Environment Management Principles

8/10/2019 Environment Management Principles

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ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM ASSIGNMENT-1

SUBMITTED

RAHUL KUMAR(142160

AJEET SINGH(142160

ROHIT ARORA(142160

GAURAV GARG (142160

GAURAV UPADHYAY(142160



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CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGE

1.

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PRICIPLES 3

2. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN INDIA 5

3. IMPACT PREDICTION 7

4. IMPACT EVALUATION 8

5. FORCASTING ENVIRONMENT CHANGES 9

6. ENVIRONMENT CLEARENCE PROCEDURE IN INDIA 11

7. ENVIRONMENT COST BENIFIT ANALYSIS 13

8. INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT POLICIES & 15

ENVIRONMENT LEGISLATION IN INDIA

9. CONCEPT OF ECOSYSTEM 18

10. FLOW OF ENERGY THROUGH FOOD CHAIN 19

11. CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVLOPMENT 22



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ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

There are five guiding principles for incorporating environmental concerns in to decision

making. These principles can be used to design environmental instruments and to raise funds to

finance environmental public investments plans in the sectoral and overall budget. They are1. Polluter pays principle (PPP)

2. User pays principle (UPP) (or resource pricing principle).

3. Precautionary principle (PP).

4. Subsidiary principle (SP)

5. Intergenerational equity principle (IEP)

Polluter pays principle

The Polluter Pays Principle was first widely discussed in the United Nations Conference on

Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro of Brazil in June 1992. This principle wasendorsed by all the attending representatives of the countries. The PPP required that the polluter

has to bear the cost of complying with environmental standards, which are predetermined by

public authorities. If the polluters have to pay for the cost of any pollution they cause, market

forces will then encourage them to change their activities either by introducing new pollution

control technologies or by switching to more efficient production process. For instance every

day, individual households, firms and industries turn over million tons of tap water into

wastewater, which requires proper treatment before disposal. Prior to the introduction of sewage

charges (example of polluter pay principle), the cost of sewage collection and treatment came

entirely from the public revenue. The disadvantages of such an arrangement are that the public is

unaware of the cost of the sewage services and therefore has no incentive to reduce water

pollution. There are two objectives with PPP towards encouraging to more efficient production

process,they are:

i. To promote economic efficiency in the implementation of pollution control policies.

ii. To minimize potential trade distortions arising from environmental policies.

PPP was partly based on equity considerations (the polluter should pay the cost of any mitigation

measures), and partly ensure that countries do not provide competitive advantage for their

producers by subsidizing the pollution abatement measures. One more important point is thatPPP is not necessary to achieve an efficient solution to an environmental problem and it does not

require pollution to recede to zero levels, nor does it require reduction to optimal level even

though it is not excluded. PP required only that the environment is in an acceptable state, which

will evolve from a political process requiring inputs from local, national and international level.



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User pays principle

The UPP states that the beneficiaries should pay for the full cost of using the resources and its

related service; the full cost included the cost of losses for future generations. Both PPP and UPP

principle considered as equitable and both offer the prospect of achieving efficiency. However,

UPP concept has conflict with certain social objections, example all the home should connected

to electricity supply, telephone service, sewage and be closed to public transport. The provision

of universal services to all or most location with high marginal costs beyond the reach of most

consumers is conflict with this principle. The resolution of these conflicting principles is a matter

of public policy. However, this principle is more easily applied to the consumer of public

services involving the collection and treatment of effluents.

Precautionary principle

The Precautionary Principle was adopted by the UN Conference on Environment andDevelopment (the Earth Summit) in 1992. According to Rio Declaration on Environment and

Development Precautionary Principle as meaning that where there are threats of serious or

irreversible damage to environment, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as s to

environment for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. This

principle is seeking present and ease environmental stress before conclusive evidence of damage

exists and adopts policy when raw evidence is available.

