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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE (877)Aims:

1. To help the student appreciate man's place in thenatural systems.

2. To provide a wide understanding of knowledgeresources relevant to environment protection andconservation.

3. To provide an in-depth study of certainenvironment related areas.

4. To place environmental concerns in atechnological, social, political and economiccontext.

5. To provide a context for understanding the roleof individual values in conservation.

6. To provide a context for the individual studentto reflect on his/her beliefs and values in relationto the environment.

7. To provide an opportunity to acquireinterdisciplinary skills, knowledge andunderstanding and to apply this logically andcoherently in the field of environmentalconservation.

8. To encourage student initiative andresourcefulness in action leading toenvironmental protection and conservation.

9. To present environmental concerns in achallenging way and thereby encourage studentsto consider careers in the environmental field.

CLASS XI

There will be two papers in the subject.

Paper I: Theory - 3 hours ... 70 marksPaper II: Practical/ Project Work - … 30 marks

PAPER I - THEORY

There will be one written paper of three hoursduration carrying 70 marks divided into two parts.

Part 1 (20 marks) will consist of compulsory shortanswer questions from the entire syllabus.

Part 2 (50 marks) will be divided into three sections.Each section will consist of three questions. Studentswill be expected to answer five questions choosing atleast one from each section.

SECTION A

1. Modes of Existence

(i) Modes of existence and resource use: hunting- gathering; pastoral; agricultural; industrial.

Modes of existence and resource use: hunting- gathering; pastoral; agricultural; industrial.Two features defining each mode of existence.

(ii) Their impact on natural resource base: energyresources; material resources; scale ofcatchment; quantity of resources used.

Impact of each mode on the available naturalresources.

(iii) Their ecological impact: land transformation;habitat; diversity; modification ofbiogeochemical cycles; modification ofclimate; substantial use.

The scale of catchment; quantity of resourcesused, land transformation; impact on habitat,biodiversity, modification of biogeochemicalcycles, modification of climate, substantialuse to be taught only to create a betterunderstanding and not for testing

(iv) Their social organisation: size of group;kinship; division of labour; access toresources.

Self-explanatory.

(v) Their ideology and idiom of man-naturerelationship.

Self-explanatory.

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(vi) An appreciation of the coexistence of all fourmodes of existence in contemporary India.

Self-explanatory.

(vii) Ecological conflicts arising therein.

Self -explanatory.

2. Ecology

(i) Concept of an ecosystem: definition;relationships between living organism, e.g.competition, predation, pollination, dispersal,food chains, webs; the environment - physical(soil, topography, climate); biotic - types ofrelationships (competition, mutualism,parasitism, predation, defence); soil types andvegetation; co-evolution and introduction ofspecies.

Definition of ecology and ecosystem.Structure of an ecosystem: biotic and abioticcomponents.

Trophic relationships: food chains and foodwebs. Biomagnification and bioaccumulationof toxic wastes.

Relationships between living organisms:competition, predation, mutualism,parasitism, commensalism. Examples of eachtype.

Coevolution - Definition and types withexamples.

(ii) Habitats and niches: Gause's competitiveexclusion principle; resource partitioning.

Definition and a basic understanding of theabove.

(iii) Flow of energy: efficiencies - photosynthetic -trophic - assimilation - production; trophiclevels; generalised model of the ecosystem;ecological pyramid (numbers and biomass);food webs.

An understanding that a small fraction of thesun’s energy is captured by the primaryproducers and thereafter, at every trophiclevel, assimilation efficiency reduces.Pyramid of flow of energy.

(iv) Nutrient cycles: generalised model; a study ofcarbon, nitrogen cycles (biological andgeological); man's intervention; pollution asdisruption of these cycles; ecosystem as asource of material and sink waste for human

societies; ecological succession - causes(autogenic and allogenic) - patterns ofsuccessions.

An understanding of hydrological, carbon,nitrogen and phosphorous cycles showing thelinkages between the biotic and abioticelements (An understanding that differentspecies thrive under different conditions – abasic understanding of the Law of Tolerance).

Definition of Ecological succession.Classification as primary and secondary.Causes (autogenic and allogenic).Understanding of the stages of succession.

