gardening?
a) Gardeners utilise an abandoned areas or uncared areas to create an ‘urban
foodscape’.
b) It increases local food security.
c) It brings back the food-growing skills in urban civilisation.
d) It is a legal activity.

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8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used by governments across the globe
to assess the impacts of a present or a future project or development proposals on the
environment as well as the well-being of humans. A project could be a legislative proposal,
policy, operational procedure, development project, etc. While undertaking the EIA, many
interrelated aspects like socio-economic, human-health, cultural, etc. are taken into account.
The EIA looks at both the positive and negative consequences of a project. At the end of an
assessment, the EIA also interprets and communicates the information to the decision-
makers.

The objectives of the EIA are:

• Recognise, foresee, and analyse the environmental, economic, and social effects of a
development activity.
• The EIA technique does a technical assessment that systematically presents the impacts
on the environment that a project is likely to cause and explains the significance of
impacts predicted.
• As a result of this assessment, there is also an indication of the scope of mitigation or
modification to a project.
• The EIA provides information on consequences to the environment for the purpose of
decision-making to the concerned ministries and agencies.
• The EIA enhances public participation.
• It fosters inter-agency coordination.

Some features that characterise the EIA and their significance are stated below:
• The EIA is not a procedure for preventing actions, but its main objective is to authorise
project actions with full knowledge of how they would impact the environment.
• The EIA is not a science, but it uses an amalgam of sciences in an interdisciplinary and
integrated manner.
• The EIA should be treated as an integrated part of a project and not just an appendage
or an add-on. The cost of the EIA must be calculated as part of a planning and not as an
additional cost.

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• The EIA does not give out decisions but is considered while making policies and
decisions, which reflect in the final choices.
• The EIA is a government policy, and all industrial projects need an EIA clearance from
the Ministry of Environment before they get the approval of the Planning Commission.

8.1 History of Environmental Impact Assessment

The EIA is one of the best policy innovations that happened in the 1900s. The EIA’s main goal
is to conserve our environment and also bring about the best combination of economic and
environmental benefits. EIA started in the US in 1970 and its brief history is presented
below:
• Section 102 is the first comprehensive environmental legislation in the US that came
into force on the 1st of January 1970. It came in the form of the National environmental
policy act (NEPA).
• The EIA was initially a practice only in developed countries but later came to
developing countries like India.
• The earliest examples of developing countries that made the EIA a part of their
legislation are Columbia (in 1974) and the Philippines (in 1978).
• The World Bank adopted the EIA as a major development project in 1989.
• The Indian EIA notification was amended on the 4th of May 1994 to include a self-
explanatory note on how to obtain an environmental authorisation from the Ministry
of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, a list of documents that needed to be
submitted to get a clearance, and technical information.

8.2 Contents of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The EIS is a government document that describes the impacts of a future project on the
environment around it. An EIS must contain the following data and information:
• The nature and intensity of environmental effects that can be caused by the proposed
actions.
• Possibility of cyclones or earthquakes.
• The effects of a project on endangered species, wildlife, and vegetation.
• A project’s possible effects on the quality of surface or groundwater, air, and soil
qualities.

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• It must identify any relevant human concerns related to the proposed actions.
• Demographic and economic factors.
• It must specify if a project could cause noise pollution.
• There must be a section on recycling and how waste products can be reduced in the
process.
• Techniques for disaster management and risk analysis.

