B.Com. in Environmental Studies

Unit 1: The Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies
Definition, Nature, Scope and Importance; Types and components of environment; goals of environmental education; Global environmental crisis

Unit 2: Natural resources: Renewable and non-renewable resources

Nature and Natural resources their conservation and associated problems
. Forest resources: Uses, types and importance, deforestation, and effects of deforestation on tribal people; conservation and protection of forest and forest resources; wildlife management
. Water resources: Distribution of water on Earth; Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, Water resources of Indian & its future.
. Food resources: World food production & distribution, Food crisis - its causes.
. Energy resources: Renewable and Nonrenewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, Energy conservation
. Land resources: Land as a resource, land degradation, Landslides, soil erosion and desertification – causes and effects.
• Use of resources for sustainable development.

Unit 3: Ecology and Ecosystems
Concept of ecology, autecology and synecology; population ecology, community ecology
• Concept of an ecosystem; different types of ecosystem
• Definitions and classification of biomes.
• Producers, consumers and decomposers
• Energy flow in the ecosystem, energy flow models
• Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
Biogeochemical cycles: Pattern and basic types of biogeochemical cycles (Nitrogen, Phosphorus)

Unit 4: Biodiversity and its conservation
• Biogeographical classification of India
• Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use and social values
• Hot-spots of biodiversity
• Threats to biodiversity: habitat loss, poaching of wildlife, man wildlife conflicts
• Endangered and endemic species of India
• Conservation of biodiversity: In situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity.

Unit 5 : Environmental Pollution
Definition, Sources, Causes, effects and control measures of:-
a. Air pollution
b. Water pollution
c. Soil pollution
d. Noise pollution
• Solid waste management: causes, effects and control measures of biomedical wastes and municipal solid wastes.
• Disaster management: floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides.

Unit 6: Social Issues and the Environment
• Water conservation, rain water harvesting,
• Climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion,
• Wetland resources and their conservation
• Govt. Agencies, viz, CPCB, SPCB and their functions under the water Act & Air Act.
• Constitutional provisions for protecting environment – Articles 48 (A), 51A (g)
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 : Definitions of Animal, Wildlife, Haunting: Provisions relating to haunting of wild animal, Sanctuary, National park, Community Reserve and Tiger reserve.
• Environment Protection Movements in India – Chipko movements, Silent Valley movements, Movements in Karnataka, Public awareness

Unit 7: Human Population and the Environment
• Definition, characteristics; human Population growth, concept of carrying capacity
• Population explosion – Family Welfare Programme
• Environment and human health, concept of health and diseases,– Examples of Common communicable & non-communicable diseases, community health education.

Unit 8: Field Work Report / Project Report / Term Paper (based on any one of the following topics and to be evaluated by internal teachers only) :
• Environmental assets --- river/ forest/grassland/hill/mountain etc.
• Environmental pollution – Urban/ Rural/ Industrial/ Agricultural
• Study of common plants / insects / birds / wild lives etc.
• Study of simple ecosystems --- pond / river / hill slopes, etc.
• Human population & Environment
• Municipal Solid waste management and handling.