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Evs Notes - Rejinpaul PDF
Evs Notes - Rejinpaul PDF
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ECOSYSTEM
The term ecosystem is coined from a Greek word
meaning study of home.
It is the basic functional unit of ecology.
Ecology means the study of ecosystem.
An ecosystem can be defined as a group of organisms
interacting among themselves and with their
environment.
TYPES OF ECOSYSTEM
Ecosystem
Artificial/Man
Natural ecosystem
engineered
ecosystem
e.g: croplands,
Terrestrial
dams, etc., Aquatic ecosystem
ecosystem
NATURAL ECOSYSTEM
Operates themselves under natural conditions.
Based on their habitat types, it can be further classified into
two types,
1) Terrestrial ecosystem related to land vegetation grassland
ecosystem, forest ecosystem, desert ecosystem , etc.,
2) Aquatic ecosystem related to water and is further sub
classified into 2 types based on their salt content as,
Fresh water ecosystem
a) Running water ecosystem rivers, streams.
b) Standing water ecosystem pond, lake.
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STRUCTURE ( OR ) COMPONENTS
OF AN ECOSYSTEM
An ecosystem has two major components ,
Ecosystem
Biotic
component
Fig. 1 Components of an ecosystem and their relationship
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ABIOTIC COMPONENTS
The non-living components of an ecosystem
BIOTIC COMPONENTS
The living organisms or the living members of an ecosystem.
The living components are made of many different species which are
distinguished based on their feeding habit. It includes,
1) Autotrophic components include producers which are autotrops &
they derive energy from sunlight to make organic compounds.
Examples- Green plants, algae, bacteria, etc.,
2) Heterotrophic components include consumers and decomposers
which are heterotrophs i.e. they depend on others especially the
producers for food.
The heterotrophs are
a) Macro consumers herbivores, carnivores, omnivores.
b) Saprotrophs ( micro consumers) decomposers ( bacteria, fungi,
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CLASSIFICATION OF BIOTIC
COMPONENTS
Biotic components are grouped into 3 groups based on their
feeding habit.
Producers ( Autotrophs) synthesize their own food through
photosynthesis .
hv
6Co2 + 12 H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
chlorophyll
F UNCTION OF AN ECOSYSTEM
The major nutrients like C, H, O & N are cycled again & again
between biotic & abiotic components of the ecosystem.
C ARBON CYCLE
Carbon basic component in all the organic compounds.
It is present in all biotic components in different forms such as
carbohydrates, proteins, fats & aminoacids.
N ITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen is present in the atmosphere as N2 in large amounts (78%).
It is present in all biotic components in different forms such as
proteins, vitamins ,aminoacids, etc.,
It is taken up by the green plants and these move through the food
chain.
After the death of the plants & animals, the organic nitrogen in
dead tissues is decomposed by several ammonifying & nitrifying
bacteria into ammonia, nitrites & nitrates.
Nitrates again converted into molecular nitrogen (N2) which are
again used by the plants.
Nitrification conversion of ammonia into nitrates by nitrifying
bacteria - Nitrobacter, Nitrosomonas
Denitrification- conversion of nitrates into nitrogen by denitrifying
bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescence
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P HOSPHOROUS CYCLE
Phosphorous is mainly present in the rocks & fossils.
Sea birds eat sea fishes, which are phosphorous rich & the
excreta of the birds return the phosphorous to the land.
E COLOGICAL SUCCESSION
The progressive replacement of one community by another
till the development of stable community in a particular area
F OOD CHAINS
The sequence of eating and being eaten in an ecosystem is
known as food chain.
A food chain always starts with plant life & ends with animal.
o Starts with dead organic matter (plants & animals) & goes to
decomposer food chain through herbivores & carnivores.
In a forest ecosystem
Heat Heat
Producers Herbivores Carnivores
(grass) (Deer) (Lion)
10%
Dead organic
Grazing food chain
matter 90%
Heat Heat
Decomposers Carnivores
(Bacteria) (Soil animal)
F OOD WEB
The interlocking pattern of various food chains in an
ecosystem is known as food web.
E COLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
Graphicalrepresentation of structure
& function of tropic levels of an
ecosystem is called ecological
pyramids.
1) Pyramid of numbers
2) Pyramid of energy
3) Pyramid of biomass
P YRAMID OF NUMBERS
Itrepresents the number
of individual organisms
present in each tropic
levels.
P YRAMID OF ENERGY
It represents the amount of energy present in each tropic
levels.
P YRAMID OF BIOMASS
Theamount of living (or) organic matter present in a particular
environment (or) tropic level is called biomass.
F OREST ECOSYSTEM
A forest ecosystem is the one in which tall & dense trees grow
that support many animals & birds.
Biotic components
Consumers
G RASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
1) Tropical grasslands
2) Temperate grasslands
3) Polar grasslands
Tropical grasslands
Temperate grasslands
o Get &
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Polar grasslands
C HARACTERISTICS OF
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM
D ESERT ECOSYSTEMS
C HARACTERISTICS FEATURES OF
DESERT ECOSYSTEMS
Vegetation is poor
Abiotic components
o Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, water, etc.,
o The temperature is very high
o Rainfall & the nutrient cycling is very low
Biotic components
Producers
Shrubs, bushes, some grasses & few trees
Mostly succulent (e.g., cacti) plants are available which
have water inside them to stay alive & waxy layer on the
outside to protect them from the sun.
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Consumers
Most of the animals can extract water from the seeds they eat.
Decomposers
A QUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
The aquatic ecosystem deals with water bodies.
Consumers
L AKE ECOSYSTEM
Depending upon their depth & distance from the shore, lakes
consists of 4 distinct zones.
Abiotic components
o Temperature, light, pH, nutrients, organic & inorganic
compounds
Biotic components
Producers
o Phytoplanktons, algae, water grasses, aquatic masses &
other amphibious plants.
Consumers
a) Primary consumers water insects, snails, fishes
b) Secondary consumers Birds & mammals
Decomposers - bacteria & fungi .
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S ALT WATER ECOSYSTEM
OCEAN ( OR ) MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Abiotic components
o Temperature, light, NaCl, K, Ca and Mg salts, alkalinity.
Biotic components
Producers
o Phytoplanktons ( diatoms, unicellular algae, etc.,) & marine plants
( sea weeds, chlorophyceal, phaeophyceae)
Consumers
a) Primary consumers ( Herbivores) Crustaceans, moiluscs, fish.
b) Secondary consumers (Carnivores) Herring sahd, mackerel, etc.,
c) Tertiary consumers Cod, Haddock, etc.,
Decomposers - bacteria & fungi
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E STUARINE ECOSYSTEM
Biotic components
Producers
Consumers
Decomposers
ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
Introduction
Environmental pollution may be defined as, the
unfavorable alteration of our surroundings.
It changes the quality of air, water & land which interferes
with the health of humans & other life on earth.
Pollutants are of 2 types
Biodegradable pollutants decompose rapidly by
natural processes.
Non-degradable pollutants do not decompose or
decompose slowly in the environment. The slowly
decomposed materials are more dangerous because it is
more difficult to remove them.
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Classification of Pollution
The different kinds of pollution that affects the
environment are,
1) Air Pollution
2) Water Pollution
3) Soil Pollution
4) Marine Pollution
5) Noise Pollution
6) Thermal Pollution
7) Nuclear hazards
Air Pollution
Air pollution may be defined as, the presence of one or
more contaminants like dust, smoke, mist & odour in
the atmosphere which are injurious to human
beings, plants & animals.
Some causes of pollution in general are,
Rapid industrialization
Fast urbanization
Rapid growth in population
Drastic increase in vehicles on the roads and
Other activities of human beings
Health effects
React with heamoglobin in red blood cells & reduce the
ability of blood to bring oxygen to body cells & tissues,
which causes headache & anemia.
At high levels it causes coma, irreversible brain cell
damage & death.
Environmental effects
It increases the global temperature.
