Environmental Studies by Kaushik and Kaushik: A Review and Summary
Environmental Studies Book by Kaushik and Kaushik PDF 43
Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary subject that deals with the natural and man-made world. It encompasses various scientific, economic, social and ethical aspects of environmental issues. Environmental studies helps us to understand the causes, effects and solutions of environmental problems that affect our lives. It also helps us to develop a positive attitude towards the environment and adopt sustainable practices.
environmental studies book by kaushik and kaushik pdf 43
Environmental studies covers a wide range of topics such as natural resources, ecosystems, biodiversity, environmental pollution, social issues, human population, etc. These topics are interrelated and require a holistic approach to study them. Environmental studies also involves field work that enables us to observe, measure and analyze various environmental parameters.
Kaushik and Kaushik are two eminent authors who have written a comprehensive book on environmental studies. The book is titled Perspectives in Environmental Studies and it is published by New Age International. The book is based on the module syllabus of UGC for undergraduate courses in all disciplines. The book provides a clear and concise introduction to environmental studies with illustrations, tables, case studies and objective type questions.
Natural Resources
Natural resources are those materials or substances that are found in nature and can be used by humans for their benefit. Natural resources can be classified into renewable or non-renewable resources depending on their availability and rate of replenishment. Renewable resources are those that can be regenerated or replenished within a short period of time such as solar energy, wind energy, water, biomass, etc. Non-renewable resources are those that cannot be regenerated or replenished within a short period of time such as fossil fuels, minerals, metals, etc.
Natural resources are essential for human survival and development. However, due to increasing population, urbanization, industrialization and consumerism, natural resources are being depleted and overexploited at an alarming rate. This leads to various problems such as resource scarcity, resource conflicts, resource degradation, resource pollution, etc. These problems pose a serious threat to human well-being and environmental sustainability.
Therefore, it is imperative to conserve and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. This means using natural resources wisely without wasting or harming them. It also means ensuring that natural resources are available for present as well as future generations. Some of the ways to conserve and manage natural resources sustainably are:
Using renewable sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, etc.
Reducing wastage of water by adopting rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation, water recycling, etc.
Practicing sustainable agriculture by using organic farming methods such as crop rotation, composting, vermicomposting, etc.
Protecting forests by preventing deforestation, afforestation, reforestation, etc.
Minimizing mining activities by using alternative materials such as bioplastics, biomimicry, etc.
Recycling waste materials by following 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
Ecosystems
An ecosystem is a dynamic system that consists of living organisms (biotic components) such as plants, animals, microbes, etc. and non-living factors (abiotic components) such as air, water, soil, light, temperature, etc. that interact with each other in a given area. An ecosystem can be natural or artificial depending on whether it is created by nature or humans.
An ecosystem has a structure that includes different levels of organization such as individuals, populations, communities, biomes, etc. An ecosystem also has a function that includes various processes such as energy flow, nutrient cycling, food web, ecological succession, etc. An ecosystem provides various services such as provisioning services (food, fiber, fuel), regulating services (climate regulation, pollination), supporting services (soil formation), cultural services (recreation), etc.
An ecosystem is affected by various human activities such as agriculture, industry, transportation, tourism, etc. These activities cause changes in land use, habitat loss, species extinction, invasive species introduction, pollution, climate change, etc. These changes alter the structure and function of ecosystems and reduce their services. This affects human well-being and environmental sustainability.
Therefore it is important to protect and restore ecosystems in order to maintain their balance and diversity. Some of the ways to protect and restore ecosystems are:
Establishing protected areas such as national parks sanctuaries biosphere reserves etc.
Implementing conservation strategies such as in situ conservation (conserving species in their natural habitats) ex situ conservation (conserving species outside their natural habitats)
Restoring degraded ecosystems such as wetlands mangroves coral reefs etc.
Promoting ecotourism that involves responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people
Raising awareness among people about the importance of ecosystems and their services
A: Yes, the book is designed as per the module syllabus of UGC for undergraduate courses in science, humanities, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, commerce, management and law.
Q: Does the book have any exercises or case studies for practice?
A: Yes, the book has a large number of objective type questions, tables, illustrations and specific case studies mainly in the Indian context.
Q: Does the book cover any recent developments or issues in environmental studies?
A: Yes, the book covers some of the current topics such as climate change, green energy, waste management, environmental governance, etc.