(v) Biomes: terrestrial; fresh water; marine; asurvey of the biomes of India and theirinhabitants.

Examples of Biomes - Tropical rain forests,deserts, grasslands, coral reefs, lakes. Anyfive biomes to be explained with reference toclimate, topography, flora, fauna and theiradaptations.

3. Pollution

(i) Disruption of nutrient cycles and habitats:atmospheric pollution; human activities thatchange the composition of the atmosphere;connection between pollution anddevelopment; local and global effects(greenhouse effect, ozone depletion) and theirimpact on human life; burning of fossil fuelproducts - effect on ecosystem and humanhealth. Air pollution: definition and causes. Human activities that disrupt

hydrological, carbon, phosphorus andnitrogen cycles. The effects of thesedisruptions. An understanding of howdevelopmental activities lead to airpollution. A few examples at local andglobal level.

An understanding of greenhouse effect.Human sources of greenhouse gases.Explanation of the local and global effectsof:– burning fossil fuel products (any two)– global warming with particular

reference to the ecosystem, humanhealth, sea level, biodiversity andforests.

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(ii) Pollution control approaches - prevention andcontrol: as applied to fossil fuel burning; therole of PCBs; industrial pollution control -principles - devices - costs - policy incentives;combating global warming; the internationalpolitical dimensions; third world interest;impact on economic growth.

Need for pollution control. Pollutionprevention and control measures – Role ofPollution Control Boards; one example ofa PCB in a metropolitan city.

Approach: correction at source(prevention), pollution cleanup – study ofany two common devices. [As applied tofossil fuel burning]

Industrial pollution: removal of particulatepollutants (cyclone collector, electrostaticprecipitator) – removal of gaseouspollutants by wet dry system.

Indoor pollution: Common pollutants,sources and effect.

Subsidies and incentives for greenautomobiles, green architecture, greenenergy and green technology in the Indiancontext.

Problems related to combating globalwarming – lack of internationalcooperation, long term issue, effect notuniform, impact on lifestyle and economyas a reason for resistance.

International political dimensions –developing countries not prepared to takesteps at the cost of development, demandfor cheap green technology to reduceemissions.

(iii) Water pollution: water cycle; pollution ofsurface water, ground water, ocean water;industrial pollution and its effects; domesticsewage and its treatment - techniques andappropriate technology; marine ecosystemprotection and coastal zone management; soilpollution - sources - effects.

Definition of water pollution.

Understanding water cycle.

Causes of pollution of surface, groundand ocean water and their effects. Pointand non-point sources of water pollution.

Difficulty in dealing with ground waterpollution.

Industrial pollution – heat andradioactive substances and their effects –early hatching of fish eggs, failure tospawn, decrease in species diversity,migration of aquatic forms.

Domestic sewage treatment – primaryand secondary treatment and treatment byworking with nature.

Protective measures taken for conservingmarine ecosystems and coastal zonemanagement.- establishment of protectivemarine sanctuaries, integrated coastalmanagement, regulated coastaldevelopment, ban on dumping waste andsewage in coastal water, ban on dumpingsludge in oceans, protection of sensitiveareas from oil drilling, double hull for oiltankers.

Soil pollution – sources, effects andmitigation.

SECTION B

4. Legal Regimes for Sustainable Development

(i) National legislative frameworks forenvironment protection and conservation;survey of constitutional provisions (includingdirective principles); national laws; state lawsin India.

Constitutional provisions- the Article 48Aand 51 A of Directive Principles of StatePolicy. 73rd and 74th constitutionalamendment act (Main objectives of theabove).

Legislative framework:

1. Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy and how itinfluenced Environmental Legislationin India – The passing of an UmbrellaEnvironmental Legislation - TheEnvironmental Protection Act 1986;

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2. Forest (Conservation) Act 1981;

3. Wildlife Protection Act 1972;

4. Biological Diversity Act 2002;

5. Water (Prevention and Control ofPollution) Act 1974;

6. Air (Prevention and Control ofPollution) Act 1981.

Two main objectives of each of the above Actsto be studied.