Nitrogen di oxide (NO2)
Description
It is a reddish-brown, irritating gas that gives
photochemical smog.
In the atmosphere it can be converted to nitric acid.
NO2 + moisture HNO3
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Environmental effects
Can harm wild life.
Hydrocarbons (aromatic & aliphatic)
Description
Hydrocarbons especially lower hydrocarbons get accumulated
due to the decay of vegetable matter.
Human sources (causes)
Agriculture
Decay of plants
Burning of wet logs
Health effects
Carcinogenic
Environmental effects
It produces an oily film on the surface & do not as such causes a
serious problem until they react to form secondary pollutants.
Ethylene causes plant damage even at low concentrations.
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Chromium (Cr)
Description
It is a solid toxic metal, emitted into the atmosphere as
particulate matter.
Human sources (causes)
Paint
Smelters
Chromium manufacture
Chromium plating
Health effects
Perforation of nasal septum
Chrome holes
Gastro intestinal ulcer
Central nervous system disease and
Cancer
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Industries & waste disposal sites should be situated outside the city
centre preferably downwind of the city.
Use catalytic converters to help control the emissions of CO &
hydrocarbons.
Control measures in industrial centres
1) The emission rates should be restricted to permissible levels by each
& every industry.
2) Incorporation of air pollution control equipments in the design of
the plant layout must be made mandatory.
3) Continuous monitoring of the atmosphere for the pollutants should
be carried out to know the emission levels.
Equipments used to control air pollution
To ensure sufficient supply of oxygen to the combustion chamber &
adequate temperature so that combustion is complete, eliminating
much of the smoke consisting of partly burnt ashes & dust.
To use mechanical devices such as scrubbers, cyclones, bag houses
& electrostatic precipitators, reducing particulate pollutants.
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Water pollution
The alteration in physical, chemical & biological
characteristics of water which may cause harmful effects
on humans & aquatic lives.
The pollutants include
Sewage
Industrial chemicals & effluents
Oil & other wastes
Besides
chemicals from the air dissolved in rain water
Fertilizers, pesticides & herbicides leached form the land
also pollute water.
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Effects
Large populations of bacteria decomposing these wastes can
degrade water quality by depleting water of dissolved oxygen.
This causes fish & other forms of O2 consuming aquatic life to
die.
Inorganic chemicals
Water soluble inorganic chemicals.
1) Acids,
2) Compounds of toxic metals such as Pb, arsenic &
selenium
3) Salts such as Nacl in ocean water & fluorides found in
some soils.
Human sources (causes)
Surface runoff
industrial effluents
Household cleansers
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Effects
1) Can make fresh water unusable for drinking or irrigation.
2) Causes skin cancers & neck damage.
3) Damage the nervous system, liver & kidneys.
4) Harm fish & other aquatic life.
5) Lower crop yields.
6) Accelerates corrosion of metals exposed to such water.
Organic chemicals
Oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents, detergents.
Human sources (causes)
Surface runoff from farms
industrial effluents
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Effects
1) Can threaten human health by causing nervous system
damage & some cancers.
2) Harm fish & wild life.
Plant nutrients
Water soluble compounds containing nitrate, phosphate &
ammonium ions.
Human sources (causes)
Sewage
Manure
Runoff of agricultural & urban fertilizers
Effects
1) Can cause excessive growth of algae & other aquatic plants,
which die, decay, deplete dissolved O2 in H2O & kill the fish.
2) Drinking water with excessive levels of nitrates lower the O2
carrying capacity of the blood & can kill urban children &
infants. Get useful study materials from www.rejinpaul.com
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Sediment
Soil, silt, etc.,
Human sources (causes)
Land erosion
Effects
1) Can reduce photosynthesis & cloud water.
2) Disrupt aquatic food webs.
3) Carry pesticides, bacteria & other harmful substances.
4) Settle out & destroy feeding and spawning rounds of fish.
5) Clog & fill lakes, artificial reservoirs, stream channels & harbours.
Radioactive materials
Radioactive isotopes of iodine, radon, uranium, cesium & thorium.
