O

5 Green Skills - 1

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, students will be able to
Know what is environment.
Learn the relationship between society and environment, ecosystem and factors causing imbalance.
Know about natural resource conservation.
.Know ofenvironment protection and conservation.
.Tell the definition of green economy.
Learn the importance of green economy.

5.1 DEMONSTRATE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING

NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION

SESSION 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT

Definition and Meaning

The word 'environment' has been derived from the French word environer' meaning to encircle a
surround. The dictionary meaning of the word 'environment' is (i) a surrounding (i) external conditio
infuencing development or growth of people, animals or plants (ii) living or working conditions, etc.
Environment refers to the sum total of conditions which surrounds man at a given point in space and time
In the beginning. the environment of early man comprised abiotic or non-living aspects of earth (land,
and water) and biotic or living organisms (man, animals and plants). But gradually with the march of ti
and advancement of society, man altered and extended his environment through his social, economie an

political functions.
Generally speaking the environment is equated with nature wherein physical components of the eath (
land, air, water, soil etc.) support and affect life in the biosphere. In fact, environment is viewed in diftere
ways with different angles by different groups of scholars. But it may be safely argued that environme
is an inseparable whole and is constituted by the interacting systems of physical, biological and culur
elements which are interlinked individually and collectively in many ways.'

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Thus, environment is defined as (i) the circumstances and physical conditions that surround and affect an
Organism or a group of organisms and (ii) the social and cultural conditions that affect an individual or
community

Structure and Types of Environment

Since the environment is both physical and biological concept, it encompasses both the non-living (abiotic)
and living (biotic) components of the planet earth. Thus, on the basis of basic structure the environment may
be divided into two basic types physical or abiotic environment and biotic environment. On the basis of
physical characteristics and state, abiotic or physical environment is subdivided into three broad categories:
) solid, (u) quid and, (n) gas which represent the lithosphere (solid earth), the hydrosphere (water
component) and the atmosphere (air surrounding the earth) respectively. Thus, the three basic divisions
of physical environment may be termed as () lithospheric environment, (ii) atmospheric environment and
(ii) hydrospheric environment.
The biotic component of the environment consists of plants (flora) and animals (fauna) including man as
an important factor. Thus, the biotic environment may be divided into floral environment and faunal
environment.

KNOW of all the organisms, man is the most skiled and civlised and hence his social organisation
MORE most systematic.

SUMMARY
The word 'environment' has been derived from the French word 'environer meaning to encircle or
to surround.
Environment is viewed in various ways with different angles and by different groups of people.
There are two types of environment abiotic environment and biotic environment.

SELF ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple choice questions.
1. Which of the following is the meaning of the word 'environment'?
(a) External conditions influencing development of people, animals and plants
(6) Living or working conditions
(c) All of these
2. What are the two types of environment?
a) Biotic (b) Abiotic (c) Both of these
B, Answer the following questions.
. What is the meaning of the word 'environment?

2. Give any two definitions of environment.

3. What are the various types of environment?

C. Activity.

Hold a group discussion on the hazards of deteriorating environment.

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ESSION 2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEM AND FACTOR

CAUSING IMBALANCE
Relationship Between Society and Environment
of man and environment
has always drawn attention. The relationshin
ne study
Oman
relationship between
and environment has also influenced the development of human soCiety. Ot all the organisme
man is the most skilled and civilised and therefore, it is significant to note the folloWing three aspect

of man:
and as such, requires basic elements of
) Physical man component of the biological community
is a
and habitat, etc, like other biological population.
physical environment such as air, water, food
the social organisations and formulates laws an
(i) Social man establishes the social institutions, forms
his interests and welfare.
existence,
policies to safeguard
from the physical and biological environment with hi
(fi) Economic man derives and utilises resource

skills and technologies.

to modern times can be divided
of with the environment from pre-historic
The changing relationship man

into the following four periods :