Subsidiary principle

Subsidiary principle (SP), was not designed for as an environmental principle, but it provides

useful guidance when applying the PPP and UPP and the PP. SP states that political decisions

should be taken by lowest possible level of public authority dependence with effective action. So

that setting standards and interpreting risk are politically involved process.The SP recommend

that these decisions are made by the authorities that are closed to the population concerned.

Intergenerational equity principle

The IEP is the central principle in the definition of sustainable development. According to the

Brundtland Report sustainability states that ‗meeting needs of present generations withoutcompromising the needs of future generations‘. Generally this principle is considered with the

trilogy of economic, environmental and social objectives underlying sustainable development.

This principle is the basis of the environmental accounting measures of sustainable income.



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ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN INDIA

There are many environmental issues in India. Air pollution, water pollution, garbage, and

pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for India. The situation was worse

between 1947 through 1995. According to data collection and environment assessment studiesof World Bank experts, between 1995 through 2010, India has made one of the fastest progress

in the world, in addressing its environmental issues and improving its environmental

quality. Still, India has a long way to go to reach environmental quality similar to those enjoyed

in developed economies. Pollution remains a major challenge and opportunity for India.

The major environment concerns in india are mention below:

Deforestation

India is witnessing a rising demand for forest-based products. This is causingdeforestation and encroachment into forest protected areas, which leads to a severe loss

of natural resources.

It is estimated that total industrial roundwood consumption in India could exceed 70

million m3 per year by the end of the decade (350,000 large shipping containers), while

domestic supply would fall short of this figure by an estimated 14 million m3.

As the nation will have to depend heavily on imports to meet this growing demand, there

is fear that this could result in loss of high conservation value forests and biodiversity

elsewhere.

WATER

Perhaps the largest of the environmental issues in india is lack of access to vital fresh

water sources.

Years of exploitation and extraction of groundwater in India has caused the national

water table to suddenly and very dramatically drop.

Considering that 85% of rural drinking water and 55% of urban water comes from

underground sources, this seems to me a very urgent problem as literally hundreds of

millions of people could be left without water.

The rivers are on the front line of pollution in India. Millions of people depend on themfor their livelihoods but they are slowly being polluted and destroyed by sewage,

chemicals and other agricultural and industrial waste.

These are some of the most polluted rivers in the world but little seems to be to stem the

incessant destruction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution



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SOLID WASTE POLLUTION

Trash and garbage is a common sight in urban and rural areas of India.

It is a major source of pollution.

Indian cities alone generate more than 100 million tons of solid waste a year. Street corners are piled with trash. Public places and sidewalks are despoiled with filth

and litter, rivers and canals act as garbage dumps.

In part, India's garbage crisis is from rising consumption. India's waste problem also

points to a stunning failure of governance.

Some of the few solid waste landfills India has, near its major cities, are overflowing and

poorly managed. They have become significant sources of greenhouse emissions and

breeding sites for disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, and other

pests.

Municipalities in Indian cities and towns have waste collection employees.

However, these are unionised government workers and their work performance is neither

measured nor monitored.

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution in India is a serious issue with the major sources being fuelwood and

biomass burning, fuel adulteration, vehicle emission and traffic congestion.

Air pollution is also the main cause of the Asian brown cloud, which is causing

the monsoon to be delayed.

India is the world's largest consumer of fuelwood, agricultural waste and biomass for

energy purposes.

Traditional fuel (fuelwood, crop residue and dung cake) dominates domestic energy use

in rural India and accounts for about 90% of the total. In urban areas, this traditional fuel

constitutes about 24% of the total.

Fuel wood, agri waste and biomass cake burning releases over 165 million tonnes of

combustion products into India's indoor and outdoor air every year.

These biomass-based household stoves in India are also a leading source of greenhouse

emissions contributing to climate change.

The annual crop burning practice in northwest India, north India and eastern Pakistan,

after monsoons, from October to December, are a major seasonal source of air pollution.

