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A PROJECT REPORT

ON

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY

AND BIODIVERSITY

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Ms. Monika Sharma Meghna
Roll No.: 18606
B.COM LLB(HONS.)
8th Sem
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks to my teacher

“MS. Monika Sharma” who gave me the golden
opportunity to do this project on the topic “Environment,
Ecology and Biodiversity” which also helped me in doing a
lot of research and I came to know about so many new
things . I am really thankful to her.

Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and

friends who helped me a lot in finalizing the project
within the limited time frame.
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INDEX

Sr. NO PARTICULARS PAGE

NO.
1 Introduction and Meaning 4-10

2 Evolution of Environmental Law 10-13

3 Legal Provisions 13-14

4 Cases 14-16

5 Problems 16-18

6 Data/ Statistics 18-19

7 Solutions 19-20

8 conclusion 21
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Introduction:
The environment, ecology, and biodiversity are interconnecting concepts
that form the foundation for life on Earth. A healthy environment
provides the basic needs and resources that allow ecosystems to function
and support diverse species. Environmental protection, ecological
balance, and biodiversity conservation are vital for promoting
sustainability and resilience in nature.

The environment encompasses all living and non-living components that

surround organisms. It includes natural factors as well as manmade
features that influence habitats. Ecology studies interactions between
organisms and their surroundings. Biodiversity refers to the variety of
life on the planet, from genes to ecosystems. These concepts are
inextricably linked - a thriving natural world depends on maintaining
equilibrium between all living things and their non-living surroundings.

While the importance of environment, ecology and biodiversity is well

recognized, human activities continue posing threats. Unsustainable
practices result in habitat loss, pollution and climate change impacting
natural habitats. Effective implementation of laws, international treaties
and awareness programs are needed to curb adverse effects.
Collaborative efforts are essential to address challenges and ensure
environmental protection for future generations.
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This note provides an in-depth examination of environment, ecology and

biodiversity including their definitions, relationships, case studies, legal
provisions, conventions, challenges and solutions. The aim is to
highlight key aspects of these interconnected concepts and underscore
their relevance to sustainability.

Meaning and Relationship:

Environment

The environment refers to all physical, chemical and biological factors

external to an organism that influence its growth and survival. It
encompasses natural elements like air, water, soil as well as living
organisms within an ecosystem. Environmental factors also include
anthropogenic components such as buildings, roads and sources of
pollution added by humans that affect natural habitats.

Environment plays a central role in sustaining life as it supplies basic

resources and acts as the surrounding context for all living and non-
living things. It involves both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living)
components that interact in intricate ways. Changes to any aspect of the
environment directly or indirectly influence the wellbeing of organisms
inhabiting that ecosystem. For instance, loss of natural habitats due to
deforestation deprives many species of shelter and food sources.
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Environmental degradation endangers biodiversity richness associated

with that ecosystem.

Ecology

Ecology refers to scientific study of interactions between organisms and

their physical surroundings. It focuses on how living things relate to
each other and adapt to abiotic factors within their environment. Key
aspects of ecology include energy flow, nutrient cycling, population
dynamics, species interactions, impact of climate etc. Ecological
relationships and processes maintain equilibrium in natural ecosystems.

Ecology provides deeper insights about intricate connections and

interdependencies between diverse organisms inhabiting a particular
environment. It reveals how disruptions to ecological balance due to
natural or human interventions affect populations and communities. For
example, overhunting of predators upsets predator-prey dynamics
altering entire food webs. Such outcomes emphasize the need to protect
ecology for supporting thriving biodiversity.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity represents variety of life on Earth encompassing diversity at

genetic, species and ecosystem levels. It includes millions of distinct
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plant and animal forms, their genetic characteristics and assemblages

they form within communities. Biodiversity generates riches in nature
through complex interactions within and across ecosystems essential for
sustaining life support systems.

Rich biodiversity contributes towards resilience of natural environments.