) Hunting and food gathering
ii) Animal domestication and pastoralism
(ii) Plant domestication and agriculture

(iv) Science, technology and industrialisation

(i) Period of hunting and gathering: In the beginning early man was a food gatherer and was basicall;
a part of the environment. When man learnt to hunt animals for his food, it was the first attempt
of man at the exploitation of natural resources. The discovery of fire and invention of stone tools
made man capable of exploiting natural resources. Early man made fire to cook food, roast animals
to drive away dangerous animals and to clear forests. his led to burning and destruction of forest
Thus, fire was one of the major early ecological tools used by man to change the environment fr
his own benefit.
(i) Period of animal domestication and pastoralism: With the march of civilisation, man leamt to
domesticate animals for his own benefit- for milk, meat and carrying load. This trend might
have necessitated the creation of habitats for the domesticated animals which ultimately led to the
destruction of forests and exploitation of forest resources. Domestication of animals might have
also given birth to community life among the early people, in order to protect their animals and
themselves from wild animals.

(ii) Period of plant domestication and agriculture: Domestication of plants for food became a hallmark
in the development of human skills of taming and controlling the biotic component of the natura
environment system. Domestication of plants led to primitive agriculture and sedentary life of
people who were nomads. Cultivation of food crops resulted in the formation of social groups and
organisations. Now man started settling down in the river valleys due to availability of water and
fertile land which developed as 'river valley civilisation'. From here onwards started the joumey o
man to transform the natural environmental resources around him through improved faming practics
This led to clearing of forests to have access to mort
resulting in gradual increase in human population.
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 ricultural land. With the passage of time, man devcloped his own cultural environment by builang
and creating towns and cities,
houses
constructing roads and bridges.
Period of
Period of science, technology and industrialisation: The advent of Industrial Revolution in late
nineteenth century and emergence of science and development of phisticated technology, embittered
the friendly relationship between
man and his natural
environment. The impact of modern technologyY
on natural environment is highly complex and controversial. Highly advanced technologies and
scientific techniques led to indiscriminate exploitation of natural environment. This has created most
af the present day environmental problems.

Ecosystem

ToasVstem is a functional unit consisting of all the living organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) in a
Ecosys.

area, and all the non-living physical and chemical factors of their environment, linked together througn
given

nutrient cycling
and energy flow.
Organisms live within a
relatively narrow sphere over the earth's surface; it is less than 20 km thick,
oxfending about 8 km above sea level and 10 km below it. This thin film of land, water and soil over
the
he
earth's surface is called biosphere. Ecosystem is a part of it. An ecosystem is a dynamic and complex
whole, interacting as an ccological unit. Some consider it the basic unit in ecology, a structural and
functional unit in equilibrium, characterised by energy and matter flowing between the different elements
that compose it.

Ecosystems may be of different sizes. They may be a whole forest or a small pond. Different ecosystems
are ofien separatea by geographical barriers, like deserts, mountains or oceans, or are isolated otherwise,
like lakes or nivers. As these borders are never rigid, ecosystems tend to blend into each other. As a result, the
whole earth can be seen as a single ecosystem, or a lake can be divided into several ecosystems, depending on
the used scale.

Components of Ecosystem

Biotic/Living components Abiotic/Non-living components

Inorganic component Organic component Climatic factors

Producers Consumers Decomposers

FIG. 5.1: COMPONENTs OF ECOSYSTEM

Types of Ecosystems
uCcosystem may either be natural or artificial. The natural ecosystem again can be divided into terrestrial
quatic ecosystems. All these types of ecosystems are self-suficient interacting systems in the biosphere
Uand these have a similar fundamental plan in their structure and function.