8.3 EIA Methodology

Whenever a new project is developed, it needs to pass through the EIA, which comprises the
following steps:
• Screening: In the very first step of the EIA, it is
determined if a project under consideration follows STUDY NOTE
An EIS is an impact statement that
the relevant acts and regulations. If it does, then it is needs to accompany an application
to get planning permissions,
further examined whether the project can cause whereas the EIA is a process that is
to be carried out by a planning
significant environmental disruptions. authority before a planning
permission is granted.
• EIS preparation: If a project is found to impact the
environment, the EIA is undertaken with the
preparation of an EIS.
• Many countries have made the EIA open to public scrutiny and they are reviewed at
public hearings.
• Scoping: At this stage, it is decided which impacts are necessary to be evaluated
considering international conventions, legal requirements, expert knowledge, etc. The
alternative solutions that reduce the impacts of a project are also considered at this
stage. Any alternative design or sites that can mitigate the effects of the project is also
scrutinised in this stage.
• EMP preparation: The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is a non-technical
briefing of the impacts of a project, which is prepared for the common public.
• Decision making: In the last stage, a political decision is taken, which could be any of
the following:
o A proposed development project is accepted.
o A proposed development project is accepted with a few amendments.
o The alternative proposed for a project is accepted.

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o A proposed project is rejected.

• Monitoring: An ongoing project is monitored to see whether the mitigation efforts and
predicted impact are as per the EMP.

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS – 7

25. Which of the following is not true about the EIA?

a) The EIA technique does a technical assessment that systematically presents
a project’s impacts on the environment.
b) An EIA process can indicate the scope of mitigation or modification to a
project.
c) An EIA is a must for every industrial project.
d) An EIA is not mandatory for every industrial project.
26. India adopted the EIA on ________
27. The EIS is a government document that describes the impact of a proposed
project on the environment around it. [True/False]
28. Which of the following is not an EIA guideline?
a) Timely access is given to all interested parties and stakeholders.
b) The basis of all assessment decisions should be open and accessible.
c) The assessment is done with objectivity and complete professionalism.
d) The EIA process is not flexible.

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Organizations
for Climate
Movements
Environmental
Communicatio Important
n and Public Advocacy
Awareness Campaigns and
Landmarks

Human
Health and
Welfare Human
Communities
Government and the Environmenta
Family Environment l Ethics
Welfare Disaster
Programme Managemen
t

Types of
Disasters Environmental Types of
Four
Ethics Environmen
Aspects of Philosophies tal Ethics
Disaster
Managemen
t Human
Population
Aspects of Resettlement
Growth
Population and
that Affect Rehabilitation
Environment

Modes of
Population Causes for Objectives of
Growth Displacement Resettlement
Factors Environment
Affecting al Impact of People
Population Assessment Issues with
Growth (EIA) Resettlement

History of
Environmental
Contents of
Impact Assessment EIA
EIS
Methodolog
y

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9. SUMMARY
• A population is used to describe a group of individual species who inhabit a definite
and same geographic area at a given time.
• The global population is now growing by more than 80 million in a year and is
estimated to grow till the rest of this century.
• The environment gets affected by population growth in mainly two ways:
1. The resources such as land, fossil fuel, water, air, food, minerals, etc. are consumed
in huge quantities.
2. The massive production of waste products, air and water pollutants, greenhouse
gases, and many other toxic materials are released into the environment at a much
bigger scale.
• At any given time, a population growth can happen in two ways depending on the
resources around.
o Exponential growth: This type of growth happens when there are unlimited
resources. Exponential growth means a great increase in a population’s growth rate
and the rate of change of population is positively related to the population at that
time.
o Logistic growth: In logistic growth, the rate of change of a population varies with
time, and is not a constant. It depicts that as resources starts depleting, there is a
decline in the rate of growth of the population.
• Overpopulation has many reasons attached to it, some of the most prominent ones are:
o High birth rate and reduced death rates: With the developments in the world of
medicines and technology, the standard of living has significantly improved.
o Social customs, beliefs, literacy level, and needs: In some parts of the world where
the literacy rate is low, people are not well informed about the benefits of having
fewer children.
o Public health programs: Many government health programs have improved the
living conditions and life expectancy of people.
o The TFR or total fertility rate is defined as the number of child a woman can bear in
her lifetime.