Human sources (causes)
Nuclear power plants
Mining & processing of uranium and other ores
Nuclear weapons production &
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Effects
1) Genetic mutations
2) Birth defects &
3) Certain cancers
Heat (Thermal pollution)
Excessive heat.
Human sources (causes)
Water cooling of electric power plants & some types of industrial plants.
Effects
1) Lowers dissolved O2 levels & makes aquatic organisms more vulnerable to
disease, parasites & toxic chemicals.
2) When a power plant first opens or shuts down for repair, fish & other
organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by the
abrupt change in H2O temperature known as thermal shock.
Point & Non-point sources of Water pollution
Point sources
Discharged pollutants at specific locations through pipes, ditches or sewers
into bodies of surface water.
Examples : factories, sewage treatment plants, abandoned underground
mines & oil tankers.
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Preliminary treatment
Coarse solids & suspended impurities are removed by passing
the waste water through bar and mesh screens.
Primary treatment (or) Settling process
Greater proportion of the suspended inorganic & organic solids
are removed from the liquid sewage by settling.
To promote quick settling coagulants like alum, ferrous
sulphate are added.
These produce large gelatinous precipitates, which entrap
finely divided organic matter & settle rapidly.
Al2(SO4)3 + 6H2O 2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4
Secondary (or) Biological treatment
Biodegradable organic impurities are removed by aerobic
bacteria.
It removes upto 90% of the O2 demanding wastes.
This is done by trickling filter
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Air supply
Sewage
effluent Sedimentation Effluent
from Aeration tank for drainage
tank
Primary treatment
Tertiary treatment
The effluent is introduced into a flocculation tank, where
lime is added to remove phosphates.
From here, the effluent is led to ammonia stripping tower,
where pH is maintained to 11 & the NH4 ions is converted
to gaseous NH3.
Then the effluent is allowed to pass through activated charcoal
column, where minute organic wastes are adsorbed by
charcoal.
Finally the effluent water is treated with disinfectant
(chlorine).
Disposal of sludge
This is the last stage in the sewage treatment.
Sludge formed from different steps can be disposed by,
1) Dumping into low-lying areas
2) Burning of sludge (incineration)
3) Dumping into the sea
4) Using it as low grade fertilizers.
Raw
Coagulant Activated sludge Treated sewage
sewage
Chlorination
Screening Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Trickling filter
Thermal pollution
Thermal pollution is defined as the addition of excess of
undesirable heat to water that makes it harmful to
man, animal or aquatic life or otherwise causes
significant departures from the normal activities of
aquatic communities in water.
Sources (causes) of thermal pollution
a) Nuclear power plants
b) Coal-fired power plants
c) Industrial effluents
d) Domestic sewage
e) Hydro-electric power
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Domestic sewage
Domestic sewage is commonly discharged into rivers, lakes,
canals or streams with or without waste treatment.
The municipal sewage normally has a higher temperature than
the receiving water.
With the increase in temperature of the receiving water, the
dissolved oxygen content decreases & the demand of oxygen
increases.
Hence the anaerobic condition will set up resulting in the
release of foul & offensive gases in water.
The marine organisms which depend on the dissolved oxygen
will die out.
Hydroelectric power
Generation of hydroelectric power, sometimes, results in
negative thermal loading in water systems.
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Man-made sources
Man-made sources are
Nuclear power plants
X-rays
Nuclear accidents
Nuclear bombs
Diagnostic kits etc.,
where radioactive substances are used.
Effects of Nuclear Hazards
Radiation pollution of the environment is one of the most
horrible ecological crisis to which we are subjected severely.
Radioactive radiation affects the cells in the body & the
functions of glands & organs.
People suffer from blood cancer & bone cancer if exposed to
doses around 100 to 1000 roentgens.
Unlike the other pollution, radioactive pollution can cause
genetic disorders even in thestudy
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Studies have shown that the health effects due to radiation are
dependent on the level of dose.
1) Exposure of the brain & central nervous system to high doses
of radiation causes delirium, convulsions & death within
hours or days.
