1.
Ecology Basics
Definition: Study of
interactions between
organisms and their
environment.
Levels of
Organization:
Individual →
Population →
Community →
Ecosystem → Biome
→ Biosphere.
Ecosystem
Components:
oBiotic: producers,
consumers,
decomposers.
oAbiotic: soil, water,
climate.
Energy Flow: Food
chains, food webs,
ecological pyramids.
2. Biodiversity
Types of
Biodiversity
Genetic diversity:
o
variation within
species.
o Species diversity:
variety of species in
a region.
o Ecosystem
diversity: variety of
habitats.
India’s Biodiversity
Hotspots
o Himalaya, Indo-
Burma, Sundalands
(Nicobar Islands),
Indo-Malayan
region.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
categories:
endangered,
vulnerable, critically
endangered.
Examples: Bengal
Tiger, Asiatic Lion,
Olive Ridley Turtle.
3. Environmental Issues
Pollution Types
Air: particulate
o
matter, greenhouse
gases.
Water:
o
eutrophication,
heavy metals.
Soil: pesticides,
o
industrial waste.
o Noise: urbanization,
transport.
Climate Change
Causes: greenhouse
effect, deforestation,
fossil fuels.
Impacts: rising sea
levels, extreme
weather, biodiversity
loss.
4. Environmental
Movements in India
Chipko Movement
(1973): forest
conservation in
Uttarakhand.
Silent Valley
Movement (Kerala):
against hydroelectric
project.
Narmada Bachao
Andolan:
displacement due to
dam construction.
5. Environmental
Governance
International
Agreements
Stockholm
o
Conference (1972).
o Rio Earth Summit
(1992).
o Kyoto Protocol
(1997).
o Paris Agreement
(2015).
Indian Laws &
Policies
Environment
Protection Act (1986).
Wildlife Protection
Act (1972).
Forest Conservation
Act (1980).
National Green
Tribunal (2010).
6. Natural Resources
Forests: Tropical
evergreen, deciduous,
mangroves.
Water Resources:
rivers, groundwater,
wetlands.
Minerals: coal, iron,
bauxite.
Renewable Energy:
solar, wind,
hydropower, biomass.
7. Conservation Efforts
Protected Areas
o National Parks:
Kaziranga, Gir, Jim
Corbett.
o Wildlife
Sanctuaries:
Bharatpur, Periyar.
o Biosphere Reserves:
Nilgiri, Sundarbans.
Projects
Project Tiger (1973).
Project Elephant
(1992).
Eco-sensitive zones.
8. Sustainable
Development
Concept: Meeting
present needs without
compromising future
generations.
Strategies
Renewable energy
adoption.
Waste management &
recycling.
Afforestation &
reforestation.
Green building
practices.
9. Disaster Management
Natural Disasters:
floods, cyclones,
earthquakes,
droughts.
Mitigation Strategies
Early warning
systems.
Disaster preparedness
plans.
Community
participation.
10. Current Affairs
(Environment &
Biodiversity)
COP summits on
climate change.
India’s renewable
energy targets.
Recent Supreme
Court judgments on
environment.
Global biodiversity
reports (IPBES,
UNEP).