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o The infant mortality rate is the number of children under 1 year dying per 1,000
live births in that particular year.
o Rise in food production: After World War II, there has been a steep rise in food
production with the advent of the green revolution.
• The major factors influencing human health are:
o Malnutrition
o Ageing Population
o Migration
o Easy spread of diseases
o Water pollution
o Unemployment
• India was the first country in the world that launched a family planning program in
1951 to restrict the population growth of the country.
• The slogan of this program is ‘We two, ours two’ (hum do, hamare do). The government
utilised all forms of modern as well as traditional communication systems to propagate
and develop social support for this program.
• Due to natural and human-caused disasters, people are forced to move out of their
original inhabited land. For instance, when a tsunami happened in South Asia in 2004,
or the massive earthquake that happened in Latur and Gujrat, and many other incidents
of flood or drought in different parts of the world have rendered thousands of people
jobless and homeless.
• The process of settling in a new location is termed resettlement and rehabilitation is
when their lifestyle restores to the former state.
• Some of the major reasons for resettlements are:
o Natural disasters: Earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods,
prolonged drought conditions, hurricanes, etc.
o Industrial accidents (Man-made disasters): Nuclear accidents like the Bhopal gas
tragedy, Oil spills (Exxon Valdez oil spill), etc.
o Development projects like construction of irrigation canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.
o Infrastructural projects such as the construction of flyovers, roads, bridges, etc.
• There are several issues around resettlements as listed below:

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o Lack of support: Displacements mainly affect rural and tribal people who do not get
much support from their respective governments.
o Meagre compensation: Many a time there is no compensation given to the land lost
by people in the name of mega developmental projects.
o Loss of livelihood: Displacement is a huge phenomenon in the lives of people who
get displaced.
o Lack of facilities: There is no basic infrastructure and amenities provided in the new
areas offered to the displaced people.
o Identity loss: Tribal people have unique lifestyles, which are community-based.
Displacement hampers their culture and spiritual existence in multiple ways.
• Resettlements must consider the comfort and freedom of tribal people while providing
them resettlement options.
• Disaster management is a methodology employed to deal with the effects of the
aforementioned disaster. Disaster management is a process that defines:
o how we prepare for a disaster
o how we respond to a disaster
o how we learn from these disastrous happenings.
• The main causes of disasters are mostly natural though there have been many cases of
disasters that have human origins.
• Disasters can be caused by nature, could be human-induced, pandemic emergencies, or
could be a result of multiple hazards.
• Disaster recovery: After the initial crisis is over, an affected crowd continues to be
vulnerable for a longer period of time. Disaster recovery is that part of a disaster
management that goes beyond the immediate relief activities. It includes activities like
rebuilding important infrastructures like schools, hospitals, roads, etc.
• Environmental ethics is an arm of the environmental philosophy that considers how
human ethics are deeply related to the environment. Environmental ethics believe that
human beings are as much part of nature as other plants and animals.
• Environmental ethics became a reality in the 1970s as around this time experts started
finding a connection between technology, commercial industries, global population
growth, and their impact on the quality of the environment.

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• There are many other philosophies surrounding environment ethics, the main ones
being:
o Anthropocentrism: This is in contrast to environmental and conservation ethics and
believes that humans are the most important species in the world.
o Libertarian extension philosophies: Libertarian extension philosophies are a
complete opposite to Anthropocentrism and extend the same importance to
animals and the environment as given to humans.
o Holism: According to the holism theory, the environment is a whole system rather
than having many individual parts like humans, plants, animals, etc.
• There are primarily three types of environmental ethics:
o Social Ecology: This studies people and their environment and how they are
interdependent.
o Deep Ecology: This promotes the intrinsic value and worth of every living being,
regardless of whether they have any instrumental utility to human beings.
o Ecofeminism: This type of ethics considers the Earth as a woman so that we can
relate and respect it in a much better way.
• Environmental communication encompasses all the diverse forms of mediated
communication between organizations, interpersonal, public, and different groups.
• One can grow environmental sensitivity in a country only through intensive public
awareness campaigns utilizing several tools like the press, electronic media, schools,
and colleges, etc.
• Public awareness would bring about many improvements like protection of the
atmosphere, better management of biotechnology and hazardous waste, etc.
• Environmental Impact Assessment is a process that identifies the impact of a current
or proposed project on the environment and the well-being of humans.
• The objectives of the EIA are to recognise, assume, and analyse the environmental,
economic, and social effects of a development activity.
• An EIS is an impact statement that needs to be accompanied by an application to get
planning permissions, whereas the EIA is a process that is to be carried out by a
planning authority before planning permission are granted.