Approximately 500 million tons of crop residue is burnt in open, releasing smoke, soot,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_brown_cloud

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_brown_cloud



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NOx, SOx, PAHs and particulate matter into the air. This burning has been found to be a

leading cause of smog and haze problems through the winter over Punjab, cities such as

Delhi, and major population centers along the rivers through West Bengal.

In other states of India, rice straw and other crop residue burning in open is a major

source of air pollution.

Vehicle emissions are another source of air pollution. Vehicle emissions are worsened by

fuel adulteration and poor fuel combustion efficiencies from traffic congestion and low

density of quality, high speed road network per 1000 people

IMPACT PREDICTION

The accumulated knowledge and the findings of the environmental investigations form

the basis for the prediction of impacts.

The requirements for exact predictions are not necessarily met because of uncertainties in

the data and a lack of baseline data.

Claims of exact predictions do not necessarily indicate assessments of high quality or

accuracy, in fact, detailed predictions may be misleading and direct attention and

resources away from central issues that are important to the assessment.

Hence, it is important that the predictions outli ne different scenarios and that the

underlying assumptions are presented transparently.

Once a potential impact has been determined during the scoping process, it is necessary

to identify which project activity will cause the impact, the probability of occurrence ofthe impact, and its magnitude and extent (spatial and temporal).

This information is important for evaluating the significance of the impact, and for

defining mitigation and monitoring strategies.

What are the important considerations for impact prediction?

Baseline condition: The baseline condition of a resource, ecosystem, or community

without the potential effects of the proposed project must be established before the

impact prediction process begins.

Uncertainty: Uncertainties resulting from measurement error and absence of

information, particularly in the case of cumulative and sociocultural impacts. Qualitative

risk and scenario analyses may alleviate some of the problems caused by the

uncertainties.

Spatial limits:Impact assessment, including cumulative impacts, must consider all

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_road_network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_road_network



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activities that affect environmental components, even those components that lie outside

the immediate area affected by the project. Because of the natural conditions in the

Arctic, the affected area often is larger than in temperate areas.

Temporal boundaries: Impact assessment, particularly for assessments of cumulative

impacts, may extend beyond the period of time required for the assessment of the project

activities. Assessments should take into account the impacts of past, existing and planned

activities as well as those activities associated with the present project.

Incremental condition:An impact prediction process should describe the incremental

contribution of the project to impacts on the environment. Thresholds and additional

criteria can be identified for some specific resources, which establish levels of impact

beyond which resources cannot be sustained. Interactions. Assessments of the

interactions between impacts, particularly when considering cumulative impacts, should

be included in the impact prediction process; for example, transfers of material betweenecosystems or ecosystem components, and connections between human culture, resource

use and the environment.

Quantitative and qualitative methods. : Qualitative impact descriptions, combined with

the consideration of key uncertainties and quantitative data where appropriate, may

provide a means for comparing alternatives.

IMPACT EVALUATION

The purpose of impact evaluation is to assign relative significance to predicted impacts

associated with the project, and to determine the order in which impacts are to be avoided,

mitigated or compensated.

The significance of impacts may be determined during many phases of an assessment; however,

determination usually occurs during impact prediction. Consideration of impact significance

could affect the scoping exercise, and monitoring results could lead to a reevaluation of impact

significance. Decisions on impact significance should be presented clearly, and in the case ofdisagreement, the different points of view on significance should be presented.

How is impact significance determined?

Decisions on significance should be based on existing standards, discussions, judgement and

agreement. These decisions should take into account the characteristics of the impact such as the



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number of affected persons, and the magnitude, extent, duration and reversibility of the impact.

The applied methods and the criteria used for ranking significance should be clearly presented.

level of public concern;

scientific and professional judgement;

measure of disturbance to ecological systems;

impacts on social values and quality of life;

existence of environmental standards, that is, international, national, provincial or local

agreements;

availability of mitigation practice and technology to ameliorate impacts.

