Multi-disciplinary

Nature of
Environmental Studies
Module 1: Unit 1
Definition

► Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects

an organism.
► It’s a multidisciplinary approach
► Its an applied science.
► Its components include biology, geology, chemistry,
physics, engineering, sociology, health, anthropology,
economics, statistics, computers and philosophy.
Scope

► We are dependent on natural landscapes such as forests,

grasslands, rivers, seashores, for resources such as water
for agriculture, fuel wood, fodder, and fish.
► Hence our daily lives are linked with our surroundings and
inevitably affects them.
► Most traditions refer to our environment as ‘Mother
Nature’ and most traditional societies have learned that
respecting nature is vital for their livelihoods.
Scope

► Our increasingly consumer oriented society uses up large

amounts of natural resources such as water, minerals,
petroleum products, wood, etc.
► Non-renewable 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.
► Renewable resources, such as timber and water, are those
which can be used but can be regenerated by natural
processes such as regrowth or rainfall.
Scope

► 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.
► 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.
Importance

► We live in a world in which natural resources are limited.

Without them, life itself would be impossible.
► The earth cannot be expected to sustain this expanding
level of utilization of resources. Added to this is misuse of
resources.
► Increasing amounts of waste cannot be managed by natural
processes. These accumulate in our environment, leading
to a variety of diseases and other adverse environmental
impacts now seriously affecting all our lives.
Importance

► Productive value of nature.

► Aesthetic/Recreational value of nature
► The option values of nature
Unit 2; Natural Resources
Natural resources

Natural Resources
Abiotic
Biotic
► Plants and animals can only survive as communities of
different organisms, all closely linked to each in their own
habitat, and requiring specific abiotic conditions.
► Interactions between the abiotic aspects of nature and
specific living organisms together form ecosystems.
Natural Resources And Associated
Problems
► The consumption of resources per capita (per individual) of the
developed countries is up to 50 times greater than in most
developing countries.
► Advanced countries produce over 75% of global industrial waste and
greenhouse gases.
► Energy from fossil fuels is consumed in relatively much greater
quantities in developed countries.
► Land as a resource is now under serious pressure due to an
increasing ‘land hunger’ - to produce sufficient quantities of food
for an exploding human population. It is also affected by
degradation due to misuse.
Natural Resources And Associated
Problems
► The most damaging change in land use is demonstrated by
the rapidity with which forests have vanished.
► The quality of human life and the quality of ecosystems on
earth are indicators of the sustainable use of resources.
► Human development index include:
1.Increased longevity
2.An increase in knowledge
3.An enhancement of income.
Natural Resources And Associated
Problems
► Indicators of the quality of the ecosystems
• A stabilized population.
• The long term conservation of biodiversity.
• The careful long-term use of natural resources.
• The prevention of degradation and pollution of the
environment.