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 Types of Ecosystem

kitchen garden)
Natural Artificial (a cropland, aquarium, park,

Aquatic (water) ecosystems

Terrestrial (land) ecosystems(grassland, forest, desert ecosystems)

stream, oceans
Lotic (Flowing water) river,
Lentic (Stagnant water) lake, pond JL
ECOSYSTEM
FIG. 5.2: TYPES OF

Factors Causing Imbalance in the Environment or intentional

and indirect. The direct
imbalance in the environment in
two ways: direct
Humans cause Such changes
both positive and negative.
mpacts preplanned
are and man is aware of the consequences,

include the following

for crop cultivation, felling of trees
of forests and burning of grasslands
(i) Land use changes: Clearing new farming techniques,
new high

commercial purposes, changes in cropping

for
pattern in relation to
ete.
of weedicides, pesticides, fertilisers,
irrigational facilities,
yielding seeds, use
reservoirs and canals, diversion and
Construction of dams,
Constructions and excavations:
(ii) to protect the area from
river channels, construction of embankments and dykes
manipulation of
roads and bridges, increase in urbanisation, mining,
drilling of mineral oils,
floods, construction of
withdrawal of groundwater, etc.
Mechanisation of agriculture, use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and
(iii) Agricultural practices:
insecticides, etc.

Weather modification programme: Cloud seeding

to induce precipitation, dispersal and clearing of
(iv)
clouds and fogs, checking of hailstorms, etc.
constructive well as
being used increasingly for
as
Nuclear programmes: Nuclear energy is
(v)
destructive purposes.
The effect of such anthropogenic changes
in the natural environment are noticeable within a short period
for a long time. But these effects are reversible because man
is
and may continue to affect the environment
extent. For example, deforestation leads to accelerated
rate
able to set the adverse effects right to a certain
one hand, and enormous increase
of soil resulting in gully erosion and loss of soil fertility on the
erosion, be
in sediment load in the river, which causes severe floods,
on the other hand. These chain effects can

effectively stopped by afforestation of the deforested area.

and these arise from
The indirect impacts of man on the environment are not premediated and planned
Sometimes such
those human activities which are directed to accelerate the pace of economic development.
effects are not reversible and, therefore, it becomes very difficult to identify and evaluate them.
related pollution which
Majority impacts of human activities on the environment are
of the indirect to

includes soil, water and air pollution, and resultant environmental degradation.
The release of toxic elements into the ecosystem insecticides, fertilisers, etc alters the fo00
through their uses as
chain and food web. Similarly, the release of industrial wastes into stagnant water, rivers and seas, contaminates
water and causes several diseases and deaths of organisms and thus disturbs the ecological balance.

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 The period of science, technology and industrialisation marked the beginning of a
pero
K N O W

of disharmony between man and the

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environment.
SUMMARY

There are three aspects of man: physical man, social man and economic man.
The changing relationship between man and environment can be traced through four historical periods:
and gathering
(a) period of hunting
(b) period of animal domestication and pastoralism
(c) period of plant domestication and agriculture
d) period of science, technology and industrialisation.
Ecosystem is a tunctional unit consisting of all the living organisms in a given area, and all the non-
living physical and chemical factors of their environment, linked together through nutrient cycling
and energy flow.
Factors causing imbalance in the environment:
() land use changes
(i) constructions and excavations
(ii) agricultural practices
(iv) weather modification programmes
(v) nuclear programmes

SELF ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple choice questions.
1. What are the three aspects of man in relation to the environment?
(a) Social, Intellectual, Physical
(b) Economical, Physical, Social
(c) Economical, Chemical, Mental
2. During which historical period, man inficted maximum damage to the environment?
(a) Period of hunting and gathering
(b) Period of science, technology and industrialization
c) Period of animal domestication and pastoralism
3. Which is not a biotic component of ecosystem?
(a) Producers (b) Consumers (c) Climatic factors
4. Which of the following is an indirect impact of man on the environment, not premeditated and planned?
a) Land use changes (b) Constructions (c) Pollution
8. Answer the following questions.
1. Describe the relationship between man and environment through the historical periods
.State the various components of ecosystem.
and environment.
Discuss the various factors causing imbalance between man

