Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

1. Environmental Science
The science of Environment studies is a multidisciplinary science because it comprises
various branches of studies like chemistry, physics, medical science, life science, agriculture,
public health, sanitary engineering etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the
environment. It studies of the sources, reactions, transport, effect and fate of physical a
biological species in the air, water and soil and the effect of from human activity upon these.
Environment Explained
The word “Environment” is originated from French environ means ‘around’ or ‘to
surround’ or ‘to encompass’. This means that environment includes things or objects or events
that surround us. But this definition is not enough. This needs to be enlarged to include that
there is interaction between objects and surrounding. It is the interaction between living beings
(plants and animals) and its environment that includes physical non-living components like
oceans or land or mountains. It also includes interaction among living beings. It is thus a
multidirectional system of interactions and this system is made up of living organisms and
non-living physical components like air, water and land of our planet earth and its associated
features like weather, waves and tides.
Definitions of Environment
Some important definitions of environment are as under: ‘A person’s environment
consists of the sum total of the stimulation which he receives from his conception until his
death.’ It can be concluded from the above definition that Environment comprises various types
of forces such as physical, intellectual, economic, political, cultural, social, moral and
emotional. Environment is the sum total of all the external forces, influences and conditions,
which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and maturation of living
organisms.
– Boring
‘The term environment is used to describe, in the aggregate, all the external forces, influences
and conditions, which affect the life, nature, behaviour and the growth, development and
maturity of living organisms.’
– Douglas and Holland
Element of Environment
Environment is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural
elements interrelated in various ways, individually as well as collectively. These elements may
be explained as under:
1. Physical elements: Physical elements are as space, landforms, water bodies, climate soils,
rocks and minerals. They determine the variable character of the human habitat, its
opportunities as well as limitations.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 1
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2. Biological elements: Biological elements such as plants, animals, micro-organisms and men
constitute the biosphere.
3. Cultural elements: Cultural elements such as economic, social and political elements are
essentially manmade features, which make cultural milieu.
What is Environmental Science?
Environmental science is the study of the interactions between the physical, chemical,
and biological components of the natural world, including their effects on all types of
organisms and how humans impact their surroundings.
Environment is everything that affects an organism during its lifetime. In turn, all
organisms, including people, affect many components in their environment. From a human
point of view, environmental issues involve concerns about science, nature, health,
employment, profits, law, politics, ethics, fine arts, and economies. Therefore, environmental
science is by its nature a multidisciplinary field. The word environmental is usually understood
to mean the surrounding conditions that affect people and other organisms.
Some people consider themselves conservationists. A conservation ethic focuses on
sustainable resource use, allocation, and protection. The primary focus is on maintaining the
health of ecosystems and their biological diversity. Other people may be termed
environmentalists. The environmental ethic is a diverse scientific, social, and political
movement. An environmentalist is someone who actively works to preserve the environment
from destruction or pollution. Environmental decision making often involves compromise. A
decision that may be supportable from a scientific or economic point of view may not be
supportable from a political point of view or vice versa. Generally, the parties involved debate
and argue their viewpoints. Ultimately, when decisions are finally made, each party may have
given grounds; but hopefully, all parties are willing to accept the compromises they have made.
Review of Key Concepts of Environmental Science
Reviews of Key Concepts of Environmental Science are as follows:
1. Ecological Concepts: Environmental science was developed from the science of ecology.
Ecology is the study of the way organisms interact with each other and with their nonliving
surroundings. These interactions involve energy and matter. Living things require a constant
flow of energy and matter to ensure their survival. If the flow of energy and matter ceases, the
organism dies.
Example: from its birth to its death, a caribou interacts with millions of other organisms
(bacteria, food plants, parasites, mates, predators), drinks water, breathes, and responds to
changes in temperature and weather conditions. This list only outlines some of the various
components that make up a caribou’s environment. Because of this complexity, it is useful to
subdivide the concept of environment into abiotic (nonliving) and biotic (living) factors.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 2
 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

