Environment Class 12 Indian Eco Notes | StudyTution

Meaning of environment :

Environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totally of all resources.
• Environment is the sum total of external forces which surround us.

• It includes all the biotic and biotic factor that influence each other.

• Biotic elements:-

Biotic element include all living element like birds, animals and plants . forest , fisheries . etc ..

• A biotic element L:-

A biotic element include non — living element like air , water , land . etc.

Function of the environment :

The environment performs four vital function :

1. Provides resources for production :-

Environment supply renewable and non-renewable resources .

• Renewable resources are dose which can be used without the possibility of the resources becoming depleted or exhausted , like trees fishes , etc.

• Non-renewable resources are those which get exhausted with extraction and use. like fossil fuel.

• The natural resources provided by environment are used as inputs for production. Environment assimilated waste:- the process of production and consumption generates a lot wastage , which is absorbed by the environment.

Environment sustains life :- some basic necessities of life (sun . soil water and air ) are part of environment sustains life by providing these essential element.

It provide aesthetic services :- environment include land . forest water bodies . rainfall ,air atmosphere , etc. People enjoy the scenic beauty of these element (like that of hill station ). Such element help in improving quality of life.

Carrying capacity’ implies two thing

Resource extraction should remain below the rate of resource regeneration .

Generation of waste should remain within the absorption capacity of the environment if these two condition are not fulfilled . the environment fails to perform its vital function of life sustenance and it lead to the situation of environmental crisis’.

Resource for ens ironmental crisis:

1. The population explosion and advent of industrial revolution has increased the demand for environment resources, but they supply is limited due to overuse and misuse.

2. The intensive and extensive extraction of both renewable and non- renewable resources has exhausted some of the vital resources. Use to this, huge amount of money is spent on technology of many resource and research to explore new resources.

3. Extinction of many resources and continuous rise in population has also resulted in environmental crisis.

4. Due to affluent consumption and production standards of the developed world, the wastes generated are beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment.

5. The development process has polluted the atmosphere and wasters and there is decline in air and water quality (70% of water in India is polluted). It has resulted in increased incidence of respiratory and water- borne diseases.

6. The expenditure on health is also rising. Global environment issues such as global warm*. and ozone depletion also contribute to the increased financial commitments for the government.

Cause of global warming

• Burning of coal and petroleum products I sources of carbon dioxide. methane, nitrous oxide, ozone):

• Deforestation. which increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

• Methane gas released in animal waste: and

• Increased cattle production, which contributes to deforestation. methane production and use of fossil fuels. The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane ((1 I,) I lave increased by 419..0 and 160% respectively above pre- industrial levels since 1750.

Main effects of global warming

• Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the earth’s poles. It has led to a steep rise in sea level and coastal flooding.

• Hurricanes and other tropical storms are likely to become stronger.

• Increased incidence of tropical diseases, like malaria, cholera. dengue, chikunguniya, etc.

• There are thousands of species (like polar bears) in danger of becoming extinct forever.

Ozone depletion:

Ozone depletion refers to destruction of ozone in the ozone layer due to presence of chlorine from manmade chlorofluorocarbons( CFCs) and other forces.

Cause of ozone depletion

• CFC, which is used as cooling substances in AC’ and refrigerators; or

• Aerosol propellants and bromofluorocarbons (Halons), which is used in tire extinguishers.

Main effects of ozone depletion

• UV radiation seems to be responsible for skin cancer in human beings.

•UV radiation lowers production of phytoplankton. which affects other aquatic organisms.

• UV radiation can also influence the growth of terrestrial plants.

Montreal protocol: as ozone layer prevents most harmful wavelengths of ultras iolet light from passine through the earth’s atmospheres. its depletion has generated worldwide concern. It has led to adoption of the montreal protocol

• Montreal protocol is a historical treaty designed by the members of united nations to protect the ozone depletion.

• Under the montreal protocol, all the signing members agreed to freeze the consumption and production of CU( by the year 20 i 3.

• India signed the montreal protocol along NN i t h its London amendment on 17.09.1992.

STATE OF INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT

• The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is particularly suitable for cultivation of cotton, leading to concentration of textile industries in this region.

• The Indo-Gangetic plains spread from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal are one of the most fertile, intensively cultivated and densely populated regions in the world.