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10. GLOSSARY
• Anthropology: It is the study of humanity, human behaviour, cultures, and societies.
• Anthropocene Epoch: A unit of geological time when in Earth’s history (most recent
period) human activity had a major impact on earth’s ecosystem and climate.
• Green revolution: It is the 3rd agricultural revolution that started in the 1960s that
increased the agricultural production worldwide. It introduced high-yielding varieties
of grains like rice and wheat and the use of pesticides.
• Greenhouse gases: Any gas, such as carbon dioxide, which contributes to the
greenhouse effect when released into the atmosphere.
• Ozone layer depletion: It is the lowering of the ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere. The
depletion of the ozone layer increases the amount of harmful UVB rays that reach the
Earth’s surface.
• Subsistence level: A way of living where a wage can provide only the bare minimum
necessities of life.

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11. CASE STUDY

Communication of Environmental Problems in Delhi - CNG Vehicles in Delhi
One can learn about exposure to ecological problems only when people of that area
effectively communicate. Effective communication means selling environmental
conservation concepts via social communication with different set of people from diverse
backgrounds. With this idea in mind, communication efforts have been examined regarding
environmental problems in Kerala.

The magnitude of these numbers has resulted in encroachment in forests, wetlands being
reclaimed for food production, etc. Due to the huge number of raw materials being
consumed, there is dwindling on non-renewable resources and accumulation of waste.

In recent years, all these problems have become the entertaining media for grabbing the
public attention. One of the most commonly cited environmental problems of this area is
pollution in Delhi and to reduce air pollution a report on the use of CNG vehicles in Delhi is
presented below which has come through reports of Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian
Institute of Technology.

For this case study, we consider the implementation of CNG vehicles in Delhi. Delhi is
considered as one of the highly polluted cities based on many known and unknown
parameters. Delhi has a large quantity of suspended particles in the air, according to the
White Paper of the Ministry of Environment and forests. To deal with the issue of air
pollution, the Supreme Court directed the DPCC to present a list of industries that are located
in non-conforming areas.

The DPCC presented a report with approximately 97,600 industries in 1977. The relocation
or closure of these industries was difficult, time-consuming, and costly. Still, many of them
are relocated, and many of them are closed, but the problem of air pollution still exists due
to the inefficient use of vehicles, which generates air pollution in a large amount.

The Supreme Court had decided to improve the transportation system due to which it
supplemented various vehicles like autos, taxis, busses, and so on, with new CNG-run
vehicles that generate less pollution,

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After the implementation of CNG vehicles in Delhi, the report of the Centre for Science and

Environment (CSE, 2001) concluded that the use of CNG gas for various vehicles like low-
duty engines and high-duty engines will have numerous beneficial impacts on the
environment.

CNG is the composition of methane, ethane carbon dioxide, propane, i-butane, i-pentane, n-
pentane, nitrogen, and n-butane. CNG vehicles are considered as more environmental-
friendly than fuels like diesel. When comparing the reduction in the pollution emission
between CNG and diesel, it can be seen that CNG reduces pollution by a greater percentage,
such as it reduces more carbon dioxide than diesel by 56%, reduces hydrocarbons by 55%,
reduces particulates by 86%, and reduces NOx by 56%.

As a result, CNG vehicles in Delhi reduce vehicle pollution to half, due to which the use of
CNG should be encouraged in public as well as private vehicles.

Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss the environmental problems in Delhi before the implementation of CNG
vehicles.
2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of CNG vehicles in Delhi.