(ii) International legal regimes: on trade andenvironment (GATT, WTO, IPR, TNC's,regional arrangements and preferential tradearrangements); on climate; on commonresources (forests, bio-diversities, oceans andspace); international institutions (UNEP,UNCTAD, WHO, UNDP, etc.); internationalinitiatives (Earth Summit, Agenda 21).

GATT: historical perspective (origin andobjectives and transformation into WTO);WTO: Principles and functions (Case study ofdisputes, examples); IPR : Types: (a) Patents(Products vs Process), (b) Trademark,copyright, geographical indicators andindustrial designs; TransnationalCorporations (TNC) – definition, impact ofTNC on the environment, use of resources,waste disposal, manmade ecological disaster.Case study of EXXON and BP oil spills

International institutions (UNEP, UNCTAD,WHO, UNDP, etc.); international initiatives(Earth Summit, Agenda 21) – a briefunderstanding of their role in environmentalprotection.

5. Technology and Environment

(i) Technological evolution and models: hi-tech;low-tech; intermediate; appropriate;traditional; interaction between technology,resources, environment and development;energy as a binding factor; the need forreorienting technology.

Definition of technology, a brief overviewof the evolution of technology and itsimpact on human societies.

Definitions of hi-tech, low-tech. andintermediate technology – their impactson natural resources.

Understanding the difference betweenappropriate and traditional technology.

Industrial revolution - genesis of ongoingtechnological revolution leading todevelopment and degradation ofenvironment. Dependence on energy forall development.

How technology can be used to generatea more equitable use of resources andbuild environmental sustainability.

(ii) Renewable energy: limitations ofconventional sources; sources of renewableenergy and their features (solar, wind,biomass, micro-hydel and muscle power).

Limitations of conventional sources of energysuch as - coal, natural gas and oil (extraction,transportation, storage, pollution anddegradation of environment).

Renewable Energy: What is renewableenergy; sources of renewable energy, theirfeatures and uses: biomass, solar energy,wind energy, hydel energy, geothermal energy– advantages and disadvantages of renewableenergy sources.

(iii) Health: incidents of disease as an indicator ofthe health of the environment; prevention ofdiseases by better nutrition, sanitation, accessto clean water, etc.; communicable and non-communicable diseases; techniques of lowcost sanitation; policy and organisation toprovide access to basic health service for all;the role of traditional and local systems ofmedicine.

Diseases as indicators of health of theEnvironment: Malaria – standing water,felling of trees. Enteric diseases –contaminated water. Respiratory diseases– air pollution.

How diseases can be prevented by betternutrition, sanitation and access to cleanwater.

Role of sanitation, water supply, goodnutrition in maintenance of health andprevention of diseases: Prevention ofdeficiency diseases and water bornediseases.

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Definition of communicable andnon-communicable diseases.

Communicable diseases: HIV/AIDS,Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis asexamples. Causative agents, transmissionand prevention of each of the above.

Non communicable diseases:Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, skincancer, scurvy and rickets (mal nutrition),and Chronic Obstructive PulmonaryDiseases (COPD)- causes related toenvironment and lifestyle.

Some techniques of low cost sanitation,eg. Decomposition system (pit latrine andventilated improved pit latrines) and Drysanitation method.

Organization of health services in India.Facilities provided by the government forbasic health services in India (to becovered briefly).

A brief introduction to traditional systemsof medicine, e.g.: ayurveda, unani andlocal health traditions. Their role inmaintaining health of the community.

(iv) Biotechnology: potential; limitations.

Explanation of the term “Biotechnology’.

Use/potential of Biotechnology in the fieldof medicine, industry, manufacturing andagriculture.

Any five limitations of biotechnologyapplication.

Bioremediation.

SECTION C

6. Design and Planning for EnvironmentalConservation and Protection

(i) Ecosystem analysis: understanding complexsystems; critical and state variables as systemindicators; indicators of inter-relationships;successions and systems resilience; predictingand assessing system responses to impactsand their interventions; rapid appraisalmethods.

– Understanding of the term Ecosystemanalysis.

