⭐ SESSION 1: Environment, Natural Resources & Conservation
🌍 1. What is Environment?
The word environment comes from environs meaning surroundings.
Environment = everything that surrounds a living being.
➡️ It includes living things, non-living things, natural elements & human-made elements.
➡️ Environment influences us, and we also influence the environment.
🌿 2. Components of Environment
Environment has two main components:
✔ 1. Biotic Components
= All living things
Examples: humans, plants, animals, insects, microorganisms.
✔ 2. Abiotic Components
= All non-living things
Examples: air, water, soil, rocks, temperature, sunlight.
🌎 3. Domains of Natural Environment
Your PDF lists four important domains ():
✔ 1. Lithosphere
- Hard outer crust of earth.
- Made of soil, rocks, minerals.
- Contains landforms: mountains, plateaus, valleys.
- Source of: land, minerals, forests.
✔ 2. Hydrosphere
- All water bodies: rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, estuaries.
- Essential for life.
✔ 3. Atmosphere
- Layer of gases around earth.
- Protects us from UV rays.
- Contains oxygen, dust, water vapour.
- Changes in atmosphere → weather & climate.
✔ 4. Biosphere
- Zone where land, water & air interact.
- Supports all forms of life.
🍃 4. What is an Ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a community where living (biotic) & non-living (abiotic) components interact with each other.
Examples from the PDF:
- Forest ecosystem
- Pond ecosystem
- River ecosystem
- Garden ecosystem (plants, bees, butterflies, microorganisms)
Ecosystem = dynamic (keeps changing through interactions)
⚠️ 5. Relationship Between Humans & Environment
In ancient times, humans lived close to nature.
But with technology, industries & urbanization, humans started exploiting nature.
📌 Human activities caused:
- Endangerment of animals & plants
- Soil erosion
- Water pollution
- Air pollution
- Deforestation
- Floods & forest fires
- Global warming
- Ozone depletion
- Health problems
🌲 6. Deforestation
Deforestation = cutting down forests permanently.
Trees are not replanted afterwards.
✔ Reasons for Deforestation ()
- Logging for timber, wood, fuel
- Farming & grazing
- Urbanisation: buildings, roads, industries
- Mining activities
✔ Effects of Deforestation
- Soil erosion
- Loss of biodiversity
- Endangered species
- Floods & drought
- Global warming
- Disrupted ecosystem
☣️ 7. Pollution
Pollution = addition of harmful substances to environment.
🌫️ Air Pollution
Air becomes unfit for breathing.
Causes:
- Vehicle smoke
- Factory emissions
- Burning of wood, coal, plastic
- Power plants
Measured as PM2.5 & PM10.
Effects:
- Respiratory diseases
- Acid rain
- Ozone depletion
- Global warming
- Haze & smog
- Deaths (20 lakh+ globally per year)
Solutions:
- Trees & afforestation
- Filters in industries
- Clean energy (solar, wind)
- Reduce vehicle pollution
💧 Water Pollution
Water becomes unsafe for drinking or use.
Causes:
- Industrial waste in rivers
- Sewage & domestic waste
- Excessive pesticides & fertilizers
- Bathing/washing in water bodies
Effects:
- Diseases: cholera, typhoid, ulcers
- Depletion of underground water
- Harm to aquatic life
Solutions:
- Treat sewage water
- Reduce pesticides
- Stop dumping waste in rivers
- Recycle & reuse water
🔥 Global Warming & Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases trap heat → Earth becomes hotter.
Main greenhouse gases:
Effects:
- Melting glaciers
- Floods
- Droughts
- Increased diseases
- Rising sea levels
- Heat waves
🐯 8. Endangered Species & Habitat Loss
Animals become endangered/extinct due to:
- Habitat destruction
- Deforestation
- Pollution
- Poaching
- Over-hunting
Examples of endangered species:
- Tiger
- Blue whale
- Panda
- Snow leopard
- Elephant
☢️ 9. Radioactive Waste & E-Waste
✔ Radioactive Waste
- Comes from nuclear reactors, research labs, medicine, mining.
- Stays dangerous for thousands of years.
✔ E-Waste
- Old phones, computers, batteries, electronics.
- Toxic metals → harmful to humans & environment.
Solutions:
- Recycling
- Safe disposal facilities
- Renewable energy sources
- Strict laws
⭐ SESSION 2: Green Economy
🌱 1. What is a Green Economy?
Green Economy = an economy that focuses on:
- Low carbon emissions
- Efficient use of natural resources
- Environment protection
- Social well-being
It aims to achieve economic growth + sustainability.
🌏 2. Importance of Green Economy
A green economy helps in:
- Reducing pollution
- Using clean energy (solar, wind)
- Protecting biodiversity
- Creating green jobs
- Improving public health
- Reducing poverty
- Sustainable development
🚦 3. Steps to Achieve Green Economy
The PDF mentions five major steps ():
✔ 1. Political Commitment
Leaders must support green policies & technologies.
✔ 2. Legal & Regulatory Framework
Strict laws to control pollution.
Example: Countries like Denmark implemented strong environmental laws.
✔ 3. Green Policies
Government should:
- Promote renewable energy
- Support green entrepreneurs
- Reduce harmful subsidies
- Encourage private green investments
✔ 4. Technology Viability
Develop technologies suitable for local conditions:
- Solar energy
- Biogas
- Windmills
✔ 5. Institutional Support
Create institutions to support green energy projects.
🌿 Simple Ways Students Can Support Green Economy
- Plant more trees
- Save electricity & water
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Avoid plastic
- Promote cleanliness
- Spread awareness
🎉 UNIT 5 STUDY MATERIAL COMPLETED
(Complete, student-friendly version of your PDF Unit 5: )
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