Textbook of Environmental Sciences by Divya Agarwal - A Review

Authored By Dr. Divya Agarwal Associate Professor and Dr. Manoj. K. Agarwal, Director (planning) in Accurate Institute of Management & Technology, Greater Noida; Comprehensive contents, Very simple language and clear-cut concepts, solved objective questions, Very-short, Short and Long questions. The value-added textbook includes the complete coverage of the syllabus laid down by versity Grants Commission (UGC), Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) and Mahamaya Technical University (MTU). 

This book is written with the following themes:

Understanding and appreciation by the students who face great difficulty in reading, writing and reproducing English language in the examination. Thus, it is written in a very easy language and clear cut concepts, flow charts, tables and diagrammatic representations, along with coverage of latest issues and update.

Developing an insight among youngsters about the present scenario of Natural Resource Crisis The book is exceptionally different by putting emphasis on concepts of environmental sciences to help evolve a professional to grow into a green professional and an engineer to grow into a green engineer to ensure sustainable future. The concept of Natural Resource Conservation is the key to sustainability ensuring the preference of the professional by the market. The green professional will be preferred by market which is facing natural resource crisis.

Active Participatory Action The text thus emphasizes the realization of global responsibility inclusive of the role of teachers, researchers and most importantly students and local public to achieve sustainable development.

CHAPTER 1. ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND ECOLOGY provides the basic understanding of our surroundings, mutual interrelationships among the living and non-living components of ecosystem and discussed importance of environmental sciences in building a sustainable future. Environmental science, unlike many basic sciences, is the “science and management of change and relations” keeping context of ‘eco’ as forming both terms – “ecology” and “economics”, is evolving day by day, is dynamic, and is thus, as explained by Eugene P. Odum (1980), a blend of hard and soft science - natural social and engineering disciplines. But, its constitution is “interdisciplinary” rather than “multidisciplinary” unlike medical or engineering sciences.

CHAPTER 2. EFFECT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON ENVIRONMENT Discusses how anthropogenic activities affect our environment.

CHAPTER 3. NATURAL RESOURCES discusses an important issue of natural resource crisis due to exponentially increasing population, by providing examples.

CHAPTER 4. BIODIVERSITY deals with the wide variety of living species i.e wildlife. Its classification, values, conservation help minimize the conflict that may develop between man and wildlife.

CHAPTER 5. ENERGY RESOURCES Increasing population puts pressure on energy resources leading to energy crisis. Thus the importance of conservation of energy resources is discussed. Radiation pollution is also given emphasis while discussing nuclear pollution. The important case studies of nuclear pollution are Chernobyl nuclear Disaster, Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and Hiroshima Nagasaki Atom bomb case study.

CHAPTER 6. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT There is a strong need to conserve natural resources to fullfill the growing demands of all the individuals of present generation and future generation. Developing strategies for sustainable development is attempted.

CHAPTER 7. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION Growing anthropogenic interference in an ecosystem causes physico-chemical changes in the properties of air, water and soil leading to adverse environmental effects, summarised in various environmental pollution. Solid waste is a big environmental problem, needs to be addressed towards environmental conservation. Case studies of Los-angeles smog, Photochemical smog, Minamata disease, Bhopal gas tragedy are also discussed.

CHAPTER 8. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Latest issues emerging, in particular of focus on EIA/SEA, environmental audit, and environmental planning to assess damage/losses and needs assessment, and economic economics are the key features of Environmental Impact Assessment. Environment and development run hand-in-hand. EIA thus helps in minimizing the negative environmental impacts of developmental projects, helps in sustainable development. 

CHAPTER 9. ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS Environmental legislation helps protection of environment. Environmental Protection Act, 1986 is the most stringent and comprehensive law. Salient features of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Forest Conservation Act, 1980 are discussed. National policies for environmental conservation are also described in simplest possible manner.

CHAPTER 10. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Focussing on global climate change adaptation, Ozone layer depletion, Acid rain, El-nino and La-nina are the international buzz words.

CHAPTER 11. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Creating awareness among the general public about local environmental issues to let them participate towards active public participation is the aim of environmental education. The themes of environmental conferences towards conservation of environment are formulated. 

CHAPTER 12. SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Social framework help build-up sustainable development framework by promoting water conservation, disaster management, animal husbandry, promoting traditional values, religion and ethics.

CHAPTER 13. HUMAN POPULATION The increasing population, if controlled would be an effective strategy towards sustainability. Thus characteristics of increasing population should be studied.