– Composition of the ecosystem – multiplebiotic and abiotic factors that influenceeach other. Understanding of limitingfactors and zone of tolerance. Variousfactors which are considered as criticalvariables.

– Definition and components of statevariables.

– Succession: primary and secondary –system resilience.

– What are indicator species – examples,trouts as indicators of water quality,butterflies as indicators of habitat lossand fragmentation.

(ii) Human environment interactions: quantity oflife vs. quality of environment; environmentalissues and problems; role of belief and values;analysing brief statements for underlyingvalues; issues analysis - separating symptomsfrom problems; problem identification;identifying the players and their positions;understanding interacting problems andidentifying critical control points; problemsanalysis; identifying variables (humanbehaviours, values, ecological, etc.);determining the relationships betweenvariables; formulating questions for research;planning research; generating problems,solution, briefs and specifications.

Understanding the state of theenvironment and the major environmentalproblems of the 21st century.

The role of belief and values in creatingmaintaining and solving environmentalproblems.

A case study to be done by the students basedon the following points:

Identification of an environmental issue intheir city/ town/ village.

Identification of the factors/ peopleresponsible for this issue.

Contribution of the local authority /government to curb this problem.

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Identification to the critical points thathave led to the problem.

Urban and rural variations.

Steps to be followed in doing an ‘ActionResearch’ on any environmental problem.

(iii) Evaluation and assessment of impacts:approaches and techniques of environmentand social impact assessment; environmentimpact assessment as a planning tool and adecision making instrument; interpretingenvironment impact assessments.

Definition and objectives of ‘EnvironmentImpact Assessment’ (EIA).

EIA framework –

– Necessity- screening

– Key issues- scoping and focusing

– What to study – assessment

– Impact/ identification/evaluation ofsignificance – evaluation

– Identification of mitigating means –mitigation

– Report preparation – documentation

– Reviewing - monitoring

Designing an EIA for the following:

– Proposed construction of a dam(Social impact, Ecological impact).

– Proposed resort by the sea(Ecological impact).

– Proposed residential complex close toa forested area / national park inIndia (Ecological impact).

[Interpret the EIA as a good planning anddecision making tool].

(iv) Design of solutions: generating solutionoptions; overcoming blocks in thinking;generative and lateral thinking; using criteria(social, political, ecological, technological,economic) to rank and prioritise solutionideas; check solutions for economic, socialand technical viability; collation of solutioninto coherent plans; planning sequence andcost.

Self-explanatory.

To be taught through case studies only.Students should be encouraged to thinkcreatively and develop solutions forenvironmental problems. (For betterunderstanding, not for testing).

PAPER II - PRACTICAL/PROJECT WORK

Guidelines for Practical/Project Work are given at theend of this syllabus.

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CLASS XII

There will be two papers in the subject.

Paper I: Theory - 3 hours... 70 marks

Paper II: Practical/ Project Work - … 30 marks

PAPER I - THEORY

There will be one written paper of three hoursduration carrying 70 marks divided into two parts.

Part 1 (20 marks) will consist of compulsory shortanswer questions on the entire syllabus.

Part 2 (50 marks) will consist of three sections. Eachsection will have three questions. The candidate willbe expected to answer five questions in all choosing atleast one from each section.

Project work will carry 30 marks. The project needsto be done under the supervision of the teacher.The project work will be evaluated by aVisiting Examiner (who has expertise in that specificarea), appointed locally and approved by the Council.

SECTION A

1. Human Beings and Nature

(i) Modern schools of ecological thought.

(ii) Deep ecology (Gary Snyder, Earth First) vs.shallow ecology.

(iii) Stewardship of land (e.g. Wendell Berry).

(iv) Social ecology [Marxist environmentalismand socialist ecology (Barry Commoner)].

(v) Feminism.

(vi) Green Politics (e.g. Germany and England).

(vii) Sustainable Development.

Modern schools of ecological thought;definition and basic understanding of DeepEcology as opposed to Shallow Ecology;Stewardship, Social Ecology - Marxistenvironmentalism and Socialist Ecology,Eco feminism, Green political movements ofGermany and England and SustainableDevelopment (basic concepts).