Diverse gene pools help species adapt to changing climates, whereas
diverse ecosystems provide complementary ecosystem services.
Interconnected biodiversity supports food security, water purification,
carbon sequestration and other benefits. Loss of biodiversity undermines
nature’s capability to recover from shocks threatening survival of
inhabitants including humans.

Relationship

Environment, ecology and biodiversity form interdependent pillars

upholding wellbeing of natural systems. Robust environment maintains
the water, air, soil and other resources comprising habitats essential for
diverse species. Ecological balance within habitats regulates interactions
and self-correcting mechanisms stabilizing populations, communities
and flow of matter/energy. Diverse species and resilient ecosystems
supported by suitable environments and regulatory ecological processes
strengthen nature's life support functions.
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Changes to any of these factors impacts the others in a cascading

manner. For example, pollution degrading environmental conditions,
disrupts ecological balance undermining biodiversity. Habitat
fragmentation due to human activities weakens local ecology posing
threats to specialist inhabitants. Similarly, decline in a keystone species
upsets food chain equilibrium impacting community composition.
Therefore, protecting the integrity and interactions between
environment, ecology and biodiversity is crucial for sustaining natural
capital and resources relied upon for livelihoods and development.

Examples:
Environment

Different biomes like tropical rainforests, tundra, deserts, grasslands and

aquatic ecosystems represent unique environments supplying habitat
diversity. Each supports specialized organisms adapted to its abiotic
conditions. For example, the Amazon rainforest is home to
approximately one-third of all plant and animal species, with an
estimated 390 billion individual trees. Polar regions like Arctic and
Antarctic comprise ice, snow and permafrost environments crucial for
Penguins, Polar Bears and marine biodiversity. Similarly, coastal and
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marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves and wetlands regulate

shoreline integrity and provide nursery grounds.

Ecology

Food webs exemplify flow of energy and nutrients through trophic

levels in an ecosystem. Polar bear preys on seals and fish, while in turn
risk of predation from Orcas.

Symbiotic interactions like pollination and seed dispersal depict species

interdependencies. Over 90% of flowering plant species rely on
pollinators like bees, birds and insects.

Population dynamics study variabilities in population size, density,

birth/death rates of species and influencial biotic/abiotic drivers.

Community assembly is shaped by competition, niche differentiation

and environmental filters resulting in functional biodiversity.

Succession illustrates changes in communities and species structures

over time in response to natural/human disturbances.

Biodiversity

Tropical rainforests contain majority of Earth's terrestrial species with

diverse flora and fauna covering multiple ecological zones.
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Great Barrier Reef hosts over 1500 species of fish, coral, mollusks
exhibiting underwater evolutionary wonders.

Serengeti grasslands support enormous migratory herds during wet/dry

seasons through intricate predator-prey networks.

Microbial diversity drives biochemical processes in soil and aquatic

environments regulating nutrients availability.

Evolution of Environmental Laws

§ Pre-Independence Era Environmental Law

The necessity of environmental hygiene is seen from the historical

evidences of Indus valley civilisation where there is ventilated houses,
proper drainage systems, etc. This continues till the current era. But
proper legislations were established during the British era i.e. 1800-1947
AD. The following are the legislations:-

1. Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolaba) Act, 1853

2. Merchant Shipping act, 1858

3. Offences that pollute the environment were included in the Indian

Penal Code, 1860 and it was punishable under Chapter XIV of the
code.
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4. The Fisheries Act, 1897

5. The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act, 1905

6. The Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act, 1912

7. Wild Birds and animals Protection Act, 1912

8. Indian Forest Act, 1927

§ Post-independence Era Environmental Law

When India got independence from British Rule, India formed its own
constitution by 1950 but The leaders of the country gave more priority to
the economic development and elimination of poverty in the country. As
a result, the constitution did not deal much about the environmental
aspects. It was only in 1972, during a United Nations Conference on
Human Environment held at Stockholm led to adoption of various
measures to preserve the environment and prevent pollution.
Accordingly, Indian Parliament inserted two Articles, i.e., 48A and 51A
in the Constitution of India in 1976.