ENVIRONMENTAL FORECASTING

TYPES OF FORECASTING :

1. Economic Forecast

2. Social Forecast

3. Political Forecast4. Technological Forecast

Economic Forecast : As a economic environment is a very critical determinant of business prospects, economic forecasts is very important.The Economic factors considered include

general economic conditions, GDP growth rate, per capita income, structural changes in GDP,

Investment and output trends in different sectors and subsectors/industries, price trends, tradeand BOP trends etc.

Social Forecast : Social trends have significant implications for business strategy. It is,therefore , very essential to forecast the possible changes in the relevant social

variables.Important factors include :

1. Population growth/decline

2. Ethnic composition

3. Life Styles

4. Social attitudes

5.

Income levels

Political Forecasts : Political forecast has an important part in envisioning properly the futurescenario of business. Relevant factors include :

1. Changes in the Relative power of Political party.

2. Political alliances and political ideologies etc.



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Political forecasts also cover industrial policy, commercial policy, and Fiscal policy,

International political developments are also important.

Technological Forecast : Innovation and other technological developments can drastically

alter the business environment.Technological forecasts, therefore , assumes great significance.

It encompass not only technological innovations but also the pace nd extent of diffusion and penetration of technologies and their implications.

Setps in Environmental Forecasting

The following are the steps in Environmental Analysis:

1. Identification of relevant environmental variables

2.

Collection of Information3. Selection of Forecasting Technique

4. Monitoring

Techniques for Environmental Forecasting

Techniques can be classified under two heads:

1. Quantitative2. Qualitative

Quantitative : It can be numberized i.e under this technique numerical data is used. Thefollowing are the quantitative techniques :

a. Ecometric Technique : It involves casual models to predict major economic indicators.When there is a well established relationship between two or more variables, that casual

relationship can be used to forecast future.For example : If demand is a function of

consumer income, the impact of an increase in consumer income on demand can be predicted using the equation representing the relationship between these two variables.

b. Trend Extrapolation : Time series models assume that the past is a prologue to the

future and extrapolate the historical data to the future. We can say future is viewed in the

light ofpast under this technique

Qualitative Technique: Under this technique numerical datas are not used. The following arethe methods of qualitative technique

1. Brain Storming: Brian Storming is a creative method of generating ideas and forecasts.Under this method, a group of knowledgeable people are encouraged to generate ideas,

discuss and to make forecasts on the basis of that.



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2. Delphi Method: It‘s similar to brainstorming but it‘s a more systematic technique. This

method uses a panel of expertss on the subject whom opinions are gathered by using semi

structured questionaire and/or interview. The opinions gathered are circulated among panel members for their evaluation and comments and then the experts are requested to

review their opinion in the light feedback.

3. Strategic Issue Analysis: It‘s used for expressing strategic environment issues. It

consists of systematically monitoring of social, regulatory and political changes that can

affect corporate performance and identifying their impact on the company.

ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE PROCEDURE IN INDIA

The environmental clearance process is required for 39 types of projects and covers aspects likescreening, scoping and evaluation of the upcoming project. The main purpose is to assess impact

of the planned project on the environment and people and to try to abate/minimise the same.

The process

consists of

following

steps:



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Project proponent identifies the location of proposed plant after ensuring compliance with

existing siting guidelines. If project site does not agree with the siting guideline, the

proponent has to identify other alternative site for the project

The project proponent then assesses if the proposed activity/project falls under the

purview of environmental clearance. If it is mentioned in schedule of the notification, the

proponent conducts an EIA study either directly or through a consultant. If the project

falls in B category, the project goes to state government for clearance which further

categorise into B1 and B2 projects. B2 projects doe not require preparation of EIA

reports.

After the EIA report is ready, the investor approaches the concerned State Pollution

Control Board (SPCB) and the State Forest Department (if the location involves use of

forestland). The SPCB evaluates and assesses the quantity and quality of effluents likely

to be generated by the proposed unit as well as the efficacy of the control measures

proposed by the investor to meet the prescribed standards. If the SPCB is satisfied that

the proposed unit will meet all the prescribed effluent and emissions standards, it issues

consent to establish (popularly known as NOC), which is valid for 15 years.