A brief look at the above in terms ofdefinition, origin, basic principles andenvironmental orientations.

Special reference to principles of DeepEcology (Gary Snyder) and Laws of Ecology(Barry Commoner)

Gary Snyder, Barry Commoner, WendellBerry - a short biographical sketchparticularly with reference to their work onthe environment.

Earth First – a brief understanding of theorganization’s ethos and work.

World Wide Fund for Nature – organisation,mission, strategy for conservation.

Greenpeace – organisation, missionstatement, core values, objectives andstrategy.

2. Population and Conservation Ecology

(i) Population dynamics: factors causingpopulation change (birth, death, immigrationand emigration); relation between the factors;age structure and its significance; populationpyramids; survivorship curves; three generalshapes r and K strategies.

Factors causing population change (birth,death, immigration and emigration); relationbetween the factors; Age structure and itssignificance; Population Pyramids –interpretation and implications. Rate ofchange of population – the three generalshapes of Survivorship Curves, r and Kstrategies and differences between the two.

(ii) Human populations (Malthusian model anddemographic transition).

Definition of Carrying Capacity; Malthusianview: concept of ‘over-population’ andshortage of resources; Questioning Malthus.Population Growth vs. DisparateConsumption of resources within and amongstnations. Definition and understanding ofDemographic Transition; Factors influencingdemographic transition.

(iii) Population Regulation: growth withoutregulation (exponential); simple populationregulation (logistic growth curve); factors

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regulating population size (space, food andwater, territories, predators, weather andclimate, parasite and diseases, disasters andself-regulation).

Basic understanding of the Exponentialgrowth curve (J – shaped) and Logisticgrowth curve (S - shaped); Factors regulatingpopulation size (space, food and water,territories, predators, weather and climate,parasite and diseases, disasters andself-regulation).

(iv) Human population control: family planning;education; economic growth; status ofwomen.

Strategies for human population control withemphasis on women’s empowerment. (Detailsof methods of family planning not required.)

(v) Threats to the ecosystem: habitat destruction;genetic erosion; loss of diversity; expandingagriculture; impound water; waste fromhuman societies; increasing humanconsumption.

Only a brief understanding of the causes andconsequences of threats to provisioning andregulatory functions of the ecosystem withsuitable examples.

(vi) Conservation: importance; the critical state ofIndian forests; conflicts surrounding forestedareas - populations and tribals and their rights- tourism - poaching - roads - developmentprojects - dams; scientific forestry and itslimitations; social forestry; the role of theforest department; NGOs; joint forestrymanagement; wild life - sanctuaries,conservation and management in India;Project Tiger as a case study in conservation.

Definition of: Conservation, in situ and ex situconservation. Importance of Conservation.

In-situ conservation: Wildlife sanctuaries,National parks, Biosphere reserves(definition, objectives, features, advantagesand disadvantages).

Ex-situ conservation: zoos, aquaria, plantcollection (objectives, features, advantagesand disadvantages).

Conflicts in managing and conservingForests: India’s forest cover, issuesconcerning people living in and aroundforests with particular reference to tribalrights; threats to forests: poaching,developmental projects like roads and dams,over exploitation of forest resources (directand indirect).

The role of the forest department and NGOsin managing forests.

Some management measures: scientificforestry, social forestry (various types ofsocial forestry), Joint Forestry Management(JFM), ecotourism.

Definition, scope, advantages anddisadvantages of each of the above.

Project Tiger as a case study in conservation:Origin, aims, and objectives, successes,failures.

3. Monitoring Pollution

(i) Pollution monitoring.

Primary and secondary pollutants.Importance of monitoring air pollutionincluding Ambient Air Quality Monitoring(gaseous and particulate). Concept of carboncredits and carbon trading in regulatingemissions. Causes for excessive vehicularpollution and various steps taken to regulatepollution-emission standards for new vehicles,implementation of CNG programme,inspection & maintenance programme forin-use vehicles, phasing out of old commercialvehicles and promotion of public transport.

(ii) Monitoring the atmosphere: techniques.

