ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

UNIT-1 MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

MEANING AND DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT

The word "Environment" is derived from the French word "Environner" that means to encircle
or surround. All the biological and non-biological things surrounding an organism are thus
included in environment.
The term "environment" means surroundings or what lies around us forms an environment or
everything which surrounds us may collectively be termed as environment.
1. According to Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 environment is sum of total water, air and
land, inter- relationship among themselves and also with the human beings, other living
organisms and property."
2. Environment can be defined as "External surroundings and conditions which directly or
indirectly affects the living organisms.”

SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENT
The natural history of the areas in which we live, we would see that our surroundings were
originally a natural landscape, such as forest, a river, a mountain, a desert, or a combination of
these elements. Most of us live in landscapes that have been profoundly modified by human
beings in villages, towns or cities. But even those of us who live in cities must get our food supply
from surrounding villages and these, in turn are dependent on natural landscapes such as forests,
grasslands, rivers, seashores, for resources, such as water for agriculture, fuelwood, fodder, and
fish. Thus, our daily lives are inseparably linked with surroundings and inevitable affect them. We
use water to drink and for other day-to- day activities we breathe air, we use resources from
which food is made, and we depend on the community of living plants and animals which for a
web of life, of which we are also a part. Everything around us forms our environment and our
lives depend on keeping its vital systems as intact as possible.
Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot continue to live without protecting the
Earth’s environmental resources.
Today the environment plays a crucial role in the development of each of us, normal human
development does not occur in the absence of environmental stimuli.
Our natural resources can be compared with money in a bank. If we use it rapidly, the capital will
be reduced to zero. On the other hand, if we use only the interest, it can sustain us over the
longer term. This is called sustainable development. Thus, each professional in their field should
strive to achieve sustainable development through their actions.
IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENT
Environment is not a single subject, it is an integration of several subjects that include both
science and social studies. To understand all the different aspects of our environment we need
to understand biology, chemistry, physics, geography, resource management, economics and
population issues.
We live in a world wherein natural resources are limited. Water, air, soil, minerals, oil, all the
products we get from forests, grasslands, oceans and from agriculture and livestock, are all a part
of our life-support, systems. Without them, life itself would be impossible. As the population is
increasing in numbers and the quantity of resources each of us uses also increases, the Earth's
resource base must inevitably shrink. The Earth cannot be expected to independently sustain this
expanding level of utilization of resources. Added to this is the misuse of resources. We waste or
pollute large amounts of nature's clean water, we create more and more material like plastic that
we discard after a single use, and we waste colossal (extremely large) amounts of food, which is
discarded as garbage. Manufacturing processes create solid waste byproducts that are discarded,
as well as chemicals that flow out as liquid waste and pollute water, and gases that pollute the
air, increasing amounts of waste cannot be managed by natural processes. These accumulate in
our environment, leading to a variety of diseases and other adverse environmental impacts now
seriously affecting all our lives. Air pollution leads to respiratory diseases, water pollution to
gastro-intestinal diseases, and many pollutants are known as cause of cancer.
This situation will only improve if each of us begins to take actions in our daily lives that will help
preserve our environmental resources. We cannot expect Governments alone to manage the
safeguarding of the environment, nor can we expect other people to prevent environmental
damage. We need to do ourselves. It is a responsibility that each of us must take on as one's own.

NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS

As the Earth's natural resources are rapidly dwindling and our environment is being increasingly
degraded by human activities, it is evident that something needs to be done. We often feel that
managing all this is something that the Government should do. But if we continue to endanger
our environment, there is no way by which the Government can perform all these clean-up
functions. It is the prevention of environmental degradation that must become a part of all our
lives. Just as for any disease, prevention is better than cure, protecting our environment is
economically more viable than cleaning it up once it is damaged. Individually, we can play a major
role in environment management. We can reduce wastage of natural resources and we can act
as watchdogs that inform the Government about sources that lead to pollution and degradation
of the environment.
This can only be made possible through public awareness, Mass media such as newspapers, radio
and television strongly influence public opinion. However, someone has to bring this about. If
each of us feels strongly about the environment, the press and media will add to our efforts.
Politicians in a democracy always respond positively to a strong publicly-supported movement.
Thus, if you join an NGO that supports conservation, you might be able to influence politicians to
make green policies. We are living on 'spaceship earth' with a limited supply of resources. Each
of us is responsible for spreading this message to as many people as possible.
INSTITUTIONS IN ENVIRONMENT
There have been several government and non-government organizations (NGOs) that are
working towards environmental protection in our country. They have led to a growing interest in
environmental protection and conservation of nature and natural resources. Among the large
number of institutions that deal with environmental protection and conservation, a few well-
known organizations are as follows:

