ENV 107

Introduction to
Environmental Science

Environmental Research & Organizations

North South University

Class Note 10

1
Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Humans and Sustainability

Ecological Principles and Sustainability

Sustaining Biodiversity

Sustaining Natural Resources

Sustaining Environmental Quality

Sustaining Human Societies

2
Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Humans and Sustainability

Environmental problems, their causes and

sustainability

3
Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Ecological Principles and Sustainability

Matter, Energy and

Systems
Ecosystems: what are they and how do they work?
Biodiversity and Evolution
Biodiversity, Species Interactions and Population
Control
Human population and its impacts
Climate and Biodiversity
Aquatic Biodiversity

4
Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Sustaining Biodiversity

Sustaining biodiversity: the species approach

Sustaining terrestrial biodiversity: the ecosystem approach
Sustaining aquatic biodiversity

5
Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Sustaining Natural Resources

Food, Soil and Pest

Management
Water Resources
Nonrenewable Resources
Renewable Resources
Energy Efficiency

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Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Sustaining Environmental Quality

Environmental hazards and human health

Air pollution
Climate disruption and ozone depletion
Water pollution
Solid and hazardous waste
Cities and sustainability

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Environmental Learning: Insights
from Research
Sustaining Human Societies

Economics, environment and sustainability

Politics, environment and sustainability

Environmental worldviews, ethics and sustainability

8
 Necessity of Environmental
Education in Bangladesh

“ The State shall endeavor to protect

and improve the environment and to
preserve and safeguard the natural
recourses, biodiversity, wetlands,
forests and wild life for the present
and future citizens.
”
Constitution of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Government, 2011, p.27

Article 18A: Protection and improve of environment and biodiversity

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 Necessity of Environmental
Education in Bangladesh

“ Education and Citizen Awareness

(8.2) requires that environmental
curriculum is included at all levels of
education and training offered by all
formal and information educational

”
and training institutions
(Draft) National Environmental Policy 2013

Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoB, p.34

10
Interdisciplinary
Environmental
Research

Environment is at the forefront of the international agenda in recent time

Various international and national organizations are working on environment.

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 Environmental Organizations
Understanding the prospects of graduates
of environmental science or management

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International Organizations on Environment
some examples

International Centre for Diarrhoeal

Disease Research, Bangladesh

 World Wide Fund for Nature 13

 International Organizations on Environment
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC)
 a scientific and intergovernmental body under the auspices of
the United Nations, set up to provide the world with an:
◦ Objective and scientific view of climate change 
◦ its political and economic impacts. 
 first established in 1988 by two United Nations organizations
  World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
 produces reports which cover
◦ the scientific,
◦ technical
◦ socio-economic …
…information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of
human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options
for adaptation and mitigation.
 These support the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the main international
treaty on climate change 14
 International Organizations on Environment
International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=0uf5e9vsXWo&feature=youtu.be

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 National Organizations on Environment

Ministry of Environment and Forests

Ministry of Water Resources
River Research Institute

Centre for Environmental Geographical

Information Services 16
 National Organizations on Environment
 DEPARMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, MoEF, GOB
 vision is to ensure sustainable environmental governance
for achieving high quality of life for the benefit of
present and future generations

 mission: to help secure clean and healthy environment

for the benefit of present and future generations:
i) Through the fair and consistent application of
environmental rules and regulations
ii) Through guiding, training and promoting awareness of
environmental issues and
iii) Through sustainable action on critical environmental
problems that demonstrate practical solutions and that
galvanize public support and involvement 17
 National Organizations on Environment
National nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs/Societies) working in relation to environment
in Bangladesh are:
◦ Arannayk Foundation
◦ Shushilan
◦ Society for Environment and Human Development
(SEHD)
◦ Environment and Social Development Organization
(ESDO)
◦ Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN)
◦ Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA)
◦ Unnayan Onneshan-the Innovators
◦ Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI)
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 National Organizations on Environment
National nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs/Societies) working in relation to environment
in Bangladesh are:
◦ Bangladesh POUSH
◦ Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS)
◦ BRAC Disaster Management and Climate Change
(DMCC) programme
◦ Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
(BELA)
◦ Environment and Population Research Centre
(EPRC)

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 National Organizations on Environment
CEGIS
a scientifically independent organisation
and performs integrated environmental
analysis using technologies such as
Geographical Information Systems,
Remote Sensing, IT and databases.
It provides solutions to issues and
problems in a wide range of sectors, such
as – but not limited to –
◦ water, land, agriculture, meteorology,
forestry, fisheries, morphology, ecology,
environment, climate change, archeology,
socio-economy, power, transportation and
disasters. 20
 National Organizations on Environment
Society for Environment and Human
Development (SEHD)
 The two broad areas of SEHD’s work are
1) human rights
2) environment
 Specific areas include:
 tea workers,
 Adivasis (indigenous people),
 forests,
 journalism,
 sex workers,
 coastal environment
 SEHD has publications on these areas, which include
books, documentaries, photography exhibitions and
investigative reports. It also hosts a special documentation
library at its office in Dhaka.
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 National Organizations on Environment
research institutes at universities working in the
area environment in Bangladesh are:
◦ Institute for Water and Flood Management (IWFM), BUET
(research)
◦ Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research
(C3ER), BRAC University

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 National Organizations on Environment
 Institute for Water and Flood Management (IWFM),
BUET
◦ Bangladesh is predominantly a floodplain country
where water is key to socio-economic development
and sustainability of ecosystems.
◦ Flood, drought, cyclone, river erosion, siltation, and
water scarcity in dry season have made water
management a challenging task.
◦ To address these issues, the Institute of Flood
Control and Drainage Research was established in
1974 and later renamed as the Institute of Water and
Flood Management (IWFM) in 2002.
◦ The Institute pursues research and capacity
development in the field of water and flood
management that is vital for economic development
and social prosperity of the country. The Institute also
provides advisory and consultancy services to
government and non-government organizations. 23
 PROSPECTS FOR STUDENTS IN THE
FUTURE
The list of environmental organization
mentioned here is not exhaustive.
However it demonstrates the rising demand
for environmental professionals.
In addition to these organizations, most
industries in Bangladesh now require
employees who understand environmental
compliance and thus graduates of
environmental science or management.
In the line of research, interdisciplinarity is
being given much preference, requiring a
multidisciplinary team often consisting of
environmental researchers. 24
Reading Materials
1) HENVI. 2011. Why does society need
environmental research? 2011. Helsinki University Center for
Environment. University of Helsinki

2) Sujauddin, M. and Amin, ATMN. 2014. Evolution of Environmental

Science Curriculum: A Comparative Perspective. In: Endeavor for Basic
Undergraduate Course Curricular Requirements in Environmental Sciences
to Meet the Challenges of Twenty First Century. June 20-21. CSS Ava
Center, 82 Rupsha Strand Road, Khulna. Arranged by Environmental
Science Discipline, Khulna University

3) Haque, SMS., Hossain, MM and Islam, KMN. 2013. Introduction to

Environmental Science in Bangladesh. Degradation of Upland Watershed
in Bangladesh Project- a USDA funded project, Grant No. BG-ARS-123.
IFESCU

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