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12. TERMINAL QUESTIONS

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. Mention some of the primary factors that affect population growth rate.
Q2. Explain how the growth of a population affects our environment.
Q3. What are the characteristics of exponential population growth?
Q4. How does overpopulation cause malnutrition?
Q5. What are some of the main objectives of the government family welfare program in
India?
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1. What is population distribution and how does it affect the environment?
Q2. What are the main causes of resettlement?
Q3. Explain the disaster response stages of a disaster management process.

12.1 Answers
SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS
1. d. The male and female ratio in a population.
2. c. A younger population is more likely to migrate to cities for jobs, which will intensify
urban environmental concerns.
3. Total fertility rate
4. True
5. True
6. Population Control Bill.
7. d. The elderly are more likely to suffer from diseases like diabetes, arthritis, heart
diseases, dementia, etc., which puts pressure on the healthcare system.
8. c. The number of women who die per 100,000 live births, in a given time period.
9. True
10. d. Resettlement is a process of settling in a new location and rehabilitation is when the
lifestyle of displaced people restores to the former state.
11. d. Resettled people easily get jobs to restore their livelihood.
12. c. Development projects
13. d. Earthquakes

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14. c. Disaster response is an immediate and short-term response like providing temporary
shelters while a disaster recovery is a process after the initial response is over like
building schools, hospitals.
15. Pandemic
16. True
17. Environment
18. False
19. Holism
20. d. It considers all parts of the environment (humans, plants, animals, etc.) to have equal
importance.
21. False
22. Green consumers
23. Fossil fuels
24. d. It is a legal activity.
25. d. An EIA is not mandatory for every industrial project.
26. 27th January 1994
27. True
28. d. The EIA process is not flexible.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Answer 1: The primary parameters which affect trends in a population are:
• Immigration: When people arrive in a population from neighbouring regions, it is called
immigration.
• Emigration: When people migrate or disperse from their original population area to a
new area, it is called emigration.

Answer 2: A population growth affects the environment primarily in two ways:

• The resources such as land, fossil fuel, water, air, food, minerals, etc. are consumed in
huge quantities.
• The massive production of waste products, air and water pollutants, greenhouse gases,
and many other toxic materials are released into the environment at a much bigger
scale.

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Answer 3: An exponential growth happens when there are unlimited resources. An

exponential growth means a great increase in a population and the rate of change of
population is positively related with the population at that time. In nature, a population
might grow at an exponential rate but after a while, it gets limited by the availability of
resources. In exponential growth, the per capita (i.e., per individual) growth does not change
irrespective of the size of a population.

Answer 4: Overpopulation results in the breaking down of the ecological balance due to a
population’s size exceeding the carrying capacity of its environment. Such a situation results
in a weakened food production system. With less food, there is inadequate food consumption
and people suffer from malnutrition.

Answer 5: The main objectives of the government family welfare program are to:
• Reduce fertility to slow down population explosion. The program aims to bring down
the TFR to 2.1.
• Provide clinical and educational services to remote villages to help couples decide and
choose how many children they wanted to have, and when.
• The program also provides information on how to manage birth spacing, control birth,
and proper healthcare for a mother and her newborn.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Answer 1: The manner in which population is distributed also affects the ecosystem. For
instance, the birth rates in developing countries are more than that in the developed
countries due to less access to education and family planning as well as high poverty levels.
This fast growth of developing countries adds more pressure on the environmental
resources. As per 2015 data, more than 80% of the world’s population lives in developing
countries.
Another reason is that every country is getting more urbanised. As opposed to less than 30%
of the population living in the cities in the 1960s, we now have almost 54% of the world
population living in urban areas. This leads to more slums and centralised pollution, which
are not effectively regulated. Modern luxuries like additional cars, heaters, etc. add to the
localised environmental issues.