2) The use of eye is vulnerable to radiation. As its cell die, they
become opaque forming cataracts that impair sight.
3) Acute radiation sickness is marked by vomiting, bleeding of
the gums & in severe cases, mouth ulcers.
4) Internal bleeding & blood vessel damage may show up as red
spots on the skin.
5) Nausea & vomiting often begin a few hours after the
gastrointestinal tract is exposed. Infection of the intestinal
wall can kill weeks afterwards.
6) Unborn children are vulnerable to brain damage or mental
retardation, especially if irradiation occurs during formation
of the central nervous system in early pregnancy.
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Industrial wastes
The main sources of industrial wastes are chemical
industries, metal & mineral processing industries.
Examples :
a) Nuclear power plants : generates radioactive wastes.
b) Thermal power plants : produces fly ash in large
quantities.
c) Chemical industries : produces large quantities of
hazardous & toxic materials.
d) Other industries : produce packing materials, rubbish,
organic wastes, acids, alkalis, scrap metals, rubber,
plastic, paper, glass, wood, oils, paints, dyes, etc.,
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Hazardous wastes
Hazardous wastes are the wastes, that pose a substantial danger
immediately or over a period of time to human, plant or animal life.
Sources of hazardous wastes
Chemical manufacturing companies
Petroleum refineries
Paper mills
Smelters
Radioactive substances
Biological wastes & other industries.
Types & characteristics of hazardous wastes
Toxic wastes : poisonous even in very small or trace amounts.
a) Acute toxicity : wastes have immediate effect on humans or animals
causing death.
b) Chronic toxicity : wastes have long term effect slowly causing
irreparable harm to the exposed persons. It is much more difficult to
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Disposal methods
Discarding wastes
Landfill
Incineration
Composting
Landfill
Solid wastes are placed in sanitary landfill system in alternate
layers of 80 cm thick refuse .
It is covered with selected earth fill of 20 cm thickness.
After 2 or 3 years, solid waste volume shrinks by 25-30% & the
land is used for parks, roads & small buildings.
The most common & cheapest method of waste disposal is
dumping in sanitary land-fills which is invariably employed in
Indian cities.
Land-fill structure is built either into the ground or on the
ground into which Gettheuseful
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is dumped.
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The left out ashes & clinkers from the incinerators may be
accounted for only about 10 to 20% which need further disposal
either by sanatory landfill or by some other means.
The heat produced in the incinerator during the burning of
refuse is used in the form of steam power for generation of
electricity throughout turbines.
The municipal solid waste is generally wet but has a very high
calorific value so it has to be dried up first before burning.
The waste is dried in preheater from where it is taken into large
incinerating furnace called destructors which can incinerate
about 100 to 150 tonnes per hour.
The temperature normally maintained in a combustion
chamber is about7000C & may be increased to about 10000C
when electricity is to be generated.
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Marine Pollution www.rejinpaul.com
Spilled oil, breakdown the natural insulating oils and
waxes,which shield the birds from water. Ultimately they
loose their insulation,start shivering and freeze to death in
winter.
About 30,000 birds died in torry canyon incident.Nearly 150
rare species of bladeagles also become victims when they
ingested oil during Exxn valdez accident.
Gulf War (marine pollution)
The gulf war took place in kuwait from jan 16 to feb 26,1991
between Iraq and USA.
Effects
1 million birds have been killed due to the oil slick.
The oil slicks in the sea made desalination plants
ineffective
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The Miniamatta Epidemic (1953)
Miniamatta is a small coastal village in
japan.The Chisso Chemical Company which produce vinyl
polymer plastics.
Effects
It damages the central nervous system,which causes various
disorders such as
1. Loss of vision and hearing
2. Loss of muscular co-ordination and severe headache.
3. Nervous disorders.
Chernobyl Nulear disaster(Nuclear pollution)
In april 26,1986, the melt down of the chernobyl nuclear
reactor, in Russia, has leaked out the radioactive rays and
radioactive materials.
Effects: 200 people killed, Animals,Plants also affected& Cause
of severe bleeding,anaemia,skin cancer.