• Article 48 A states that the State shall endeavour to protect and

improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life
of the country.
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• Article 51A: This article mentions the Fundamental Duties that

should be followed by the citizens. It also mentions to protect and
improve the natural environment including forest, lakes, rivers and
wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.

• Apart from these two articles, Article 21 of the constitution

includes the right to clean and healthy environment.

The National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up
in 1972 which was later evolved into Ministry of Environment and
Forests (MoEF) in 1985.

The various legislations that came post-independence are as follows-

• The Prevention of Air and Water Pollution, 1974, 1981. It was in

this act that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was
constituted.

• The Forest Conservation Act, 1980. It was enacted by the Central

govt to provide conservation of forests and matters connected with
deforestation

• The Air Prevention and Control of Pollution, 1981.

• The Environmental Protection Act, 1986. It came into force soon

after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

• The Environmental Conservation Act. 1989.

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• The National Environmental Tribunal, 1995.

• National Environmental Appellate Authority Act, 1997.

• National Environment Management Act (NEMA), 1998

• Handling and Management of Hazardous Waste Rule in 1989.

• The Public Liability Insurance Act (Rules and Amendment), 1992

§ Legal Provisions, Case laws and Conventions:

India has a robust framework to safeguard environment, ecology and

conserve biodiversity through laws, judicial precedents and participation
in multilateral treaties. Key aspects are outlined below:

§ Environment Protection Act, 1986

This umbrella legislation aims at prevention, control and abatement of

pollution in all forms (air, water, soil). It empowers central government
to establish authorities, pass emission/pollution control norms and
handle contingencies.

§ Forest Conservation Act, 1980

Aimed at conserving forests by restricting de-reservation and regulating

developmental activities in forest areas. Projects require approval by
Forest Advisory Committee.
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§ Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Provides for protection, conservation and management of wildlife

through establishing protected areas and banning trade of endangered
species/products.

§ Biodiversity Act, 2002

It aims to conserve biological diversity, sustainable use of components

and equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of biological resources
and associated traditional knowledge.

§ Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

Protects water bodies by controlling disposal/release of wastewater and

enforcing effluent standards for industries and local authorities.

§ Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Regulates emission/discharge of air pollutants, assigns responsibilities to

pollution control boards and prescribes penalties for non-compliance.

Case laws:
⇒ M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum gas leak case), 1986
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Supreme Court took cognizance of Bhopal gas tragedy and issued

directives for safe handling of hazardous substances. It expanded Right
to Life to include clean environment.

⇒ Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. Union of India, 1996

Supreme Court recognized Public Trust Doctrine holding natural

resources are held in trust for benefit of people and future generations.

⇒ Virendra Gaur and Ors. v. State of Haryana, 1995

Court prohibited mining in Aravallis hills declaring forest areas essential

to maintain ecological balance cannot be denuded.

International Treaties/Conventions:

⇒ UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992

Committed signatories to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to

prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with climate.

⇒ Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992

Aims for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its

components, and fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising from use of
genetic resources.
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⇒ Ramsar Convention, 1971

Recognizes wetlands as fragile ecosystems providing essential services

and promoting their conservation through national action and
international cooperation.

⇒ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species,

1973

Regulates international trade in endangered flora and fauna species to

ensure survival.

⇒ Bonn Convention, 1979

Conserves migratory species across borders through Range State

cooperation and Appendix listings.

Problems/Challenges:
v Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
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Natural habitats are being destroyed or altered rapidly due to human

activities like extensive agriculture, deforestation, urbanization,
road/dam construction and mining. It results in loss of shelter, feeding
grounds and isolation of wildlife populations reducing mobility and
genetic mixing.

v Climate Change

Impacts of climate change like rising temperatures, shifting rainfall

patterns, extreme weather events, droughts, floods, sea level rise disrupt
ecosystems. It displaces native flora/fauna jeopardizing adapted
communities. Coral bleaching due to warming oceans poses grave
threats.

v Overexploitation

Unsustainable harvesting of biodiversity aggravates species losses.