2. Food Chains: Autotrophs are the foundation of all food sources in the environment.
Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food. In the process called photosynthesis,
water, carbon dioxide, and light energy are used by all autotrophs to produce sugar (chemical
energy). Oxygen is released into the atmosphere as a result of this process. Autotrophs, in this
case called producers, provide a source of energy in the form of food for consumers, such as
herbivores, that are a source of energy for carnivores.
Animals typically consume a varied diet and, in turn, serve as food for a variety of other
creatures that prey on them. This vital and somewhat complex relationship between
decomposers, producers, and consumers is known as a food chain. Most food chains are
interconnected with other food chains. These interconnections create food webs.
Food Web Summary
1. Autotrophs (for example: green plants, seaweeds, and lichens) are called producers because
only they can use energy to manufacture food from inorganic raw materials.
2. This food feeds herbivores, called primary consumers.
3. Carnivores that feed on herbivores are called secondary consumers.
4. Carnivores that feed on other carnivores are tertiary (or higher) consumers.
Every organism on Earth plays a role in one or more food webs. When an organism is
removed from the web or chain, other species are affected, sometimes in a minor way and
sometimes dramatically.
Scope and Importance of Environmental studies
The scope and importance of environment are as follows:
Scope of Environment
The scope of environmental studies is very large. We have today, fairly good knowledge
of this subject especially the environmental problems that concern us and our future on this
planet. Some of the problems are global because they affect everyone in the world.
Example: Global Warming, Climate Change and Ozone Depletion. The environment consists of
four segments as under:
1. Atmosphere: The atmosphere implies the protective blanket of gases, surrounding the
earth:
 It sustains life on the earth.
 It saves it from the hostile environment of outer space.
 It absorbs most of the cosmic rays from outer space and a major portion of the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun.
 It transmits only here ultraviolet, visible, near infrared radiation (300 to 2500 nm) and
radio waves. (0.14 to 40 m) while filtering out tissue-damaging ultraviolet waves below
about 300 nm.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 3
 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

2. Hydrosphere: The Hydrosphere comprises all types of water resources oceans, seas, lakes,
rivers, streams, reservoir, polar icecaps, glaciers, and ground water.
 Nature 97% of the earth’s water supply is in the oceans,
 About 2% of the water resources are locked in the polar icecaps and glaciers.
 Only about 1% is available as fresh surface water-rivers, lakes streams, and ground
water fit to be used for human consumption and other uses.
3. Lithosphere: Lithosphere is the outer mantle of the solid earth. It consists of minerals
occurring in the earth’s crusts and the soil e.g. minerals, organic matter, air and water.
4. Biosphere: Biosphere indicates the realm of living organisms and their interactions with
environment that is atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.
Importance of Environment
The environment studies enlighten us, about the importance of protection and conservation of
our indiscriminate release of pollution into the environment. At present a great number of
environment issues, have grown in size and complexity day by day, threatening the survival of
mankind on earth. Environment studies have become significant for the following reasons:
1. Environment Issues Being of International Importance: It has been well recognised that
environment issues like global warming and ozone depletion, acid rain, marine pollution and
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.
3. Explosively Increase in Pollution: World census reflects that one in every seven persons in
this planted 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, especially for developing countries to find
alternative paths to an alternative goal. We need a goal as under:
 A goal, which ultimately is the true goal of development an environmentally sound and
sustainable development.
 A goal common to all citizens of our earth.
 A goal distant from the developing world in the manner it is from the over consuming
wasteful societies of the “developed” world.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 4
 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

5. Need to Save Humanity from Extinction: It is incumbent upon us to save the humanity from
extinction, consequent to our activities constricting 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 by synchronised with the ecological
cycles in any plan of development our actions should be planned ecologically for the
sustenance of the environment and development.
7. Misra’s Report: Misra (1991) recognized four basic principles of ecology, as under:
 Holism
 Ecosystem
 Succession
 Conversation
Holism has been considered as the real base of ecology. In hierarchical levels at which
interacting units of ecology are discussed, are as under:
Individual Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere
Misra (1991) has recognised four basic requirements of environmental management as under:
 Impact of human activities on the environment,
 Value system
 Plan and design for sustainable development,
 Environment education
Keeping in view the of goal of planning for environmentally sustainable development
India contributed to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED), also referred to as “Earth Summit”.
Various Types of Environment
According to Kurt Lewin, environment is of three types which influence the personality of an
individual as under:
1. Physical Environment,
2. Social and Cultural Environment, and
3. Psychological Environment.
These may be explained as under:
1. Physical Environment: Physical environment refers to geographical climate and weather or
physical conditions wherein and individual lives. The human races are greatly influenced by
the climate. Some examples are as under:
(a) In the cold countries i.e. European countries the people are of white colour. Likewise, in
Asian and African countries, that is, in hot countries people are of dark complexion.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 5
 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