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DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Disaster or calamities is a geological process and is
defined as an event, concentrated in time and space,in
which a society, or sub-division of a society under goes
severe danger and cause loss of its members and
physical property.
Types of disaster
Natural disaster: generater by natural phenomena
Eg: Cyclone, floods,earthquqkes, landslides etc.
Man-made disaster: Resulting from man-made hazards
Eg: Accidents, Pollution, Fire..
IMPORTANT DISASTERS
1. Floods 4. Earth-quakes
2. Cyclones 5. Tsunami
3. Landslides
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NATURAL RESOURCES
Commercial uses
Name of the products Uses
1. Forests supply wood Used as fuel.
2. Forests supply wood for various industries Raw materials as pulp,
paper, timber etc.,
3. Forests supply minor forest products Like gums, resins, dyes, etc.,
4. Many plants Are utilized in preparing
medicines & drugs.
5. Forest produces variety of animal products Honey, ivory, etc.,
6. Many forest lands are used for Mining, grazing, recreation
& for dams.
Pollution moderators
Wildlife habitat
Aesthetic value
Tribals utilize bamboo & wild grass for erecting the huts to
reside & for making other product like mats, basket, cots, etc.,
Some of the forest plants are used as food by the tribal people.
Touristic value
Ecotourism provides a growing income for those who have
facilitated it.
Several countries are now attracting the tourists.
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Due to population growth & lack of alternative fuels, people living near
by forest area are mostly using wood as fuel.
Uses of timber
1) Raw materials for various wood based industries like paper,
furniture, etc.,
2) For various developmental activities like railways, boats, road
construction etc.,
Consequences (or) effects of timber extraction
1) Large scale timber extraction causes deforestation.
2) Soil erosion, loss of fertility, landslides & loss of biodiversity.
3) Loss of tribal culture & extinction of tribal people.
4) Reduces the thickness of the forest.
Indian scenario
In India, industries consume about 28 million cu.mts/year of wood.
But, annual forest growth is only about 12 million cu.mts/year.
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Mining is the process of extracting mineral resources & fossil fuels like coal from the
earth.
These deposits are found in the forest region & any operation of mining will naturally
affect the forest.
Mining operation requires removal of vegetation along with underlying soil mantle.
Types of mining
a) Surface mining
b) Underground mining
Steps involved in mining
a) Exploration (investigation & searching of minerals)
b) Development
c) Exploitation (extraction of minerals)
d) Ore processing (separation of ore)
e) Extraction & purification of minerals
Effects of mining
Mining activity not only destroys trees, it also pollutes
Soil
Water &
Air with heavy metal toxins
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Destruction of natural habitat at the mine & waste disposal
sites.
Due to continuous removal of minerals, forest covers, the
trenches are formed on the ground, leading to water logged
area, which inturn contaminates the ground water.
During mining operations, the vibrations are developed, which
leads to earthquake.
Noise pollution is another major problem from mining
operations.
Mining reduces the shape & size of the forest areas.
Landslides may also occur as a result of continuous mining in
forest area.
Pollution of surface & ground water resources due to the
discharge of waste minerals in water.
Migration of tribal people from mining areas to other areas for
searching land & food.
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Dams are the massive artificial structures built across the river
to create a reservoir in order to store water for many beneficial
purpose.
However, these dams are also responsible for the destruction of
vast areas of forest & displacement of local people.
India has more than 1600 large dams.
State Number of dams
Maharastra More than 600 dams
Gujarat More than 250 dams
Madhya pradesh More than 130 dams
Tehri dam is the highest built across the river Bhagirathi in the
state of Uttaranchal.
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Effects of dam on forest
1) Thousands of hectares of forest have been cleared for
executing river valley projects.
2) Hydroelectric projects also have led to widespread loss of
forest in recent years.
3) Construction of dams under these projects led to killing of
wild animals & destroying aquatic life.
4) Hydroelectric projects provide opportunities for the spread
of water borne diseases.
5) The big river valley projects also cause water logging which
leads to salinity & inturn reduces the fertility of the land.