Monitoring at emission source and of ambientair quality, criteria for monitoring stations,types of stations, number of stations,frequency of data collection, characteristicsof ambient air sampling, basic considerationfor sampling (to be dealt with in brief).Classification of techniques- manual andinstrumental. Manual-Passive samplers, HighVolume Samplers and Bubbler Systems.Instrumental-photometric techniques-NDIR,Chemiluminescence - principle and use.

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(iii) International and national air qualitystandards.

National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring(NAAQM); the main functions of the CentralPollution Board and the State PollutionControl Board, objectives of air qualitystandards, New name of NAAQM, NationalAir Monitoring Programme (NAMP)objectives of the NAMP.

Definition of air quality standards andimportance; National air quality standardsfor gases/particulate matter covered underWHO guidelines.

(iv) Water testing: indicators of water quality.

Indicators (electrical conductivity, turbidity,pH, dissolved oxygen, faecal waste,temperature, hardness, nitrates and sulphates)the significance of each and theirinterpretations. B.O.D. and C.O.D.,theoretical concept only (lab work for betterunderstanding and not for testing)

(v) Soil testing: indicators of soil type and qualityand laboratory work.

Soil indicators- the characteristics of a goodsoil indicator, the three basic types of soilindicators- biological, physical and chemical,two examples of each. The informationprovided by each of these types of indicators.Definitions, effects and experiments to findout soil respiration, soil pH, soil aggregate,infiltration rate and simple methods ofcontrolling each of these.

SECTION B

4. Third World Development

(i) Urban-rural divide: urbanisation - push andpull factors; consequences on rural and urbansectors; future trends and projections.

Causes of migration - push and pull factors,consequences on rural and urban areas andways to reduce migration. Future trends andprojections.

(ii) A critical appraisal of conventional paradigmof development from the viewpoints of

sustainability, environmental impact andequity.

Definition of Development.

An understanding that development hasbecome synonymous with growth. Thisapproach has the following impacts on theenvironment: (a) Ignoring negativeenvironmental impacts; (b) Changing patternsof resource use due to market pressures;(c) Overuse and exploitation of resources;(d) Diversion of scarce resources to luxurygoods; (e) Disparate access to resources;(f) Increasing wastes and pollution.

The above to be explained with suitableexamples.

(iii) A case study of Gandhian approach in termsof its aims and processes.

Local self-governance – basic principlesbehind village policy, Antoday, Sarvoday,Panchayati Raj; local self-sufficiency, localmarkets and environmental sustainability.Village as the basis of development;promotion of cottage industries andintermediate technologies; focus onemployment.

The above to be contrasted with today’sparadigm of growth.

(iv) Urban environmental planning andmanagement: problems of sanitation; watermanagement; transport; energy; air quality;housing; constraints (economic, political) intackling the problems; inapplicability ofsolutions that have worked in the First Worldand the need for indigenous approach to urbanenvironment.

A basic understanding of the following urbanenvironmental problems: problems ofsanitation, water management, transport,energy; air quality and housing.

Awareness of some indigenous solutions:Rainwater harvesting, garbage segregation,composting, energy from solid and liquidwastes, sewage management (dry toilets,Decentralized Water Management System(DEWATS)

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Features of new urbanism, goals of smartgrowth. The following examples of urbanplanning and management from the thirdworld to be studied:

Bogota – Bolivia (Traffic Management);

Cuba (Urban agriculture using organicmethods);

Curitiba – Brazil (Traffic planning andurban renewal using innovativemeasures);

Cochabamba – (Water management andprotests against privatisation of watersupply).

5. Sustainable Agriculture

(i) Traditional Agriculture in India: irrigationsystems; crop varieties; techniques formaintaining soil fertility; impact ofcolonialism; Indian agriculture atindependence - food scarcity - food import -need for increasing production - the need forland reform; green revolution - HYVs -fertilizers - pesticides - large irrigationprojects (dams); critical appraisal of the greenrevolution from the viewpoints of agro-biodiversity; soil health; ecological impact ofpesticides; energy (petroleum andpetrochemicals); ability to reach the poorersections of the rural communities;sustainability - need for sustainableagriculture - characteristics for sustainableagriculture; techniques of water soil and pestmanagement.