(1) Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi: The activities of this centre include
organizing campaigns, holding workshop and conferences, and producing environment - related
publications. It has published a major document on the state of India’s environment, the first of
its kind to be produced as a Citizen's Report on the Environment. The CSE also publishes a popular
fortnightly magazine, “Down to Earth”, which focuses on science and environment. It is involved
in the publication of material in the form of books, posters, video films and also conducts
workshops and seminars on biodiversity-related issues.

(2) Uttarakhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora : This organization is a Nodal Agency that supports
NGOs in need of funds for their environment-related activities. Its major program is organizing
and training school teachers to use its local specific - Environment Education Workbook Program.
Its main target is to use sustainable resource at the village level through training school children.
Its environment education program covers about 500 schools.

(3) The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun: This institution was established in 1982, as a
major training establishment for Forest Officials and for research in wildlife management. Its
most significant publication has been planning a wildlife protected area network for India. The
organization has over the years added an enormous amount of information of India's biological
wealth. It has trained a large number of forest department officials and staff as wildlife managers.
Its [Link]. Program has trained excellent wildlife scientists. It also has an environment impact
assessment (EIA) cell. It trains personnel in ecodevelopment, wildlife biology, habitat
management and nature interpretation.
4) The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS): It is the oldest conservation research-based NGO
and is the forefront of preservation of species and ecosystem. BNHS also publishes a popular
magazine called the Horn Bill and a journal of Natural History. It has published books on birds,
snakes, mammals and trees.
(5) Centre for Environment and Education (CEE); Ahmedabad: It started in 1989. It has a wide
range of programmes on the environment and produces a variety of educational material. It has
trained many environmental educators.
(6) Botanical Survey of India (BSI)- The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890 at
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. However, it closed down for several years after 1939 and
was reopened in 1954. In 1952 plans were made to reorganise the BSI and formulate its
objectives. By 1955 the BSI had its headquarters in Calcutta with Circle Offices at Coimbatore,
Shillong, Pune and Dehra Dun. Between 1962 and 1979, offices were established in Allahabad,
Jodhpur and Gangtok. The BSI currently has nine regional centres. It carries out surveys of plant
resources in different regions.

(7) Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER), Pune-This is
part of the Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University. The Institute has a PhD and a Master’s
program in Environmental Sciences and Geoinformatics. It also offers an innovative Diploma in
Environment Education for in-service candidates. It implements a large outreach program that
has covered over 435 schools which involves training teachers and conducting Environment
Education Programmes. Research at the institute focuses on biodiversity conservation, urban
planning, clean technology, environment education and wildlife management. It develops low-
cost Interpretation Centres for natural and architectural sites that are highly locale-specific as
well as a large amount of innovative environment educational material for a variety of target
groups.

(8) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-It is a statutory organisation which was constituted
in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to prevent and control pollution to improve the
quality of India's environment. A large number of activities and programmes have been started
such as the development of source-specific pollution control norms and guidelines based on
available scientific understanding, setting up of ambient air and water quality criteria, monitoring
of ambient air and water quality, auto fuel quality and emission norms for controlling vehicular
pollution and planning for environmentally sound industrial development. Besides the CPCB,
there are 22 State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees which are responsible
for regulating and implementing environmental protection and pollution control within the state.
These State Pollution Boards are autonomous statutory bodies which are bound to report to the
CPCB for any critical matter.
(9) CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPR-EEC), Chennai-This was set up in 1988. It conducts
a variety of programs to spread environmental awareness and create an interest in conservation
among the general public. It focuses attention on NGOs, teachers, women, youth and children,
to generally promote conservation of nature and natural resources. Its programmes include
components on wildlife and biodiversity issues. CPR-EEC also produces a large number of
publications.