• India’s forests, though unevenly distributed, provide green cover for a majority of its population and natural cover for its wildlife.

• Large deposits of iron-ore, coal and natural gas are found in the country. India alone accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s total iron-ore reserves

India’s environmental problems pose a “Dichotomy” (contrast between two things that are represented as being entirely different):

1. Poverty is causing environmental degradation through cutting down of trees (to use fuel wood),overgrazing of animals, pollution of water resources, encroachment into forest land.

2. Affluence in living standards is causing environmental degradation because with affluence(wealth), the demand for goods and services increases. Higher demand necessitates the need for increase in production. For increasing the production, the demand for finite natural resources increases. It raises the pollution resulting from more vehicles and industries.

CHALLENGES TO INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT

Land Degradation

Land degradation refers to a decline in the overall quality of soil, water or vegetation condition commonly caused by human activities.

• It occurs through natural and man-made processes of wind erosion, water erosion and water logging • In India, and suffers from different types of degradation, mainly because of unstable use and inappropriate management practices.

• Such kind of degradation leads to the loss of invaluable nutrients and lower food grain production • Poor land use practices are responsible for the rapid land degradation in India.

Causes of Land Degradation

Some of the factors responsible for land degradation are:

1. Loss of vegetation due to deforestation

2 Overgrazing, i.e. grazing of natural pastures at stocking intensities above the livestock carryin capacity

3. Encroachment into forest land.

4. Non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures.

Degradation of Forests or Deforestation

Deforestation involves the permanent destruction of indigenous forests and woodlands. It refers to cutting, clearance and removal of rainforest, where land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.

• Deforestation is rising at such a rapid scale that it has totally disturbed the ecological balance of the country . The per capital forest land in the country is only 0.08 hectare against the requirement of 0.47 hectare to meet basic needs.

Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity is defined as the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part.

Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is fundamental to ecologically sustainable Development

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion takes place when the surface soil is washed away through excessive rains and floods. Defoi estat ion is one of the major reason for soil erosion.

• As per the estimates, soil is being eroded at a rate of 5.3 billion tonnes a year, which is in excess of the recharge capacity. As a result, country loses 0.8 million tonnes of nitrogen,1.8 million tonnes of phosphorus and 26.3 million tonnes of potassium every year.

• The quantity of nutrients lost due to erosion each year ranges from 5.8 to 8.4 million tonnes.

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the presence of materials in air in such concentration, which are harmful to man and the environment.

• In India, air pollution is widespread in urban areas where vehicles are the major contributors, and in a few other areas which have a high concentration of industries and thermal power plants.

• Vehicular emissions are of particular concern as these are ground level sources and have the maximum impact on the general population.

• The number of motor vehicles increased from 3 lakh in 1951 to 6.7 crores in 2003 and 14.18 crores in 2011. Personal transport vehicles (two-wheeler vehicles and cars only)

Some Ways to Control Air Pollution

Air pollution causes health problems and also causes damage to the environment and property It has resulted in ozone depletion, which is leading to climate change. So, there is a serious need to take steps to control it. Some of the ways to control air pollution are:

1. Promotion of public transport like use of Delhi Metro instead of private vehicles.

2. Steps should be taken for effective traffic planning and management

3. Promotion of cleaner fuels in vehicles, like use of CNG instead of petrol and diesel.

4. Promotion of cleaner fuels such as LPG in households to reduce indoor air pollution.

5. Promotion of cleaner technologies, strengthening of emission standards, introducing

6. Economic incentives and strengthening of the monitoring and reporting system

Central Pollution Control Boards In order to address water and air pollution in India, the government set up the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 1974. This was followed by states establishing their own state level boards to address all the environmental concerns.

Main Functions of Pollution Control Boards

They investigate, collect and disseminate information relating to water, air and land pollution, lay down standards for sewage/trade effluent and emissions.

These boards provide technical assistance to governments in promoting cleanliness of streams and wells by prevention, control and abatement of water and air pollution in the country.

These boards also carry out and sponsor investigation and research, relating to problems of water and air pollution and for their prevention, control or abatement.

They also organize, through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness programme for the same.

Sustainable development

As per united nation conference on environment and development (UNCD) which define it as development that meets the need of present generation without sacrificing the ability of future generation to meet their own needs

The basic aim of sustainable development is to ensure that present generation should leave stock of quality of life’ for the next generation, which is no less than what we have inherited.