Definition of the following terms: traditionalagriculture, natural farming, organicagriculture, modern agriculture (use of hybridseeds, high yielding varieties, chemicalfertilizers and pesticides), gene revolution(genetically modified seeds) and sustainableagriculture.

Irrigation systems:

Macro vs micro irrigation systems - canalirrigation/dam as compared to sprinkler/ drip/trickle drip/dug wells. Basic features,advantages and disadvantages of each kind.Traditional rainwater harvesting- tankas,

khadins, ahar, pynes, zings, johads and eris(suitability of each type in the particularregion).

Features of pre-colonial agriculture in India:growing for sustenance rather than market;multi-cropping, management of soil health,diversity in seed.

Colonial influence: punitive taxation,commercial crops for export and Britishindustry, devaluation of sustainabletraditional practices. Bengal famine.Comparative study of pre-colonial, colonialand post- colonial agriculture and theirimpact.

Green Revolution: Origin (food scarcity -food import - need for increasing production).

Basic principles of Green Revolution-Development of High Yielding Varieties(HYV); introduction of fertilizers andpesticides; mono cropping.

Environmental, social and economic impacts -advantages and disadvantages (from theviewpoints of agro-bio diversity; soil health;ecological impact of pesticides; energy use;input costs; benefits to small and mediumfarmers, community level and household levelfood security).

Land reform – need, advantages, failures andsuccesses.

Elements of sustainable agriculture: Mixedfarming, mixed cropping, inter-cropping, croprotation, use of sustainable practices of watersoil and pest management for improving soilfertility (organic fertilizers, bio-fertilizers,green manure, with two examples) and pestcontrol (bio pesticides). Integrated PestManagement (IPM); eating local foods

(ii) Food: the twin problems of production andaccess; food situation in the world; integratedand sustainable approach to food security forthe Third World. Food Security.

Meaning of Food Security, need for foodsecurity. The problems in attaining foodsecurity - those of production, storage andaccess. Integrated and sustainable approachto food security for the Third World includingworking for environmental sustainability andsocial and economic sustainability through

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land reform, credit support to farmers, marketsupport to farmers, inadequacies in thepresent marketing system, ways to improvemarketing system, improving access to food,ownership of seeds.An understanding that national level foodsecurity may not translate into household andcommunity level food security or long termenvironmental sustainability unless the abovefactors are addressed. Main features of theFood Security Law 2013.

SECTION C6. Environmental and Natural Resource

Economics(i) Definition: resources; scarcity and growth;

natural resource accounting.Classification of natural resources - on thebasis of origin (abiotic and biotic), on thebasis of renewability (renewable and non-renewable), on the basis of development(potential and actual), on the basis ofdistribution (ubiquitous and localized);scarcity and growth, natural resourceaccounting.Classification of resources as renewable andnon-renewable.Definition, basic principles, advantages anddisadvantages of Physical accounting.

(ii) GNP vs. other forms of measuring income.GDP, GNP – definitions, advantages anddisadvantages of using them as tools formeasuring growth.

(iii) Economic status and welfare (net economicwelfare, nature capital, ecological capital,etc.)A broad overview of the purpose ofenvironmental economics.Definition and classification: Defensiveexpenditure (its classification); natural/ecological capital.

(iv) Externalities: cost benefit analysis (social,ecological).Externalities – definition, kinds (positive andnegative), impacts.Cost Benefit analysis - Definition, the processin brief, advantages and disadvantages.

(v) Natural capital regeneration.

What is natural capital? Kinds of naturalcapital; classification of ecosystem services,causes of degradation (acid deposition, airpollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversityand emission of carbon dioxide), ecologicalfootprint and man’s disproportionate use ofnatural resources, importance of preservingand regenerating natural capital.