(b) The physique of an individual depends on climate conditions as the individual tries to adjust
in his physical environment.
(c) The human working efficiency also depends on the climatic conditions.
2. Social Environment: Social Environment includes an individual’s social, economic and
political condition wherein he lives. The moral, cultural and emotional forces influence the life
and nature of individual behaviour. Society may be classified into two categories as under:
(a) An open society is very conductive for the individual development.
(b) A closed society is not very conductive for the development.
3. Psychological Environment: Although physical and social environment are common to the
individual in a specific situation, yet every individual has his own psychological environment,
in which he lives. Kurt Lewin has used the term ‘life space’ for explaining psychological
environment. The Psychological environment enables us to understand the personality of an
individual. Both the person and his goal form psychological environment.
If a person is unable to overcome the barriers, he can either get frustrated or completed
to change his goal for a new psychological environment. But adopting this mechanism, the
individual is helped in his adjustment to the environment.
Need for Public Awareness
It is essential to make the public aware of the formidable consequences of the Environmental
Degradation, if not retorted and reformative measures undertaken would result in the
extinction of life. We are facing various environmental challenges. It is essential to get the
country acquainted with these challenges so that their acts may be eco-friendly. Some of these
challenges are as under:
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 have a nexus between them. 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. Environment
degradation has adversely affected the poor who depend upon the resources of their immediate
surroundings. Thus, the challenge of poverty and the challenge environment degradation are
two facets of the same challenge.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 6
 Environmental Studies and Disaster Management [ENS 202 (2+0)]

3. Agricultural Growth: The people must be acquainted with the methods to sustain and
increase agricultural growth with damaging the environment. High yielding varieties have
caused soil salinity and damage to physical structure of soil.
4. Need to Ground Water: It is essential of rationalizing the use of groundwater. Factors like
community wastes, industrial effluents and 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 as lakes are an important challenge. It so finding
our suitable strategies for consecration of water, provision of safe drinking water and keeping
water bodies clean which are difficult challenges is essential.
5. Development of 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.
6. 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 suffer 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. Thus,
out of 226 mha, about 175 mha or 66 per cent is degraded to varying degrees. Water and wind
erosion causes further degradation of almost 150 mha. This degradation is to be avoided.
7. Reorientation of Institutions: The people should be reused to orient institutions, attitudes and
infrastructures, to suit conditions and needs today. The change has to be brought in keeping in
view India’s traditions for resources use managements and education etc. Change should be
brought in education, in attitudes, in administrative procedures and in institutions. Because it
affects way people view technology resources and development.
8. Reduction of Genetic Diversity: Proper measures to conserve genetic diversity need to be
taken. At present most wild genetic stocks have been disappearing from nature. Wilding
including the Asiatic Lion are facing problem of loss of genetic diversity. The protected areas
network like sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves are isolating populations. So, they
are decreasing changes of one group breeding with another. Remedial steps are to be taken to
check decreasing genetic diversity.
9. Evil Consequences of Urbanisation: Nearly 27 per cent Indians live in urban areas.
Urbanisation and industrialisation has given birth to a great number of environmental
problems that need urgent attention. 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.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 7
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10. Air and water Population: Majority of our industrial plants are using outdated and
population technologies and make shift facilities devoid of any provision of treating their
wastes. A great number of cities and industrial areas that 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.

Mr. Chandrakant Kamble, Assistant Professor (VSC), KRC College of Horticulture, Arabhavi, Gokak(Tq), Belagavi (Dist), Karnataka 8