Page 1 :
The Multidisciplinary Nature of, Environmental Studies, , 1.1. DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE, 1.1.1 Definition, 12 Scope, , is Importance, , Scanned with CamScanner, , ww ww

Page 2 :
1.1 DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE, 1.1.1 Definition, , Environmental studies deals with every issue that, affects an organism. It is essentially a, multidisciplinary approach that brings about an, appreciation of our natural world and human, impacts on its integrity. It is an applied science, as its seeks practical answers to making human, civilization sustainable on the earth's finite resources., , Its components include biology, geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, sociology, health,, anthropology, economics, statistics, computers, and philosophy., , 1.1.2 Scope, , As we look around at the area in which we live,, we see that our surroundings were originally a, natural landscape such as a forest, a river, a, mountain, a desert, or a combination of these, elements. Most of us live in landscapes that have, been heavily modified by human beings, in villages, towns or cities. But even those of us who, live in cities 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, fuel wood, fodder, and fish. Thus, our daily lives are linked with our surroundings, and inevitably affects 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 form 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. Thus most traditions refer to our environment as ‘Mother, Nature’ and most traditional societies have, learned that respecting nature is vital for their, livelihoods. This has led to many cultural practices that helped traditional societies protect and, preserve their natural resources, Respect for, nature and all living creatures is not new to India. All our traditions are based on these values., Emperor Ashoka’s edict proclaimed that all, forms of life are important for our well being in, Fourth Century BC., , Over the past 200 years however, modern societies began to believe that easy answers to the, question of producing more resources could be, provided by means of technological innovations., For example, though growing more food by, using fertilizers and pesticides, developing better strains of domestic animals and crops, irrigating farmland through mega dams and, developing industry, led to rapid economic, growth, the ill effects of this type of development, led to environmental degradation,, , The industrial development and intensive agriculture that provides the goods for our increasingly consumer oriented society uses up large, amounts of natural resources such as water,, minerals, petroleum products, wood, etc. Nonrenewable resources, such as minerals and oil, are those which will be exhausted in the future, if we continue to extract these without a, thought for subsequent generations. Renew, The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies 3, , Scanned with CamScanner

Page 3 :
able resources, such as timber and water, are, those which can be used but can be regenerated by natural processes such as regrowth or, rainfall. But these too will be depleted if we continue to use them faster than nature can replace them. For example, if the removal of, timber and firewood from a forest is faster than, the regrowth and regeneration of trees, it cannot replenish the supply. And loss of forest cover, not only depletes the forest of its resources, such, as timber and other non-wood products, but, affect our water resources because an intact, natural forest acts like a sponge which holds, water and releases it slowly. Deforestation leads, to floods in the monsoon and dry rivers once, the rains are over,, , Such multiple effects on the environment resulting from routine human activities must be, appreciated by each one of us, if it is to provide, us with the resources we need in the long-term, , 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, utilisation or development., , Activity 1:, , Take any article that you use in daily life a bucket full of water, or an item of food, a, table, or a book. Trace its components journey backwards from your home to their origins as natural resources in our, environment. How many of these components are renewable resources and how, many non-renewable?, , Understanding and making ourselves more, aware of our environmental assets and problems is not enough. We, each one of us, must, become increasingly concerned about our envi, , , ronment and change the way in which we use, every resource. Unsustainable utilization can, result from overuse of resources, because of, population increase, and because many of us, are using more resources than we really need, Most of us indulge in wasteful behaviour patterns without ever thinking about their environmental impacts. Thus, for all our actions to be, environmentally positive we need to look from, a new perspective at how we use resources. For, every resource we use we must ask ourselves, the following questions:, , © Whatis the rarity of the resource and where, does it originate?, , © Who uses it most intensively and how?, , © How is it being overused or misused?, , e¢ Who is responsible for its improper use —, the resource collector, the rniddleman, the, end user?, , © How can we help to conserve it and prevent its unsustainable use?, , Activity 2:, , Try to answer the questions above for one, , of the components in the article you chose, , in Activity 1. Then answer the following, questions:, , Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, , Scanned with CamScanner

Page 4 :
* Are you using that, unsustainably?, , resource, , * In what ways could you reduce, reuse, and recycle that resource?, , * Is there an unequal distribution of this, resource so that you are more fortunate, than many others who have less access, to it?, , Once we begin to ask these questions of ourselves, we will begin to live lifestyles that are, more sustainable and will support our environment., , 1.1.3 Importance, , 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. Thus the scope of environmental studies is extremely wide and covers, some aspects of nearly every major discipline., , We live in a world in which natural resources, are limited. Water, air, soil, minerals, oil, 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 we keep 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 sustain this expanding, level of utilization of resources, Added to this is, 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, 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 natutal 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 to cause cancer, , , , Improving this situation will only happen 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 it ourselves. It is a responsibility that each of us must, take on as ones Own. _, , , , The Multidisciplinary Nature of Environmental Studies 5, , Scanned with CamScanner

Page 5 :
Activity 3:, , * Think of all the things that you do in a, day. List these activities and identify the, main resources used during these activities. What can you do to prevent, waste, reuse articles that you normally, throw away, what recycled materials, can you use?, , * Think of the various energy sources you, use everyday. How could you reduce, their use?, , Activity 4: Exercises in self learning about, the environment, , Attempt to assess the level of damage to, the environment due to your actions that, have occurred during your last working day,, the last week, the last year. Then estimate, the damage you are likely to do in your lifetime if you continue in your present ways., , Use the following examples for the above exercise, , Example — Plastic: Plastic bags, plastic ball pens, Think about all the articles you use daily that, are made from piastic. Plastic plays an important part in our modern lives, , Make a list of the plastic articles you usually use, , How can you reduce the amount of plastic you, use?, , What effects does plastic have on our environment?, , Where did the plastic come from/ how is it, made?, , What happens to it when you throw it away/, where does it go?, , Example — Fossil fuels:, , How much do you use? Can you reduce your, consumption?, , What effect does it have on the air we breathe?, , When we leave a motorbike or car running during a traffic stop, we do not usually remember, that the fuel we are wasting is a part of a nonrenewable resource that the earth cannot reform. Once all the fossil fuels are burnt off, it, will mean the end of oil as a source of energy, Only if each of us contributes our part in conserving fossil based energy can we make it last, longer on earth, , Example - Water., , How much do you really need to use, as against, how much you waste when you, , (a) Brush your teeth? (b) Have a bath? (c) Wash, clothes? (d) Wash the scooter or car?, , Where did the water come from? What is its, actual source? How has it reached you?, , Where will the waste water go?, , Do you feel you should change the way you use, water? How can you change this so that it is, more sustainable?, , Example - Food:, , Where has it come from? How is it grown? What, , chemicals are used in its production? How does, it reach you?, , Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, , Scanned with CamScanner