7. International Relations and the Environment(i) Trans-national characteristics of

environmental issues using case study ofAmazonia, Trade in Wild Life and OzoneDepletion.Case study of Amazonia - causes forexploitation of forests, reasons foracceleration of deforestation, effects ofgovernment policies, ecological value ofrainforests and possible solutions to theproblem.Case study of ivory trade in Africa - reasonsfor flourishing trade of ivory in the past, stepstaken to curb the trade and the consequencesof ban in trade.Case study of ozone depletion - what is meantby ozone layer and how does it get depleted,(Chapman’s cycle), potential effects of ozonedepletion, common ozone depletingsubstances (halons, carbon tetrachloride,CFCs, methyl chloroform, methyl bromideand HCFCs) and their life span in theatmosphere; Ozone hole; steps taken tocontrol ozone depletion.

(ii) Impact of international politics, nationalsovereignty and interest.

(iii) International trade: a theoretical perspective;free trade vs. protectionism; import barriers;domestic industry vs. free trade; transnationalcompanies - a historical perspective(colonialism and its lasting impact today);trade between the first and the third world -characteristics - terms of trade; India'sinternational trade - characteristics - majorimports and exports - foreign exchange crises- the export imperative and its impact on theenvironment; the case study of aquaculture inIndia; diversion of scarce resource fromproduction of subsistence needs to

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commercial products; toxic waste trade -extent and impact; Globalisation - traderegimes (WTO, GATT, IPR) and their impacton third world.Definition, advantages and disadvantages ofglobalization, free trade, protectionism.Transnational Companies (TNCs) –definition; TNCs and environment – conflictof interest.History of third world countries’ trade withthe developed countries (with specialreference to India) with regards tocomposition and terms of trade (export ofprimary goods and import of finished goods athigher cost- tapping of primary goods leadingto environment degradation- open castmining, agriculture, aquaculture, etc.).Case study of aquaculture in India tounderstand the impact of free trade.Economic allocation of scarce resources andits impact on environment.Toxic waste trade – definition, origin, factorssustaining, impact on third world countries(example – health and environmental impacts)and steps to mitigate it (Bamako and BaselConventions).GATT – the organization and itsmetamorphosis into WTO.Principles and functions of WTO: creating alevel playing field for international tradethrough MFN (Most Favoured Nation), NT(National Treatment) and reduction of importbarriers - tariff and non tariff barriers andtrading to comparative advantages.Full forms of and areas addressed in the WTOGATT, TRIPS, TRIMS, Agreement onAgriculture (AOA). A brief understanding ofhow these agreements impacted India’s trade,food security, economic well-being,environmental sustainability.Definition of IPR and its categories:copyrights, patents, trademarks, industrialdesign rights, geographical indicators andtrade secrets.A brief understanding of each of the abovecategories.

(iv) International aid: agencies; advantages;limitations; need for re-orienting aid; aid vs.self-reliance.International aid – advantages anddisadvantages; Types of Aid: Tied and UntiedAid - advantages and limitations of each.

PAPER IIPRACTICAL/PROJECT WORK – 30 MARKS

(FOR CLASSES XI &XII)The practical/project work carrying 30 marks needs tobe undertaken under the guidance of the teacher. Theproject will be evaluated by a Visiting Examiner(who has specific expertise in the content of theproject work) appointed locally and approved by theCouncil.The project work could take one of the five forms:

1. Address a current environmental problem(preferably at local or regional scale) and shouldinclude problem identification and analysis, use ofsecondary data as well as some collection ofprimary data, design of solution, documentation ofthe entire process in the form of a solutionproposal.

2. Design and conduct an environment impactassessment. The candidates may use secondarydata, demonstrate their capacity to collect andanalyse primary data by incorporating someprimary data collected and use it in a few sectorsof their work.

3. Systematic monitoring of an aspect of the localenvironment over a period of at least six months.The candidate must use quantitative techniques ofmonitoring, sampling scientifically. The datacollected must be interpreted and presented in thereport.

4. Field work and training in an environmentalorganisation (NGOs, Industrial Pollution ControlFirms, Testing Laboratories, etc.) for a period ofnot less than one month. This work should befocused on one area in the syllabus. The candidatewill produce a paper on the area of his/her workand training which will include his/her experienceand the special expertise that she/he has acquired.

5. Conduct a study on the density and population ofplants growing in a particular area using thequadral method.

NOTE: No question paper for Practical work willbe set by the Council.