C. Activity.
Have a group discussion on various factors that influence our environment.

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SESSION 3 NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
What Natural Resources are
that are drawn from nature and used without much are called natural
Kesources modihcation resour
The air, water, soil and minerals are all natural resources. Many of these resources are free gifts of natu
O e used directly. In some cases tools and technology may be needed to use a natural
natural resource
the best possible
way. Natural be broadly
resources can categorised into renewable and non-r in
resources. Renewable resources are those which get renewed or replenished quickly. For exam enewable
stock. Once thple,ai
water, sunligh etc. Non-renewable resources are those which have a limited stock. the
exhausted, it may take thousands of years to be renewed or repler ished. Coal, petroleum and stocks are
other mineal
resources are some
examples.
Practices for Conservation of Resources
To most of us, conservation of natural resources means hoarding or controling the supply of these res
n such a way that a part of it is left for the future. This is
not a correct approach. Conse.
rvation is a
holistic approach which includes isation,
preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilisation,
restoration
ennancement of natural resources. Thus the aim of conservation is twofold : and
) to preserve the natural resources and through it, the quality of environment and

i) to ensure continuous yield of resources by establishing a balanced eycle of harvest and wal.
Let's discuss the methods and practices of conservation one by one.

Soil
Terracing Contour ploughing
Controlling the shifting cultivation Afforestation
Plugging the gullies Plantation of bushy plants and trees in
deserts,
Crop rotation Controlling overgrazing
Controlling flow of rainwater in drains and rivulets.
Water
Sprinkler irrigation Drip or trickle irrigation
Mulching Rainwater harvesting
Recycling of waste water Stopping domestic wastage of water
Treatment of industrial waste before discharging water into drains and rivers
Treatment of sewage water
Air
Using scrubbers in chimneys of thermal power stations.
Use of electrostatic precipitators in automobiles.
Use of CNG in motor vehicles instead of diesel and petrol.
Car-pooling. Increasing height of chimneys.
Public awareness. Stringent rules and regulation.
Forest and wildlife
Prevention of forest fire
Establishment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, zoological gardens
Stopping poaching and smuggling

Stringent legislation
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Minerals

Reuse and recycling

Use of modern, efficient technology
Changing energy-wastage and lifestyles
Using energy-eticient equipment
Tlse of alternative sources of energy such as solar power, windmills, tidal power.
Use of LPG in rural areas
Use of CNG in vehicles
Use of solar chulhas and biogas chulhas
Stringent legislation
Public awareness campaigns

KNOW If humans fail to conserve natural resources, human existence on planet earth itselr will
MORE be threatened.

SUMMARY

.Resources that are drawn from nature and used without much modification are called natural resources.

Conservation is a holistic approach which includes preservation, maintenance, sustainable utlisation,

restoration and enhancement of natural resources.
Natural resources include both renewable and non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources include soil, air, water, etc., whereas non-renewable resources include mineral
resources.

SELF ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple choice questions.
1. Soil is a resource.

(a) Renewable (b) Non-renewable (c) Both of these

2. Which of the following measures is not aimed at soil conservation?

(b) Contour ploughing (c) Encouraging shifting cultivation
(a) Terracing
3. Which type of irrigation is used to conserve water?
(b) Drip irrigation (c) Both (a) and (b)
(a) Sprinkler irrigation
4. Most ofthe minerals are.
(b) Inexhaustible () Both of these
a) Exhaustible
8, Answer the following questions.
1Whatare natural resources?
.Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources
. Suggest measures for conservation of soil.
4. Suggest measures for conservation of minerals.