The public hearing is a mandatory step in the process of environmental clearance for

certain developmental projects. This provides a legal space for people of an area to come

face-to-face with the project proponent and the government and express their concerns. .

The process of public hearing is conducted prior to the issue of NOC from SPCB. The

District Collector is the chairperson of the public hearing committee. Other members of

the committee includes the official from the district development body, SPCB,

Department of Environment and Forest, Taluka and Gram Panchayat representative,

and senior citizen of the district, etc. The hearing committee hears the

objections/suggestions from the public and after inserting certain clauses it is passed on

to the next stage of approval (Ministry of Forest and Environment).

The project proponent submits an application for environmental clearance with the MoEF

if it falls under Project A category or the state government if it falls under project Bcategory. The application form is submitted with EIA report, EMP, details of public

hearing and NOC granted by the state regulators.

Environmental appraisal: The documents submitted by an investor are first scrutinised

by a multi-disciplinary staff functioning in the Ministry of Environment and Forests who

may also undertake site-visits wherever required, interact with the investors and hold

consultations with experts on specific issues as and when necessary. After this



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preliminary scrutiny, the proposals are placed before specially constituted committees of

experts whose composition is specified in the EIA Notification. Such committees, known

as Environmental Appraisal Committees have been constituted for each sector such as

River Valley, Industries, Mining etc. and these committees meet regularly to appraise the

proposals received in the Ministry. In case of certain very special/controversial projects,

which have aroused considerable public interest, the committee may also decide toarrange for public hearings on those projects to ensure public participation in

developmental decisions. Announcements for such public hearing shall be made atleast

30 days before through newspapers. On the basis of the exercise described in the

foregoing paragraphs, the Appraisal Committees make their recommendations for

approval or rejection of particular projects. The recommendations of the Committees are

then processed in the Ministry of Environment and Forests for approval or rejection.

Issues of clearance or rejection letter: When a project requires both environmental

clearance as well as approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Proposals for

both are required to be given simultaneously to the concerned divisions of the ministry.

The processing is done simultaneously for clearance/rejection, although separate letters

may be issued. If the project does not involve diversion of forest land, the case is

processed only for environmental clearance.

Once all the requisite documents and data from the project authorities are received and

public hearings (where required) have been held, assessment and evaluation of the project

from the environment angle is completed within 90 days and the decision of the ministry

shall be conveyed within 30 days thereafter. The clearance granted shall be valid for a

period of five years for commencements of the construction or operation of the project.

ENVIRONMENTAL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

The social, economic, and environmental con sequences of lending are seldom incorporated intolending decisions. To do so would require the use of techniques such as cost-benefit analysis or a

somewhat less rigorous, more intuitive Environmental Impact Assessment (EA).

The issue of environmental cost benefit accounting is currently the subject of considerable study

and debate. A number of different methodologies to incorporate environment factors into the

economic costs and benefits of a project have been put forward. No single current methodologyis universally accepted, nor is any single methodology applicable to all cases.

In some projects, especially those involving intensification of agricultural production, market based methods are useful, when market prices can be assigned to production and productivity

changes arising from changes in environmental quality. Other market based methods include loss

of earnings, where projects affect human health, and changes in productivity, where environ



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mental remediation affects production and productivity (i.e., soil conservation positively

affecting income streams)

A contingent valuation model of environmental cost-benefit analysis

The contingent valuation method can be used to illustrate how banks can apply environmentalcost-benefit analysis to their loan decision process.

The failure to cost environmental benefits and goods means that current development strategies

tend to be narrowly focused on maximizing short-term gains with very little regard being given

to proper resource management.

