Environmental Studies

Study Notes

Environmental Studies - Chapter 1

Definition of Environment: The word "environment" comes from the French word "environ," meaning surroundings. It encompasses everything surrounding an organism, including materials and forces it interacts with. Organisms require resources from their environment for survival and development.
Natural Environment: Includes all living and non-living things, species interactions, climate, weather, and natural resources. This influences human survival and economic activity.
Multidisciplinary Nature: Environmental studies incorporates various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, medicine, biology, agriculture, and public health, to understand environmental issues.
Physical Elements of Environment: Space, landforms (e.g., mountains, valleys), water bodies, climate, soils, rocks, and minerals. These influence human habitats, opportunities, and limitations.
Biological Elements of Environment: Plants, animals, microorganisms, and humans, making up the biosphere.
Cultural Elements of Environment: Economic, social, and political factors. These are human-made aspects shaping the environment.
Scope and Importance: Environmental studies focus on the vital importance of environmental protection and conservation. Increasing environmental issues threaten the survival of mankind.
Sustainable Development: The concept of meeting present human needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Awareness: Addressing growing population, urbanization, poverty, and their negative impacts on natural resources. Legal requirements and public participation, including education, are essential.
Environmental Protection through Education: Public education (formal and informal) plays a crucial role in understanding environmental issues. This empowers individuals with skills, knowledge, and values to address global environmental challenges.
Environmental Threats: Climate change, biodiversity loss, depleting fisheries, ozone layer depletion, endangered species, habitat destruction, land degradation, and water scarcity are serious environmental problems. Solid waste disposal and pollution across diverse ecosystems (forest, rural, urban, marine) are also critical issues.