LAND DEGRATION AND LAND USE

Land Degradation, Special Focus should be on Changes in Land Cover, Forests, Moist Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, The Continuing Conflict in Land-Use, Wetlands, Cultivation, Myths About Land Degradation, Energy and Public Land-Use, Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, Soil Alteration, Soil Erosion, Sediment Transfer, Settlements.

DROUGHTS AND FAMINES

Droughts Vulnerability Assessment, Mitigation Strategy, Drought Types and Responses, Meteorological Droughts, Induced "Droughts": Spreading the Risk, Hydrological Droughts, Brazil : The Poor Pay for Disasters, Droughts and Famine, Agricultural Droughts, A Strategy for Getting Agriculture Moving in ESA, Seed Treatment, Results and Discussion, Case Studies : The Sahel Today, Latin America, The Indian Subcontinent, The Framework for Action would take into account Resource Management During Droughts.

Groundwater

Impact on Agriculture, Socio-economic Response, The Crisis Ahead, Dryness, Wildfires, Allocation of Water, Water Pollution : Water Quality, Classes of Water Pollutants, Pollutant Trace Elements in Water, Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, Metal-Organic Combinations in Water, Cyanide and Other Inorganic Chemical Species in Water, Asbestos in Water, Algal Nutrients and Eutrophication, Radionuclide in the Aquatic Environment, Acidity, Alkalinity and Salinity, Sewage and Water Pollution, Soaps, Detergents and Detergent Builders, Trace Organic Pollutants in Water, Pesticides in Water.

Forest

Forests are important aspects of a natural environment

Biodiversity Extinction:

Is a phenomenon that needs to be studied. Population Extinction and Saving Biodiversity, Species and Subspecies, Species at Risk, Loss of Biological Diversity, Ecosystems, Population Diversity and Extinction Rate, Patterns of Impact on Species, Forest and Wetland Drainage, Freshwater Wetlands, The Magic of Herbs are some important aspects. Not All Superstition, used as a Exploring Transgenic Plants, Ethno botany and Medicinal Plants, Terrestrial Fauna, Marine Animals, Increasing Bacterial Infections. Significance of Population Extinctions are some issues related to forests. Species Extinction Rate, Threats to Biodiversity, Ecological Consequence Assessment.

Deforestation and Loss of Biological Diversity:

Loss in Species, Wetland Drainage, Loss of Ecological Services, Deforestation by Human Action, Tropical Forest Resources, the Destruction of the Tropical Rain Forests.

Biotechnology and Genetic Manipulation:

Issues of Biodiversity, The Emergence of Biotechnology, Public Awareness of Biotechnology, Biotechnology : Various Aspects, New Biotechnology, The Techno centric Promises of Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology Techniques, The Control Germplasm and the New Biotechnologies, Engineering Nitrogen - Fixation, The Mismanagement of Genetic Engineering, Implications of Genetically Manipulated Organisms gives rise to Ethical Problems which include Environmental Risks, Biological Warfare Capabilities, Dangerous Trends in Agricultural Biotechnology, Nicanor Perlas, Biotechnologies and Factory Farming, Private Control of Biotechnology Research, Can there be Appropriate Agricultural Biotechnology ?, New Problems : Biotechnology and Environmental Risks, Risk Assessment.

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Wind and Water Driven Environment

Tropical Cyclones, Water Related Hazards, Cyclonic Storms in sea Storm Surges Impacts of Cyclonic Storms Coastal Floods, River and Coastal Floods, Temperature Extremes and Wildfires, Physiological Hazards. For managing these environmental issues Methods of Flood Forecasting are important. Case Study of Narmada Basin is important in this regard.

TROPICAL CYCLONES

Structure of Tropical Cyclone, Disaster Management and Mitigation Measures need to be studied Experience of Bangladesh and areas near Bay of Bengal get frequent cyclones. Robust Foundation System for Cyclone Prone Areas needs to be developed. Impact of Cyclonic Wind on Structures, Materials of construction and cost, Preliminary Design Calculations, Wind Load Calculations has to be considered for sake of environment strategies
Thunderstorms, Severe Winter Storms, and Severe Summer Storms, Types of Floods and Associated Hazards are also important.

MINING DISASTERS

Chemical and environment also through challenges to the environment specialist. Land Degradation and Reclamation, Disasters Due to Mine Subsidence, Subsidence Problems in Mining Areas, Mining and ELA, Indian Scenario, Environmental Methodology, Biological Environment, Socio-Cultural Environment, Noise Levels, Case Studies, Summary, Calamities, hazards and disasters of Fire and Explosion in Coal Mines and its diagnostics. Fire and Explosion - A Preventive Thought, Prevailing Conditions, Legislative Structures for Control of Fire, Mining and Environmental Degradation, Limestone Mining in Sirmur and Dehradun-Mussoorie Area, Khaniar Slate Quarries, Rock Salt Mines of Mandi, Proposed Cement Plant at Cheetru, Remedial Measures, Impacts of Mining Projects, The Cyclical Pattern of Instability, Project Development Cycle, Economic Consideration, Resource Demands, Health Risks, Open-Cast Mining : Environmental Impacts, Land Degradation, Hydrology and Water Pollution, Air Pollution, Noise Pollution, Vibration Problem, Occupational Health and Safety, Human Resettlement, Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Environment Management in Mining, Dimensions of Deforestation Problems, Economics of Environmental Control on a Mining Industry, Environmental Impact Assessment - A Holistic Approach, Summing up and Submission, Mines Wastes Handling, Immediate Soil Replacement, Direct Treatment, Establishment of Vegetation, Mining and Mine Land Reclamation, Consequences of Mining Operations are necessary steps for curbing mining disasters.

CHEMICALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Military Consumption and Environment, Environmental Impacts of Military Activity, Hazardous Wastes, Ignitability, Corrosively, Reactivity, Toxicity, Conclusion, The Nature of Hazardous Wastes, Hazardous Wastes Fixation threats and its Risks Associated with Hazardous Chemicals, Chemical Classifications of Hazardous Wastes, Industrial Production of Hazardous Wastes, Solid Wastes from Non-Municipal Sources and municipal resources Objectives, rules and Standards, Monitoring/Implementation, Decision-making, Publications, Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Caused During Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, (CRTD), Nuclear War, Nuclear Technology.

Global Partnership is important where Focus on Developing Countries, Summit Achievements, Summit Outcomes, New Agreements, New Conventions, New Recommendations, New Steps, Transition to Sustainable Development, The Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, Distinguishing Features, Concepts and International Dimensions, Main Themes, Reforming Policies, Alleviating Poverty, Controlling Wasteful Consumption, Focusing on the Population, Encouraging Participation, Building Capacity, Improving Technologies, Expanding Scientific Capabilities, Integrating Trade and Environment, Financial Resources, Forest Principles. Reference Guide for Sustainable Development, Conservation and Management of Resources, Role of Major Groups, Means of Implementation, Environmentally-sound Technology, Science for Sustainable Development are also required
In this section we have attempted to present a wide view of the environment scenario. In the next section, we present impact of environment on the quality of life of people.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Discuss man made environment
2. How "Biodiversity" contributes to our understanding of "Environment & Ecology"
3. Develop a case study of pollution of rivers.
4. Write an essay on micro level environment.