It is essential that financial institutions not only weigh up the immediate tangible economic

returns derived from projects, but also make a fuller assessment of the longer-term ecologicalimpact. Cost-benefit analysis

(CBA) overcomes market shortfalls by attributing monetary values to naturally occurring goodswhich are directly related to the use value society bestows upon them.

The relevant criteria when looking at a decision-making process become the cost of a project, the

benefits of a project, and the total economic value that is lost by the development. On a very

simplistic level, the following rulings can be applied:

1) Banks proceed with investment if

(Bd - Cd - Bp) > 0

2) Banks do not proceed with investment if

(Bd - Cd - Bp) < 0

where:

Bd refers to the benefits of the development

Cd refers to the costs of the development

Bp refers to the benefits of preserving the environment by not developing the area or by not

intensifying agricultural production.

This form of accounting can quite simply be taken a stage further by taking into considerationthe factor of time, so that project appraisals can be carried out with regard to future, as well as

present scenarios.

Bt - Ct - Et (1 + r) - t > 0 or < 0



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where:

Bt is the benefit in time tCt is the cost in time t

Et is the environmental damage done by the project (if there is an environmental improvement,

the -E is replaced by +E)r is the discount rate

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES AND LEGISLATIONS IN

INDIA

The India Constitution, as adopted in 1950, did not deal with the subject of

environment or prevention and control of pollution as such (until 1976 Amendment).

The original text of the Constitution under Article 372(1) has incorporated the earlier

existing laws into the present legal system and provides that notwithstanding the

repeal by this

Constitution of enactments referred to in Article 395, but subject to other provisions of

the other provisions of the Constitution, all laws in force immediately before the

commencement of the Constitution shall remain in force until altered, repealed or

amended by a competent legislature or other competent authority.

As a result, even after five decades of independence, the plethora of such laws is still in

operation without any significant charge in them.

The post-independence era, until 1970, did not see much legislative activity in the filed

of environmental protection. Two early post-independence laws touched on water

pollution.

The Factories Act of 1948 required all factories to make effective arrangements for

waste disposal and empowered State Governments to frame rules implementing this

directive.

Under the River Boards Act of 1956, river boards established are empowered to prevent

water pollution of inter-state rivers. To prevent cruelty to animals, the Prevention of

Cruelty of Animals Act was framed in 1960.

Some States took initiative in the filed of environmental protection, viz., Orissa River

Pollution Prevention Act, 1953, and, Maharashtra Prevention of Water Pollution Act,

1969. While the Orissa Act was confined only to rivers, the Maharashtra Act extended to

rivers, watercourses, whether flowing or for the time being dry, inland water both

natural and artificial, and subterranean streams.



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Thus, there were scattered provisions for checking pollution of air, water, etc., but there

was no unified effort in developing any policy concerning the pollution emanating from

these areas. This position went up to the seventies.

Meanwhile concern arose over, inter-alia, population increase, greater pollution levels;

human impact on animal populations and natural landscapes and other aspects ofresource depletion.

It was the Stockholm Declaration of 1972 which turned the attention of the Indian

Government to the boarder perspective of environmental protection. The government

made its stand well known through five year plans as well as the legislations enacted

subsequently to curb and control environmental pollution.

After 1970, comprehensive (special) environmental laws were enacted by the Central

Government in India.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, aimed at rational and modern wild life management.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, provides for the

establishment of pollution control boards at Centre and States to act as watchdogs for

prevention and control of pollution.

The Forest(Conservation) Act, 1980 aimed to check deforestation, diversion of forest

land for non-forestry purposes, and to promote social forestry.

The Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1981, aimed at checking air pollution

via pollution control boards.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is a landmark legislation which provides for

single focus in the country for protection of environment and aims at plugging the

loopholes in existing legislation. It provides mainly for pollution control, with stringent

penalties for violations.

The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, provides for mandatory insurance for the

purpose of providing immediate relief to person affected by accidents occurring while

handling any hazardous substance.