Environmentalists have used the term ‘sustainability’ in an attempt to clarify the desired balance between economic growth on one hand and environmental preservation on the other.

Sustainable Development aims to ensure that present needs are fulfilled without compromising ability of future generations to meet their own needs

The term ‘sustainable development’ has its origin in the International Union for the Conservation of Natural

Resources (IUCN) 1980 World Commission Strategy report

According to the commission, sustainable development refers to the development, that meets the need for the present, without compromising the ability of future generations, to meet their own needs.

Sustainable development is a development, which: Meets the basic needs (employment, food, energy, water, housing) of all people particularly the poor people; and Ensures growth of agriculture, manufacturing and service sector, to meet these needs

Sustainable Development aims:

Sustainable and equitable use of resources, to meet the needs of the present and future generations, without causing damage to environment; To prevent further damage to our life-support systems; To conserve and nurture the biodiversity and other resources for long-term food security How to Achieve Sustainable Development? Sustainable development can be achieved, if we strictly follow the five given rules:

1. Restrict use of renewable resources

2. Substitute non-renewable with renewable resources:

3. Become Input Efficient Technological progress should be made to become input efficient

4. Control Pollution:

5. Control the growth of population

Strategies for Sustainable Development

Sustainable development will not only save the present generation from the high opportunity cost of negative environmental impact, but will serve the interests of the future generation also

The following strategies need to be adopted to achieve sustainable development:

Use of Non-conventional sources of energy: India is hugely dependent on thermal and hydro power plants to meet its power needs. But, both theses sources have adverse environmental impacts.

Non-conventional sources like wind of Energy power and solar rays are cleaner and greener energy sources, but are not

Use of Cleaner Fuels yet been explored on a large scale

STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1. Use of solar energy

India is naturally endowed with a large quantity of solar energy in the form of sunlight With the help of photovoltaic cells, solar energy can be converted into electricity Both the sources (wind power and solar rays) are totally free from pollution. Although, their initial cost is high, but the benefits are such that the high cost gets easily absorbed.

2. Use of cleaner fuels

In Urban areas, use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is being promoted to be used as fuel. In Delhi, use of CNG in public transport has significantly lowered air pollution. In Rural areas, households generally use wood, dung cake or other biomass as fuel. These fuels have several adverse implications like deforestation, reduction in green cover, wastage of cattle dung and air pollution. To overcome this problem, use of LPG and gobar gas is being promoted as they are cleaner fuels and helps in reducing household pollution to a large extent.

3. Establishment of Mini Hyde!

Plants In mountainous regions, perpetual streams can be found almost everywhere. These streams can be used to generate electricity (via turbines) through Mini-hydel plants Such power plants are more or less environment-friendly and generate enough power to meet local demands Moreover, large-scale transmission towers and cables are also not required in such plants

4. Traditional Knowledge and Practices:

Traditionally, Indian people have been close to their environment. All practices relating to agriculture system, healthcare system, housing, transport, etc. used to be environment friendly The shift from the traditional systems has caused large-scale damage to the environment and to our rural heritage. For example, India is well known for its AYUSH treatment with about 15,000 species of plants, which have medicinal properties.

5. Use of Bio-compost:

The use of chemical fertilisers to increase the agricultural proc:uction has not only adversely affected the large areas of productive land but also contaminated the water bodies. Due to of chemical fertilisers, demand for irrigation has been going up year after year. With the rise in demand for organic food, farmers have again started using compost made from organic wastes of different types. In certain parts of the country, tattles are maintained only because they produce dung, which is an important fertilizers and soil conditioner.

6. Control of Biopest:

The advent of green revolution has increased the use of chemical pesticides, which not only contaminates the food products, but also pollute the water bodies. To meet this challenge, better methods of pest control are promoted. For example, neem based pesticides are environment friendly and free from side effects. In addition, awareness is being created for use of various animals and birds (like snakes, lizards, owls, peacocks) as natural pest controllers.

7. Change in unsustainable patterns of consumption and production:

With increasing purchasing power, wasteful consumption, linked to market driven consumerism, is stressing the resource base of developing countries further. It is important to counter this through education and public awareness. In several areas, desirable limits and standards for consumption and production need to be established and applied through appropriate mechanisms, including education, incentives and legislation.