Rampant wildlife poaching combined with habitat loss pushes several to
brink of extinction. Overfishing degrades fishing stocks and coastal
livelihoods. Unregulated tree felling depletes forests.

v Pollution
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Air, water, noise, light and soil pollution introduced through

anthropogenic activities inflicts severe damages. Plastic/chemical wastes
spread toxins killing/impairing marine life, soil microbes and invading
sensitive ecological zones. Emissions alter atmospheric chemistry
impacting climate.

v Invasive Alien Species

Non-native invasive plants and animals thrive in disturbed habitats

outcompeting indigenous species. They disrupt food chains destroying
native biodiversity across regions when introduced
intentionally/unintentionally.

Data/Statistics:

v Biodiversity Loss
• Up to 1 million species face extinction risk according to UN report
2020 due to human impacts at unprecedented scale
• Deforestation drove 93% of cleared land converted to agriculture
endangering forest dependant species
• Climate Change Impacts
• 2016-2020 ranked warmest 5 years on record according to WMO.
2021 likely to be 1 of the 7 warmest years.
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• IPCC reports over 3.3 billion people are vulnerable to climate

change posing severe threats to food/water security
• 14% plant and 8% animal species face high risk of extinction
under 2°C warming scenario compared to 1°C
• Pollution
• Plastic found in over 86% sea bird species and in marine life from
zooplanktons to whales harming ecosystems
• 77% US waterways contain microplastics. 8 million tons plastic
enter oceans annually, over 150 million tons in waters already.
• Air pollution causes approx. 7 million premature deaths annually.
India and China account for over 50% deaths.

Solutions:

Sustainable Development

Satisfying present needs without compromising future needs through

practices balancing environment, society and economy like renewables,
organic farming, green buildings etc.

Community Participation

Engaging local communities in conservation efforts through nature

education, ecotourism benefits and participation in management of
protected areas for stewardship.

Restoration of Degraded Lands

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Regenerating damaged ecological infrastructure through afforestation,

managed regeneration, assisted natural recovery and rehabilitation of
polluted sites.

Renewable Energy Transition

Reducing reliance on fossil fuels switching to clean and indigenous

renewable sources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal for energy needs
curbing emissions and air pollution.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation

Utilizing nature’s buffers against climate hazards by

conserving/sustainably managing forests, mangroves, wetlands,
grasslands and agro-ecosystems improving resilience of vulnerable
communities.

Sustainable Consumption and Production

Transitioning towards sustainable lifestyles, green procurement policies

and low carbon circular economy principles like reduce-reuse-recycle in
industrial/individual activities

Species Conservation

Effective implementation of protected area network, species recovery

planning, controlling poaching, managing invasive threats and
ecosystem/habitat restoration for threatened flora and fauna.
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Conclusion:

The environment, ecology and biodiversity are intrinsically linked

natural systems vital for sustaining life on Earth. They maintain
resilience and self-regulating capacity. However, unsustainable human
actions are threatening their integrity through problems like habitat loss,
climate impacts, resource overuse and pollution. Urgent mitigation
coupled with adaptation measures are needed based on scientific
consensus and indigenous knowledge.

While progressive laws and multilateral frameworks aim to foster

environmental protection, stronger implementation of preventive,
curative and restorative solutions is required. Individual lifestyle
changes, corporate social responsibility and community stewardship
could complement government initiatives. Collaborative global
partnerships through open exchange of climate finance, technologies and
best practices also play an important supportive role.

Overall, recognizing our deep interdependence on nature’s resources and

balancing economic growth with ecological considerations in
development decisions presents the best way forward. With dedicated
long-term efforts across all sectors, it is still possible to transition
towards more sustainable pathways ensuring a healthy environment for
present and future generations.