Environmental Studies: Meaning, Objectives, Nature, Scope, Importance and Need of Public Awareness
Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment
as the sum total of water, air, and land, their interrelationship among
themselves and with the human beings, other living beings, and property.”
The word “ENVIRONMENT” originated from the French
word “Environ”, which means to encircle or surround. The environment literally means the surroundings in which we are living. The environment includes all those things on which we are directly or indirectly dependent for our survival, whether it is living components like animals, and plants or non-living components like soil, air, and water. The first recorded usage of the word was by Carlyle
in 1827 and in 1956 it was used for the first time with the meaning we
associate with it today.
Environmental studies are the
scientific study of the environmental system and the status of its inherent or
induced changes on organisms. It includes not only the study of physical and
biological characters of the environment but also the social and cultural
factors and the impact of man on environment.
Objectives and Guiding Principles
of Environmental Studies:
According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives of environmental studies are:
(a) Creating the awareness about environmental problems among people.
(b) Imparting basic knowledge about the environment and its allied
problems.
(c) Developing an attitude of concern for the environment.
(d) Motivating public to participate in environment protection and
environment improvement.
(e) Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals in identifying
and solving environmental problems.
(f) Striving to attain harmony with Nature.
Environmental Studies is concerned with
a variety of issues, including the protection of natural resources, pollution
management, and the influence of a growing human population on the environment.
To solve these complex environmental issues, a multidisciplinary approach is
necessary. It 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.
Scope of Environmental Studies:
The scope of environmental studies is
very wide and it deals with many areas like i) Conservation of natural
resources, ii) ecological aspects, iii) pollution of the surrounding natural
resources, iv) controlling the pollution, v) social issues connected to it, and
vi) impacts of human population on the environment.
1. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and
its related problems.
2. Motivating people for active participation in environmental protection
and improvement.
3. Developing skills for active identification and development of
solutions to environmental
Problems.
4. Imbibe and inculcate the necessity for the conservation of natural
resources.
5. Evaluation of environmental programs in terms of social, economic,
ecological and aesthetic factors.
1. To clarify modern environmental concepts like how to conserve
biodiversity.
2. To know a more sustainable way of living.
3. To use natural resources more efficiently.
4. To know the behaviour of organism under natural conditions.
5. To know the interrelationship between organisms in populations and
communities.
6. To aware and educate people regarding environmental issues and
problems at local, national and international levels.
In today’s world because of
industrialization and increasing population, natural resources have been
rapidly utilised and our environment is being increasingly degraded by human
activities, so we need to protect the environment.
It is not only the duty of the government
but also the people to take an active role in protecting the environment, so
protecting our environment is economically more viable than cleaning it up
once, it is damaged.
The role of mass media such as
newspapers, radio, television, etc is also very important to make people aware
of environment. There are various institutions, which are playing
positive role towards environment to make people aware regarding environment
like BSI (Botanical Survey of India, 1890), ZSI (Zoological Survey of India,
1916), WII (Wild Life Institute of India, 1982) etc.
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