C.Activity measures for conservation of our natural resources.

epare a poster showing various

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 SESSION 4 ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
CVeryone
AND cONSERVATION
of us has a right to a clean environment. The grcatest threat to environment is
water, air and noise
pollution. We need to reduce pollution at all cost.
pollution-soi
Control and Prevention of Soil
(land) Pollution
Industries should be made install collectors
to to remove particulate wastes (t1y ash) from the chimnev
Proper waste disposal and waste management controlled tipping or sanitary landfill
Say no to plastic
Separation of domestic garbage and its proper disposal
Proper disposal of hospital and industrial wastes
.Never litter
Stopping use of chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides in farming
Compost your organic wastes
Refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle all types of wastes
Control and Prevention of Water Pollution
Treatment of industrial liquid waste before discharging in drains
Proper treatment and recycling of domestic sewage before discharging
Proper drainage
Use of septic tanks, oxidation ponds, filter beds, waste water treatment
plants and municipal sewage
plants for removal of pollutants from sewage.
Prevention of abuse of water resources
Control of oil-spills in seas

Control and Prevention of Air Pollution

Curbing emission from motor vehicles
Using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in vehicles
Complete elimination of CO, NO, and hydrocarbons by improving engine design
Use of filters
Use of cyclone collector and
electrostatic precipitator
Stopping burning of stubs of crops by farmmers
Installation of air purifiers
.Stopping burning of garbage, fuel wood
Stopping forest fires
Afforestation

KNOW
MORE Stop all types of pollution to save environment.

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 SUMMARY

onserve the
protect and con:
environment, we
To
have to control all
duce, reuse, recycle should be
efuse, reduc
types of
d pollution soil, air and wate.
our motto to
dicing vehicular emission, proper disposal of control pollution.
acling wastes, reducing use of chemicals in solid and liquid waste, stopping burning of garoog
ne of the prevalent methods to reduce
some
farming, prevention of forest fireres and oil-spills are
pollution.

SELF ASSESSMENT
AMultiple choice questions.

1. which of the following should be our motto to reduce

(a) Reuse
pollution?
(b) Reduce (c) All of these
Which fuel should be used in motor vehicles to reduce
(a) CNG
pollution?
(b) LPG (c) PNG
the following questions.
A Answer
1. Suggest measures to prevent soil pollution.
2. Suggest measures to prevent water pollution.
3. Suggest measures to prevent air pollution.

c.Activity.
Make a colourful poster showing how to prevent and control various types of pollution.

5.2 DESCRIBE THE IMPORTANCE OF

GREEN ECONOMY AND GREEN SKILLS

SESSION 1 DEFINITION OF GREEN ECONOMY

Green economy is defined as an economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities,
and that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment. The 2011 UNEP Green
Economy Report argues "that to be green, an economy must not only be efficient but also fair. Fairness
relates to recognising global and country level equity dimensions, mainly in assuring a just transition to an
cConomy that is low-carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive.
A prominent scholar defines a Green Economy as based on six main sectors
) Renewable energy (ii) Green buildings

(ii) Sustainable transport (iv) Water management

(v) Waste management (vi) Land management
international Chamber of Commerce (ICC) defines green economy as "an economy in which economie
growth and environmental responsibility work together in a mutualy re-inforcing fashion while
Supporting progress on social development."

Green economies require green energy generation based on renewable energy to replace
KNOW
MORE fossil fuels as well as energy conservation and efficient energy use.

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 SUMMARY
The green economy is defined as an
economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and
ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without
Six main sectors of
degrading the environment.
green economy renewable energy, green buildings, sustainable transport,
-

water management, waste

management and land management.

SELF ASSESSMENT
A. Multiple choice questions.
1.
Which s not one of the six main
sectors of green economy?
(a) Renewable energy (b) Waste management (c) Capital management
2. Green economy aims at
(a) Reducing environmental risks (6) Sustainable development (c) Both of these

B. Answer the following questions.

1. Define 'green economy.
2. Mention six main sectors of green economy.

C. Activity.
Have a group discussion on the benefits of green skills and importance of green economy.

SESSION 2 IMPORTANCE OF GREEN ECONOMY

(1) One of the main benefits of adopting a green economy is its potential to alleviate the environmental
impact caused by pollution. On a global scale, it can contribute to the fight against global waming,
desertification, and the loss of diversity. On a local level, adjusting to a green economy could lead
to significant improvements in air, water and soil quality.