(10) State Department of Environment-It is present in every state of India. It is responsible for
improving the overall environmental quality within that state. The Department actively engages
in environmental assessment, monitoring, protection and awareness amongst people in the
state.
(11) World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-I), New Delhi-The WWF-I was initiated in 1969 in
Mumbai, after which the headquarters were shifted to Delhi with several branch offices all over
India. The early years focused attention on wildlife education and awareness. It runs several
programmes, including WWF the Nature Clubs of India programme for school children and works
as a think-tank and lobby force for environmental and developmental issues.
(12) Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)-The ZSI was established in 1916. Its mandate was to do a
systematic survey of the fauna in India. It has over the years collected 'type specimens' on the
basis of which our animal life has been studied. Its origins were collections based at the Indian
Museum at Calcutta, which was established in 1875. The older collections of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, which were made between 1814 and 1875, as well as those of the Indian Museum,
made between 1875 and 1916, were then transferred to the ZSI. Today, it has over a million
specimens. This makes it one of the largest collections in Asia. It has done an enormous amount
of work on taxonomy and ecology. It currently operates from 16 regional centres.
PEOPLE IN ENVIRONMENT
There have been a number of individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the
environmental history in our country. Some of the well-known names in the last century include
environmentalists, scientists, administrators, legal experts, educationists and journalists.

(1) Salim Ali: His name is synonymous with ornithology in India and with the Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS). He also wrote several great books including the famous "Book of
Indian Birds". His autobiography, ‘Fall of a Sparrow' should be read by every nature
enthusiast. He was our country's leading conservation scientist and influenced environmental
policies in our country for over 50 years.
(2) Indira Gandhi: Indira Gandhi as PM has played a highly significant role in the preservation of
India's wildlife. It was during her period as PM, that the network of protected areas (PAs)
grew from 65 to 298. The Wildlife Protection Act was formulated during the period when she
was PM and the Indian Board for Wildlife was extremely active as she personally chaired all
its meetings. BNHS frequently used her good will to get conservation action initiated by the
Government.
(3) SP Godrej: He was one of India's greatest supporters of wildlife conservation and nature
awareness programs. Between 1975 and 1999, SP Godrej received 10 awards for his
conservation activities. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1999. His friendship with
people in power combined with his deep commitment for conservation led to his playing a
major advocacy role for wildlife in India.
(4) M S Swaminathan: He is one of India's foremost agricultural scientists and has also been
concerned with various aspects of biodiversity conservation both of cultivators and wild
biodiversity. He has founded the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Chennai, which
does work on the conservation of bio-logical diversity.
(5) Madhav Gadgil: He is a well-known ecologist in India. His interests range from broad
ecological issues such as developing Community Biodiversity Registers and conserving sacred
groves to studies on the behaviour of mammals, birds and insects. He has written several
articles, published papers in journals and is the author of 6 books.
(6) M C Mehta: He is undoubtedly India's most famous environmental lawyer. Since 1984, he
has filed several Public Interest Litigations for supporting the cause of environmental
conservation. His most famous and long drawn battles supported by the Supreme Court
include protecting the Taj Mahal, cleaning up the Ganges River, banning intensive shrimp
farming on the coast, initiating Government to implement environmental education in
schools and colleges, and a variety of other conservation issues.
(7) Anil Agarwal: He was a journalist who wrote the first report on the "State of India's
Environment' in 1982. He founded the Center for Science and Environment which is an active
NGO that supports various environmental issues.
(8) Medha Patkar: She is known as one of India's champions who has supported the cause of
downtrodden tribal people whose environment is being affected by the dams on the
Narmada river.
(9) Sunderlal Bahugna: His Chipko Movement has become an internationally well-known
example of a highly successful conservation action program through the efforts of local
people for guarding their forest resources. His fight to prevent the construction of the Tehri
Dam in a fragile earthquake prone setting is a battle that he continues to wage. The Garhwal
Hills will always remember his dedication to the cause for which he has walked over 20
thousand kilometers.