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Answer 2: In the past, some of the most prominent reasons for resettlements and
rehabilitation have been:
• Natural disaster: Earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods,
prolonged drought conditions, hurricanes, etc.
• Industrial accidents (Man-made disasters): Nuclear accidents like the Bhopal gas,
tragedy, Oil spills (Exxon Valdez oil spill), etc.
• People relocate while searching for better job prospects.
• Development projects like construction of irrigation canals, dams, reservoirs, etc.
• Infrastructural projects such as the construction of flyovers, roads, bridges, etc.
• Transportation activities like highways, roads, etc.
• Energy-related projects such as oil explorations, power plants, mining activities,
pipelines (for example HBJ pipeline), etc.
• Projects that are linked with conserving wildlife like national parks, biosphere
reserves, sanctuaries, etc.
• Agricultural projects.

Answer 3: Disaster response or relief is focussed primarily on the short-term and immediate
needs of an affected population. A disaster response’s main goal is to rescue survivors from
immediate perils and stabilise their physical and emotional conditions. It also includes
recovering the dead and restoring essential services like power and water supply. This stage
of disaster management requires a coordinated multi-agency response with many relief
activities like relocation, rescue, prevention of diseases, provision of food and water,
provision of temporary shelter, repairment of essential services like transport and
telecommunications.

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13. SUGGESTED BOOKS AND E-REFERENCES:

Books:
Erach Bahrucha, Environmental Studies, University Grants Commission, New Delhi

Bill Freedman, Environmental Science, Dalhousie University

E-References:
Population and environment: a global challenge, viewed on 14 March 2021,
<https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/population-environment>

Population: the numbers, viewed on 14 March 2019,

<https://populationmatters.org/node/377>

Human population and environment, viewed on 14 March 2021,

<https://www.slideshare.net/yashskullfox/human-population-environment>

Population growth: the impact on health and societies, viewed on 14 March 2021,
https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/general-news/2018/2018-06/population-
growth-the-impact-on-health-and-societies.html

The effect of overpopulation on public health, viewed on 15 March 2021,

<https://www.mphonline.org/overpopulation-public-health/>

Human Communities and the Environment, viewed on 14 March 2021,

<http://www.aagasc.edu.in/Unit%207%20EVS.pdf>

Oil-induced displacement and resettlement, Social problem and human rights issues, viewed
on 15 March 2021,
<https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/156127/1c56976ceb4f8e825e294e5268469185.pdf>

Resettlement and Rehabilitation: reasons, issues and objectives, viewed on 15 March 2021,
<https://www.cukashmir.ac.in/cukashmir/User_Files/imagefile/DIT/StudyMaterial/EVS/
Resettlement%20and%20rehablitation.pdf>

Resettlement and Rehabilitation of people, its problem and concerns, viewed on 15 March
2021,

Unit 7: Human Communities and the Environment 44

Environmental Science Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ)

<https://theintactone.com/2019/10/29/es-u3-topic-6-resettlement-and-rehabilitation-of-
people-its-problem-and-concerns/>
Disaster Management, viewed on 14 March 2021,
<https://www.physio-pedia.com/Disaster_Management>

About disaster management, viewed on 14 March 2021,

<https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/about-disaster-
management/#:~:text=Disaster%20Management%20can%20be%20defined,lessen%20th
e%20impact%20of%20disasters>

What are environmental ethics? Viewed on 15 March, 2021,

<https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/environmental-
ethics.php#:~:text=Environmental%20ethics%20is%20a%20branch,which%20includes%
20plants%20and%20animals>

Environmental communication: What it is and why it matters, viewed on 14 March 2021,

<https://www.theieca.org/resources/environmental-communication-what-it-and-why-it-
matters>

Social awareness and communication strategies concerning Environmental Issues, viewed

on 15 March 2021,
<https://www.slideshare.net/umbbX1/social-awareness-
communicationstrategiesconcerningenvironmentalissues-successfulcase-
studiesa2014finale>

What is Environmental Impact Assessment? Viewed on 14 March 2021,

<https://www.env.go.jp/earth/coop/coop/document/eia_e/10-eiae-1.pdf>

Environmental impact assessment (EIA): definition, process and importance, viewed on 15

March, 2021, <https://www.biologydiscussion.com/environment/environmental-impact-
assessment-eia-definition-process-and-importance/16777>

Unit 7: Human Communities and the Environment 45