Gi) A green economy has a potential to lead to economic growth. This will ead to creation of new

markets in areas such as bio-fuels and renewable energy sources.

to create more economic and social advantages, mainly in

(iii) Green economy can provide an opportunity
emerging countries. For example, by investing in alternative
energy sources, access to energy services
be and infrastructure can become more energy efficient.
can improved
(iv) This can also lead to the decrease of energy importation and save money.

also efficiency agricultural production will become cleaner and lead to

(v) It can improve resource as

food security.
(vi) New environment friendly technologies that emerge as a result of a green economy, will help protect
and improve agricultural production.
economies will be able to open new market segment for
(vii) By adopting a green economy, emerging a

production and export of green products and services

(vil) Investing in green economy will lead to
(a) creation of new employment, (6) benefits in population and environmental health
(c) improvement of energy security

magic cure for

KNOW It is necessary to understand that transition to a green economy is not a

gradual process and one not free of risks

MORE global warming and the world economy. It is a
or costs.

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 SUMMARY

economy can lead to better and

G r e e n

economic
healthy environment.
It
will lead to growth.
on economy can lead to saving energy, creating
rging economics wll be able to
more
employment opportunithes.
open new markets for production and export of green products
and services.

SELF ASSESSMENT
Multiple choice questions.
Green economy will not lead to which of the following?
(a) More employment (b) More pollution
(c)Energyefficiency
7. Transition to a green economy is a

() Fast and easy process (b) Slow and difficult process (c) None of these

the following questions.

8. Answer
1, Discuss the benefits of a green economy.

2. Will embracing green economy lead to a safer environment? How?

C.Activity.
Prepare a poster showing the importance of green economy with the help of media.

EXERCISES
A. Multiple choice questions.
1. Which of the following is not meant by the word 'environment'?
(b) External conditions c) Weather
(a) Surroundings
2. The biotic component of the environment consists of
(a) Flora (b) Fauna (c) Both (a) and (b)
the environment for his benefit?
3. Which of the following enabled the early man to exploit or change
Invention of stone tools (c) Both of these
(a) Discovery of fire (b)
4. An ecosystem consists of
(a) All the living organisms in a given area
factors of the environment
(6) All the non-living physical and chemical
(c) Both of these
imbalance in the environment?
S. Which of the following factors does not cause

Construction activities (c) Nuclear programmes

(a) Rainfall (b)
6. Which of the following is not a natural resource?
(b) Air (c) Dams
a)Water
Agreen economy does not lead to which ofthe following?
(b) Pollution-free environment
a) Safe environment
(c) Eradication of terrorism

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B. Short answer questions (1).
1. Define 'environment'.
2. Mention the names of the various types of environment.
the environment
w n a t are the three aspects of man in relation to
can be traced?
with environment
of man
n which four periods the relationship
environment.
5. Give three factors causing imbalance in the

C. Short answer questions(1).

1. What are the various components of the ecosystem?
2. What are natural resources?
3. Why do we need to conserve natural resources?

4. Mention three measures to conserve soi.

5. Mention three steps to control water pollution.

D. Long answer questions.

and environment historically.
1. Trace the relationship between man

imbalance in the environment.

2. Discuss the factors which cause

to conserve natural resources.

3. Discuss various measures
environment.
4. Discuss various measures to conserve and protect the

5. Define various components and types of ecosystem.

of green economy.
6. What is green economy? Discuss the importance

E. Practical work.
yourself and prepare a detailed project.
industrial Notice, various causes of pollution
1. Visit an area.

between man and environment in various periods.

2. Prepare a colourful poster detailing the relationship
a project on various aspects of green economy.
3. Is Green Economy feasible? Is it advantageous for people? Prepare

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