IntroductionEco-education/environmental education is not a new concept. It has been in existence since the origin of humankind, as all human knowledge is derived out of interaction with nature and learning from nature.
As human society evolved and progressed, human being involved themselves in pursuit that made our living more and more conducive and comfortable. During the process, history also witnessed the emergence of various problems, both from the natural and social environments.
The earth is getting polluted. The soil, minerals, water, fuel, plant and animal resources are getting depleted. Chemical contamination caused by synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, food additives, effluents/pollution, dams are causing havoc to plant, animal and human life. Climate changes, desertification and floods are becoming drastic.
The human population is glowing faster and creating pressure on the environment. Today over one billion people of the globe are living in absolute poverty (according to the World Bank) and about 600 million are completely starving. Annually, about 15-20 million deaths occur directly due to hunger. Little to wonder, 28 people die every moment due to hunger globally.
Studies have proved that human beings are found to be unable to adjust themselves to changes in the environment. What really happens is that there is a very slow adaptation of human to the environmental changes that take place drastically. This is known as bio-social disadaptation, and it leads to numerous ill effects - the most glaring of which is the high risk of being contaminated with diseases, both psychological and physiological.
It is important to note that Homosapiens (human beings) were not created by nature for a highly industrialised, petrochemical environment/society. These concerns warrant an inquiry into the problems of human being in relation to the environment coupled with societal analysis.
Eco-education / environmental education
Environmental education has its roots among a cross-section of people in developed countries which witnessed the systematic destruction of its environment about 30-40 years ago. In India, this consciousness (of course, one may argue that India has always been a conservator of forests and has respected her flora and fauna.) has arisen only during the past one decade, particularly after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (one of the world's worst industrial disasters), which claimed 20,000 lives and crippled millions.
The environment component is introduced in most of the Graduate and Post-Graduate levels in the country through almost all disciplines of Natural and Social Science. However, the seriousness and interest with which the knowledge is imparted, the level of understanding of the linkages of the curriculum with the environment, and the level of motivating the students by the faculty and the level of assimilation of the students is a point of concern.
 For most of the nature
travelers, eco tourism books are best source for ready-made information
of eco places. Giving tourists in-depth understanding of eco
destinations as well as eco tourism, eco books are complete guidebook
for travelers. more.. |
 As the environment market is
worth 800 billion globally, opportunity to make career in ecology and
environment is huge. Career in ecology gives one opportunity to stay
close to mother nature. more.. |
 Celebrated each year on June
5th, the world Environment Day is an occasion reminding every people of
the world that protecting the environment is their prime responsibility. more.. |
 Built by physical and biological
components of an environment, Ecosystem is where community of plants,
animals and their environment function as a whole, and relationship
between organism and environment thrives blissfully. more.. |
 Eco terms are somewhat intricate
word or set of words, which have their significant meaning in ecological
terms. Understanding these terms make one be better aware of eco
happening around the world. more.. |
 Eco laws intend to curb the
unwanted elements acting as threat to ecology. Implementing the eco laws
is one such responsibility, every individual need to follow. more.. |
 Earth day is the time to reckon
the success and failure of our mission to save our environment. It is
also a time to inspire people to be aware of ecological dangers looming
over the us. more.. |
 Developed by the Ecotourism
Australia in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for
Sustainable Tourism Of Australia, International Standard sets criteria
for environmental performance of organisations. more.. |
 Derived from two words, 'Ecology'
and 'Tourism', ecotourism is preserving travel to natural
areas to appreciate the cultural and natural history of the environment,
taking care not to disturb the integrity of the ecosystem. more.. |
 Eco health refers to the
relation between environment and health. Today when the modern medical
views emphasise upon cure rather than prevention of any disease, there
is dire need that we come to understand the proper meaning of Eco
health. more.. |
 Green Movements are actually the
eco movements intented to conserve the biodiversity, natural resources
and the over all health as well as good will of the human beings. more... |
 Energy conservation means
reduction in quantity of energy used. It supports the eco friendly
lifestyle by providing energy, which saves your money and at the same
time saves the earth. more... |
 Water Conservation is the most
effective and environmentally sound method to fight global warming. If
each one of us make effort to save water today, it will save us later.
It is infact a step to secure the future. more... |
 Waste Management is the
collection and disposal of solid waste. The process may include waste
reduction, recycling, reuse, transformation and conservation of
resources. It's aim is to provide an eco- friendly environment to
maintain the vast habitual cycle. more... |
 Global Warming is the sudden
increase in the earth's temperature. The increasing human activities are
significantly contributing to teh cause of global warming and the
foremost among them are green house effect and deforestation. more... |
 Changing climatic conditions can
have the big effect on our life and our environment. The change in
weather conditions can be best observed through the extreme rise in
temperature, melting of glaciers and sudden rise in sea level. more... |
 With the growing concern over
the global warming it has become necessary to constructenvironmentally
friendly buildings and useefficient energy systems that can help reduce
the negative environmental impacts. more... |
