Environmental studies

Krishna Poudel

Senior Agriculture Instructor

Department of Plant Science

Shree Triveni Secondary School

Province 1, Nepal

Contact: +9779847016830

Krishna Poudel (researchgate.net)

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Concept and meaning

• Environmental studies is the interdisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment in the interests of solving complex problems.
• It includes not only the study of physical and biological characters of the environment but also the social and cultural factors and the impact of man on environment.
• Environmental science integrates natural sciences, social sciences with environmental ethics, environmental impact and planning.
• Environmental science has emerged as a multi-disciplinary field of study to access the impact of interaction of living beings and micro environments in which they live.

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Importance of Environmental studies

• It is useful in checking the environmental pollution and related issues.
• It helps in maintaining ecological balances.
• It helps to gain skills to assess the environmental impact of human activities and helps protect the biodiversity.
• It gives the basic knowledge of environment and associated problems.
• It helps achieve sustainable development.
• It helps to educate people regarding their duties and responsibilities towards the protection of environment.
• It helps in promotion of agriculture and boost the productivity of crop.

• Role of Individual in conservation of Natural resources:

A. Conservation of energy:

1. Switch off light, fan and other appliances when not in use.
2. Use solar heater for cooking.
3. Dry the cloth in the sun light instead of driers.
4. Use always pressure cookers
5. Grow trees near the house to get cool breeze instead of using AC and cooler.
6. Ride bicycle or just walk instead of using scooter for short distance.

Conservation of water:

1. Use minimum water for all domestic purposes.
2. check the water leaks in pipes and repair them properly.
3. Reuse the soapy water, after washing clothes for washing courtyard, carpets etc.
4. Use drip irrigation.
5. Rain water harvesting system should be installed in all the houses.
6. Sewage treatment plant may be installed in all industries and institution.
7. Continuous running of water taps should be avoided.
8. Watering of plants should be done in the evening.

Conservation of soil:

1. Grow different type plants i.e trees, herbs and shrubs.
2. In the irrigation process, using strong flow of water should be avoided.
3. Soil erosion can be prevented by sprinkling irrigation.

Conservation of food resources:

1. Cook required amount of food.
2. Don’t waste the food, give it to some one before spoiling.
3. Don’t store large amount of food grains and protect them from damaging insect

Conservation of forest:

• Use non timber product.
• Plant more trees.
• Overgrazing must be controlled
• Minimize the use of paper and fuel.
• Avoid the construction of dam, road in the forest areas.

Judicious use of resources for sustainable agriculture and development

• We should promote organic based farming so that soil organic matter may be constant. Farmers will have to adopt the recommended doses of fertilizers particularly in cereal based cropping systems especially in wheat and rice.
• We should also promote the development of Integrated Plant Nutrient Systems models for dominant cropping patterns under different irrigation and rain-fed regions for improving fertilizer use efficiency and soil health.
• Characterization and monitoring of soil resources using modern tools and techniques, especially remote sensing in different agriculture regions.
• To shift agriculture to a more sustainable use of water and soil without harming the food security and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholders, substantial improvements of water and soil use efficiency will be required.

• The adoption of drip irrigation, low-pressure sprinkler systems, and other water saving technologies and practices.

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• We also address knowledge and information to better uses of water and land resource to farmers, and reducing leakages in delivery systems.

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• Reduced use of synthetic chemical inputs, biological pest control, use of organic manures, soil and water conservation practices, crop rotations etc., are all relevant and important technological components of sustainable agriculture.

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