Examples
Narmada sagar project : submerged 3.5 lakh hectares of
forest comprising teak & bamboo trees.
Tehri dam : submerged 1000 hectares of forest affecting
about 430 species of plants.
streams Rivers
lakes reservoirs estuaries
Water is so essential for our existence & is fast becoming a scarce resource.
Nearly 1.2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.
Thus due to increase in population & decrease in water resources, conflicts over water
starts.
Causes of water conflicts
1) Conflict through use unequal distribution of water has led to inter state or
international disputes international conflicts : India & Pakistan fight over the rights
to water from the Indus national conflicts : Sharing of Cauvery water between
Karnataka & Tamilnadu.
2) Construction of Dams (or) Power stations for hydroelectric power generation,
dams are built across the rivers, which initiates conflict between the states.
3) Conflict through pollution
Besides the production of electricity & shipping, rivers & lakes are also used for
industrial purpose.
Not only they act as reservoirs for the supply of fresh water but also as a means of
disposing of waste water & industrial rubbish.
With the increasing decline in the quality of the water crossing borders, the problem
of cleaning the water takes on an international dimension.
Dams are built across the river in order to store water for,
Irrigation
Hydroelectric power generation &
Flood control
Most of the dams are built to serve for more than one purpose
called multi purpose dams.
Benefits of constructing dams
1) Control flood & store flood water
2) For diverting part or all of the water from river into a
channel
3) Drinking & agricultural uses
4) Generate electricity
5) For recreational purposes
6) Navigation & Fishery can be developed in the dam areas.
Downstream problems
1) Water logging & salinity due to over irrigation
2) Reduced water flow & silt deposition in rivers
3) Salt water intrusion at river mouth
4) Since the sediments carrying nutrients get deposited in
the reservoir, the fertility of the land along the river
gets reduced.
5) Sometimes due to structural defects the dam may
collapse suddenly & destroy many living organisms.
6) Salt water intrusion at river mouth.
Sustainable
development
Society Environment
Rehabilitation issues
In India, most of the displacements have resulted due
to land requirements by the government using Land
Acquisition Act, 1897.
Tribals are usually the most affected among the
displaced, who are already very poor.
Break up of families is an important social issue.
Even if the tribals get cash compensation, they are not
familiar with the market policies & trends.
Loss of identity & loss of the intimate link between
the people & the environment is one of the big loss.
Rehabilitation policy
1) The extent of damage & suffering that the proposed
project would cause should be studied & ascertained
before starting the project.
2) The rehabilitation & resettlement work should be a
part of the project & all those affected should be
rehabilitated before the commencement of the
project.
3) The people should be rehabilitated on minimum
dislocation basis, by choosing adjacent areas.
4) The extent of rehabilitation should meet the ends of
social justice & balanced development.
Environmental problems
1) Deforestation activities
2) Population growth & urbanization.
3) Pollution due to discharge of effluent & smoke
discharge from the industries.
4) Water scarcity.
5) Land degradation & degradation of soil fertility.
Waste land
The land which is not in use is called waste land.
The waste land is unproductive, unfit for cultivation, grazing &
other economic uses.
About 20% of the geographical area of India is waste land.
Type of waste lands
Uncultivable waste lands
These lands cannot be brought under cultivation.
Examples- baren rocky areas, hilly slopes, sandy deserts, etc.,
Cultivable waste lands
These are cultivable but not cultivated for more than 5 years.
Cultivable waste lands are important for agricultural purposes.
Examples- degraded forest lands, saline lands, water logged &
marsh lands, etc., Get useful study materials from www.rejinpaul.com
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Application of Gypsum
Soil sodicity can be reduced with gypsum.
Calcium of gypsum replaces sodium from the exchangeable
sites.
This process converts clay back into calcium clay.
Afforestation programmes
The National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) has
launched several afforestation schemes.
The National Development Board has decided to bring 5
million hacres of waste land annually for firewood &
fodder plantation.
Social Forestry Programmes
These programmes involve strip plantation on road, canal
sides, degraded forest land, etc.,
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