Gauhati University B.Com Syllabus: Environmental Studies


301: Environmental Studies
Theory: 75 : Field Report: 25
Unit - I : Natural Resources :                                                                                       15
Renewable and non-renewable resources : Multi-disciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies, Natural resources and associated problems.
Forest Resources : Use and Over-exploitation, deforestation, case studies, Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on forests and tribal people.
Water resources : Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water, floods, drought, conflict over water, dams-benefits and problems.
Mineral resources : Use and exploitation, environmental effects of extracting and using mineral resources, case studies.
Food resources : World food problems, changes caused by agriculture and overgrazing, effects of modern agriculture, fertilizer, pesticides problems, water logging, salinity, case studies.
Energy resources : Growing energy needs, renewable and non-renewable energy sources, use of alternate energy sources, case studies.
Land resources : Land as a resource, land degradation, man induced landslides, soil erosion and desertification.
Unit - II : Ecosystems                                                                                                      15
Concept of an ecosystem, Structure and function of an ecosystem, Producers, consumers and decomposers, Energy flow in the ecosystem, Ecological succession, Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramid,
Introduction, types, characteristic features, structure and function of the following ecosystem :
Forest ecosystem
Grass land ecosystem
Desert ecosystem
Aquatic ecosystems (ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, oceans, estuaries).
Unit - III : Bio-diversity and its Conservation                                                                       15
Introduction-Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
Biographical classification of India
Value of biodiversity : consumptive use, productive use, social, ethical, aesthetic and option values.
Biodiversity at global, national and local level
India as a mega-diversity nation
Hot-spots of biodiversity
Threats of 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 - IV : Environmental Pollution                                                                                         15
Definition, Causes, effect and control measures of :
Air pollution
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Marine pollution
Noise pollution
Thermal pollution
Nuclear hazards
Solid waste management: Causes, effects and control measures of urban and individual wastes,
Role of an individual in prevention of pollution.
Pollution case studies.
Disaster management : floods, earthquake, cyclone and landslides
Unit - V : Social Issues and the Environment                                                                       15
From unsustainable to sustainable development.
Urban problems related to energy
Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management
Resettlement and rehabilitation of people : its problems and concerns, case studies
Suggested Books:
Text book of Environmental Studies –Erach Bharucha, UGC
A Textbook of Environmental Studies- D.K. Asthana, Meera Asthana, S.Chand.
Environmental Studies- Prof. R.B. Singh, Dr. D.K. Thakur, Dr. J.P.S. Chauhan, Romesh Book Depot.
Perspective in Environmental Studies –Anubha Kaushik, C.P. Kaushik, New Age International.

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