Environmental Studies Overview

Introduction

• Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary field.
• The term "environment" refers to surroundings, often used abstractly.
• Surroundings can be natural, man-made, physical, chemical, or biotic.
• The environment is a complex system where many things interact with each other and organisms.

Environmental Studies

• Environmental studies examine every issue impacting living beings on Earth.
• It studies the relationships between living creatures and their environment.

Environmental Science

• It's a science seeking practical ways to make human civilization sustainable using Earth's finite resources.
• This field considers the atmosphere, land, oceans, and their chemical cycles.
• It is increasingly becoming interdisciplinary, preparing people for global citizenship and promoting good decision-making.

Major Environmental Problems

• Overpopulation
• Pollution
• Depletion of resources
• Global changes
• Wars

Forest Resources (Ecological)

• Forests help balance oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
• They regulate temperature and the hydrological cycle.
• They lessen rain and wind, increasing atmospheric moisture and preventing droughts.
• Forests minimize climate fluctuations and control floods.
• They act as windbreaks, protecting farmland.

Forest Resources (Economic)

• Forests provide shelter for wildlife.
• They yield timber for construction and various resources for different needs.
• Forests produce essential materials like bamboo, resins, gums, medicines, honey, etc.

Exploitation of Forests

• Rapid population growth and industrialization lead to deforestation.
• The depletion of forests causes several environmental issues.
• Many developing countries have lost substantial portions of their forests due to conversion for agriculture.

Deforestation

• Deforestation is the temporary or permanent removal of forest cover from forest land.
• It involves the destruction of natural forests and woodlands, excluding plantations.
• Deforestation resulted in creating village settlements and farmland.
• Excessive deforestation has contributed to environmental issues.
• Global forest coverage has significantly reduced, from 70% to 16%.

Effects of Deforestation

• Soil erosion
• Increased sediment load in rivers
• Reservoir siltation, causing floods and droughts
• Increased greenhouse effect
• Increased storm intensity
• Reduced raw materials supply and timber
• Extinction/ endangerment of species
• Disruption of carbon and water cycles
• Economic hardship

Water Resources

• Water is crucial for all life and shaped human life through its need for survival, conservation, and use.
• It's essential for sustaining life on Earth.
• Water forms are in the ecosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
• A small percentage of water is usable for humans.
• Oceans account for most of the Earth's water (97%).
• Freshwater is a limited resource.
• Only 30% of available water is fit for human use.

Surface Water Resources

• India's annual rainfall is equivalent to 3700 billion cubic meters.
• 1250 billion cubic meters are lost through evapotranspiration, and 790 billion cubic meters seep into the soil.
• 1660 billion cubic meters flow as surface water.
• Other rivers (44 medium, 35 minor) are mainly seasonal.

Ground Water Resources

• About 430 billion cubic meters remain in the topsoil, providing moisture for vegetation.
• An additional 360 billion cubic meters percolate, forming groundwater.
• Only about 225 billion cubic meters of groundwater are economically extractable.

Ecosystem Concept

• Ecosystems combine living organisms with their non-living surroundings.
• They are stable systems resulting from biotic and abiotic interactions.
• Ecosystems are self-sufficient natural units.
• They involve the interaction of organisms and their physical environment.
• The concept of an ecosystem was introduced.

Ecosystem Components

• Biotic: Living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms)
• Abiotic: Non-living factors (water, soil, sunlight)

Food Chains

• Producers: Green plants; they use chlorophyll to trap solar energy and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
• Consumers: Animals; they depend on producers for food.
  • Primary Consumers (Herbivores): Feed on plants (e.g., rabbits, deer).
  • Secondary Consumers (Carnivores): Feed on herbivores (e.g., cats, foxes).
  • Tertiary Consumers (Carnivores): Feed on secondary consumers (e.g., wolves).
  • Quaternary Consumers (Carnivores): Omnivores that eat other consumers (e.g., lions, tigers).
• Decomposers: Fungi and bacteria; they break down organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the environment.

This quiz provides an introduction to environmental studies, outlining its interdisciplinary nature and major environmental problems. Explore the relationships between living beings and their surroundings while considering sustainability and resource management. Prepare for global citizenship and effective decision-making regarding ecological issues.