The National Environment Tribunals Act, 1995, was formulated in view of the fact that

civil courts litigations take a long time (as happened in Bhopal case). The Act provides

for speedy disposal of environmental related cases through environmental tribunals.

Under the Act, four benches of the tribunal will be set up in Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and



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Bombay and 8,000 of the most Hazardous industrial units in the country will be brought

under its security.

The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997, provides for the established of

a National Environment Appellant Authority (NEAA) to hear appeals with respect to

restriction in areas in which any industries, operations or processes shall not be carried

out or shall be carried out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment

(Protection) Act, 1986.

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, is a major legislation intervention effected in the

name of the communities supposed to be involved in the protection of biodiversity

around them. The Act intends to facilitate access to genetic materials while protecting

the traditional knowledge associated with them.

Year Environmental Regulations

1972 The Wildlife (Protection) Act,

1974 Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution Act) Amendments, 1988

1975 The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules

1977 The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act

1978 The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Rules

1981 The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, Amendments,

19871982/

1983

The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules

1986 The Environment (Protection) Act, Amendments

(1989,1990,1993,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001)

1986 The Environmental (Protection) Rules

1992 E (P) Act Notification – ―Environment Statement‖

1994 E (P) Act Notification – ―Environmental Clearance‖

1997 Amendments in the Environment Clearance, Notification –

―Public Hearing‖ made mandatory

1989 The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules,Amendments, 2000, Draft Amendments 2002

1989 Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules,

Amendments, 1994, 2000

1991 The Public Liability Insurance Act/Rules, 1992



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1995 The National Environment Tribunal Act

1997 Prohibition on the Handling of Azo dyes

1997 The National Environment Appellate Authority Act

1998 The Bio-Medical Waste (M&H), Rules

1999 Notification for making 100% Utilization of Fly-ash mademandatory

2000 Municipal Solid Waste (M&H) Rules

2000 Ozone Depleting Substance (R&C) Rules

1999 Regulation on recycling of Waste Oil and Non-ferrous scrape

2000 Noise Pollution (Regulations and Control)

2001 Batteries (M&H) Rules

CONCEPT OF ECOSYSEM

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in

conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water

and mineral soil), interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components areregarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows As ecosystems are

defined by the network of interactions among organisms, and between organisms and

their environment, they can be of any size but usually encompass specific, limited

spaces (although some scientists say that the entire planet is an ecosystem).

Ecosystem Ecology looks at energy transformations and biogeochemical cycling within

ecosystems.

Energy is continually input into an ecosystem in the form of light energy, and some

energy is lost with each transfer to a higher trophic level.

Nutrients, on the other hand, are recycled within an ecosystem, and their supply normally

limits biological activity. So, "energy flows, elements cycle". Energy is moved through an ecosystem via a food web, which is made up of interlocking

food chains.

Energy is first captured by photosynthesis (primary production).

The amount of primary production determines the amount of energy available to higher

trophic levels.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_(ecology)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiotic_component

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiotic_component

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_(ecology)



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The study of how chemical elements cycle through an ecosystem is termed

biogeochemistry.

A biogeochemical cycle can be expressed as a set of stores (pools) and transfers, and can

be studied using the concepts of "stoichiometry", "mass balance", and "residence time".

Ecosystem function is controlled mainly by two processes, "top-down" and "bottom-up"

controls.

A biome is a major vegetation type extending over a large area. Biome distributions are

determined largely by temperature and precipitation patterns on the Earth's surface.

ENERGY FLOW THROUGH FOOD CHAIN

A food chain is a linear sequence of links in a food web starting from a that are called producers in the web and ends at a species that is called decomposers species in the web.

A food chain also shows how the organisms are related with each other by the food they

eat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_web






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A simple diagram of one string of feeding relationships in an ecosystem, showing the

direction of the transfer of energy in that system.

