Scope of Environmental Studies

Environmental studies as a subject has a wide

scope. It includes a large number of areas and
aspects, which may be summarized as follows:

• Natural resources- their conservation and

management
• Ecology and Biodiversity
• Environmental pollution and control
• Human population and environment
• Social issues in relation to development and
environment

These are the basic aspects of environmental studies which

have a direct relevance to every section of society.
 Importance of EVS
• The importance of environmental studies is that, the current trend
of environmental degradation can be reversed if people of
educated communities are organized, empowered and experts are
involved in sustainable development.

• Environmental factors greatly influence every organism and their

activities.

• At present a great number of environmental issues, have grown in

size and complexity day by day, threatening the survival of mankind
on earth. These issues are studied besides giving effective
suggestions in the environment studies.

• The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of

protection and conservation of our natural resources,
indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment etc.
The Study has become significant for the following reasons:

1.Environment Issues being of International Importance: It has been

well recognized that environment issues like global warming, ozone
depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and loss of biodiversity are not
merely national issues but are global issues and hence must be tackled
with international efforts and cooperation.
2.Problems Cropped in The Wake of Development: Development, in its
wake gave birth to Urbanization, Industrial Growth, Transportation
Systems, Agriculture and Housing etc. However, it has become phased
out in the developed world. The North, to cleanse their own
environment has, fact fully, managed to move ‘dirty’ factories to South.
When the West developed, it did so perhaps in ignorance of the
environmental impact of its activities. Evidently such a path is neither
practicable nor desirable, even if developing world follows that.
3. Explosively Increase in Population: World census reflects that one in
every seven persons in this plant lives in India. Evidently with 16 per
cent of the world's population and only 2.4 per cent of its land area,
there is a heavy pressure on the natural resources including land.
Agricultural experts have recognized soils health problems like
deficiency of micronutrients and organic matter, soil salinity and
damage of soil structure.

4. Need for An Alternative Solution: It is essential, specially for

developing countries to find alternative paths to an alternative goal.
We need a goal as under:
a. A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an
environmentally sound and sustainable development.
b. A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
c. A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the
overconsuming wasteful societies of the “developed” world.
5. Need To Save Humanity From Extinction: It is incumbent upon us to
save the humanity from extinction. Consequences to our activities
cause destructing the environment and depleting the biosphere, in
the name of development.

6. Need For Wise Planning of Development: Our survival and

sustenance depend. Resources withdraw, processing and use of the
product have all to be synchronized with the ecological cycles in any
plan of development. Our actions should be planned ecologically for
the sustenance of the environment and development.
 Need of Public Awareness
1. Growing Population: A population of over thousands of
millions is growing at 2.11 per cent every year. Over 17 million
people are added each year. It puts considerable pressure on
its natural resources and reduces the gains of development.
Hence, the greatest challenge before us is to limit the
population growth. Although population control does
automatically lead to development, yet the development
leads to a decrease in population growth rates.
2. Poverty: India has often been described a rich land with poor
people. The poverty and environmental degradation are
mixed with one another. The vast majority of our people are
directly dependent on the nature resources of the country for
their basic needs of food, fuel shelter and fodder. About 40%
of our people are still below the poverty line.
3. Environment degradation has adversely affected the poor who
depend upon the resources of their immediate surroundings. Thus,
the challenge of poverty and the challenge of environment
degradation are two facets of the same challenge.

4. Agricultural Growth: The people must be made familiar with the

methods to sustain and increase agricultural growth without
damaging the environment. High yielding varieties have caused soil
salinity and damage to physical structure of soil.

5. Need to Increase Ground water: It is essential of rationalizing the use

of groundwater. Factors like community wastes, industrial effluents,
chemical fertilizers and pesticides have polluted our surface water
and affected quality of the groundwater. It is essential to restore the
water quality of our rivers and other water bodies. Suitable
strategies for conservation of water, provision of safe drinking water
and keeping water bodies clean should be developed.
6. Development and Forests: Forests serve catchments for the rivers.
With increasing demand of water, plan to harness the mighty river
through large irrigation projects were made. Certainly, these would
submerge forests; displace local people, damage flora and fauna. As
such, the dams on the river Narmada, Bhagirathi and elsewhere
have become areas of political and scientific debate. Forests in India
have been shrinking for several centuries owing to pressures of
agriculture and other uses. Vast areas that were once green, stand
today as waste lands. These areas are to be brought back under
vegetative cover. The tribal communities inhabiting forests, respects
the trees, birds and animals give them sustenance. We must
recognize the role of these people in restoring and conserving
forests. The modern knowledge and skills of the forest department
should be integrated with the traditional knowledge and experience
of the local communities. The strategies for the joint management of
forests should be evolved in a well planned way.
7. Degradation of Land: At present out of the total 329 mha of land, only
266 mha possess any potential for production. Of this, 143 mha is
agricultural land nearly and 85 suffers from varying degrees of soil
degradation. Of the remaining 123 mha, 40 are completely
unproductive & the remaining 83 mha is classified as forest land, of
which over half is denuded to various degrees. Nearly 406 million
head of livestock have to be supported on 13 mha, or less than 4 per
cent of the land classified as pasture land, most of which is
overgrazed. This degradation is to be avoided.

8. Evil Consequences of Urbanization: Nearly 36.6% of Indians live in

urban areas. Urbanization and industrialization has given birth to a
great number of environmental problems. Over 30 percent of urban
Indians live in slums. Out of India’s 3,245 towns and cities, only 21
have partial or full sewerage and treatment facilities. Hence, coping
with rapid urbanization is a major challenge.
9. Air and water Pollution: Majority of our industrial plants are using
outdated and pollution causing technologies and makeshift facilities
devoid of any provision of treating their wastes. A great number of
cities and industrial areas have been identified as the worst in terms
of air and water pollution. Acts are enforced in the country, but their
implement is not so easy. The reason is their implementation needs
great resources, technical expertise, political and social will. Again the
people are to be made aware of these rules. Their support is
indispensable to implement these rules.