TROPHIC LEVELS

Each organism within a food web can be classified by trophic level according to their positionwithin the web. Depending on an organism's location in a food web, it may be grouped into morethan one of these categories. Energy and nutrients move up trophic levels in the following order:

1. Primary producers

2. Primary consumers

3. Secondary consumers

4. Tertiary and other high-level consumers

• Sun‘s energy fuels grass

• Grass‘s energy fuels the rabbit

• Rabbit fuels the wolf

• After it dies, the wolf fuels the bacteria to break down the parts of the wolf back into the

soil

• The nutrients in the soil fuel the grass

• AND SO ON



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FLOW OF ENERGY

• A scientist named Howard T. Odum demonstrated the loss of energy in each trophic level

in the Silver Springs, Florida, ecosystem in the 1940s . He found that the primary

producers generated 20,819 kcal/m2/yr (kilocalories per square meter per year), the

primary consumers generated 3368 kcal/m2/yr, the secondary consumers generated 383

kcal/m2/yr, and the tertiary consumers only generated 21 kcal/m

2/yr. In each successive

trophic level, the energy available to the next level decreased significantly.

ENERGY PYRAMID

An energy pyramid is a graphical model of energy flow in a community. The differentlevels represent different groups of organisms that might compose a food chain

An energy pyramid‘s shape shows how the amount of useful energy that enters each level

— chemical energy in the form of food — decreases as it is used by the organisms in thatlevel

Scientists have calculated that an average of 90% of the energy entering each step of the

food chain is ―lost‖ this way



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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

DEFINATION

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable

development respects the limited capacity of an ecosystem to absorb the impact of human action.

Sustainable development implies economic growth together with the protection of environmental

quality, each reinforcing the other. The essence of this form of development is a stable

relationship between human activities and the natural world, which does not diminish the

prospects for future generations to enjoy a quality of life at least as good as our own. Many

observers believe that participatory democracy, undominated by vested interests, is a prerequisite

for achieving sustainable development



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Principles:

1. Integration of Environmental and Economic Decisions

(a) Economic decisions should adequately reflect environmental, human health and social

effects.(b) Environmental and health initiatives should adequately take into account economic, human

health and social consequences.

2. Stewardship

(a) The economy, environment, human health and social well-being should be managed for theequal benefit of present and future generations.

(b) We are caretakers of the economy, the environment, human health and social well-being for

the benefit of present and future generations.

(c) Today‘s decisions are to be balanced with tomorrow‘s effects.

3. Shared Responsibility and Understanding(a) We should acknowledge responsibility for sustaining the economy, the environment, humanhealth and social well-being, with each being accountable for decisions and actions in a spirit of

partnership and open cooperation.

(b) We share a common economic, physical and social environment.(c) We should understand and respect differing economic and social views, values, traditions andaspirations.

(d) We should consider the aspirations, needs and views of the people of the various

geographical regions and ethnic groups in Manitoba, including Aboriginal peoples, to facilitateequitable management of Manitoba‘s common resources.

4. PreventionWe should anticipate, and prevent or mitigate, significant adverse economic, environmental,

human health and social effects of decisions and actions, having particular careful regard to

decisions whose impacts are not entirely certain but which, on reasonable and well-informedgrounds, appear to pose serious threats to the economy, the environment, human health and

social well-being.

5. Conservation and EnhancementWe should

(a) maintain the ecological processes, biological diversity and life-support

systems of the environment;(b) harvest renewable resources on a sustainable yield basis;

(c) make wise and efficient use of renewable and non-renewable resources;

and(d) enhance the long-term productive capability, quality and capacity of

natural ecosystems.

6. Rehabilitation and ReclamationWe should



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(a) endeavour to repair damage to or degradation of the environment; and

(b) consider the need for rehabilitation and reclamation in future decisions and actions.

7. Global ResponsibilityWe should think globally when acting locally, recognizing that there is economic, ecological and

social interdependence among provinces and nations, and working cooperatively, within Canadaand internationally, to integrate economic, environmental, human health and social factors in

decision making while developing comprehensive and equitable solutions to problems

Documents

Environment Management Principles