ECOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

ECOLOGICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS
PRESENTED BY:
VAKHDEVI

RURAL ENVIRONMENT
• It is a misconception that rural areas have no environmental threats. Or
people take simply agriculture pollution as the main threat to environment in
upcountry areas.
• Agriculture pollution means all types of contamination that occur during the
process of farming including undue use of chemical fertilizer, pesticide and
chemical-based fast methods to grow crop faster than its normal time.
• The main sources of air pollution everywhere are no doubt factories and
vehicles which are not found in big numbers in rural areas. But other sources
of pollution are in almost same numbers in villages and small towns as in big
cities.
MAIN SOURCES OF RURAL POLLUTION
• Rural air pollution can be lesser than the cities but threats of water
pollution and land pollution are equally there.
• It is also an alarming threat to rural soil because it needs to be more fertile to
grow agriculture produce while land pollution more particularly can directly
hit it.
• In many rural areas recycling of wastewater is a rare thing and it is normally
released into a fresh water body considering it is not in huge quantity so it
won’t pollute the fresh water.
• It is again a big mistake administration does. If a small quantity of
wastewater keep falling in a fresh water body after sometime it will
obviously be heavily polluted because of its persistent release.
• Similarly solid waste of villages is also disposed in open land that is not used
by any one as the availability of free space on land is not a big problem in
villages.

CAUSES OF RURAL POLLUTION
• Rural areas don’t have much environmental awareness to raise voice against rising amount of all types of pollution around
them.
• Lack of vision is also a main cause of rising level of pollution in rural areas. People think that by disposing of solid waste into
open field will never affect their soil because such waste is small in quantity.
• Also they assume a small amount of wastewater is not that much harmful to their fresh water bodies as the effluent of
industries can hit the water quality.
• So lack of awareness of villagers and lack of vision of village administration add the miseries of rural environment and the
pollution load over there keeps rising.
HOW TO CONTROL RURAL POLLUTION?
• First of all government administration must change its mindset with regard to protecting the rural areas from all types of
environmental threats.
• If it can’t take all pollution prevention measures in each village, it can make a cluster of villages to provide clean
environment service to several villages at a time.
• Installation of wastewater treatment plant to clean the civic effluent by putting it up at a place near to so many villages.
• Landfill sites serve the solid waste management needs of so many villages by building it near to so many residential areas of
upcountry.
• It simply has to provide an efficient solid waste collection system in rural areas under its control.
• Also environmental protection agency of a country has to raise awareness of all the areas that come under its jurisdiction both
rural and urban. So it can also work for the enhancement of environmental awareness of villagers.
• Non-governmental organizations are mostly established to develop the backward areas that are mostly rural. So they can also
play their role to mitigate all types of rural pollution to protect the agriculture economy of their country.
• In short the menace of village pollution of all types can be controlled with the sincere and active collaboration of
government, non-governmental organizations and communities to make all areas of a country equally safe from all types of
environmental hazards.

Air pollution occurs when harmful substances including particulates and
biological molecules are introduced into Earth's atmosphere.
It may cause diseases, allergies or death in humans; it may also cause harm to
other living organisms such as animals and food crops, and may damage the
natural or built environment.
Causes of Air pollution
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulphur dioxide emitted from the
combustion of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and other factory
combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution.
2. Agricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product
from agriculture related activities and is one of the most hazardous
gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, pesticides and
fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They emit
harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries
release large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic
compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality
of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the
earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum
refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals
that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
SOURCE: http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php
AIR POLLUTION

4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments.
During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason
which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air
pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it
literally impossible for you to breathe.
Suspended particulate matter is another cause of pollution.
Referring to the particles afloat in the air, SPM is usually caused by dust, combustion etc.

As of Jan 2015, coal-powered thermal power plants account for 60.72% of India’s total
power generation, according to data available from Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Coal plants happen to be one of the leading sources of SO2 and NO2.
As per Census 2011, 87% of rural households and 26% of urban households depend on
biomass for cooking. Burning of biomass is a leading cause of indoor air pollution and is
responsible for respiratory and pulmonary health issues in approximately 400 million Indians.
The proportion of rural households using kerosene as a primary source of energy for
lighting is almost 30%. Kerosene lanterns used in rural areas are a primary source of
emission of black carbon soot and cause significant health impact, particularly in the case
of women and children.
Growing number of cars in Indian cities - Private & commercial vehicles account for
66.28% of the total consumption of diesel*. Low standards for vehicle emissions &
fuel have resulted in increased levels of Nitrogen Oxides & Sulphur.
MAJOR CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION
SOURCE: http://www.swaniti.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Air-Pollution-in-India.pdf

Government Initiatives & Policy Measures to tackle the issue
• Amid growing concerns pertaining to rising air pollution, government of India has
taken various initiatives as well as introduced policies to address the issue.
• In order to prevent and control air pollution, the Parliament of India enacted the
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 on 29th March 1981, which
came into force on the 15th May of the same year.
•The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a statutory organization under the
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has been entrusted with the
responsibility of ensuring ambient air quality and has been conferred and assigned
the power and functions to achieve the stipulated objective.
•CPCB in association with various State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)
monitors the ambient air quality according to the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) with the help of 580 manual stations established in 244 cities,
towns and industrial areas.
Reducing the dependence on biomass burning in rural households
•Biomass – fuel wood, agricultural residue and animal waste – is among the most
prevalent sources of energy in India, with almost 87% of rural households
National Biomass Cookstoves Programme:
Improved cookstoves to reduce indoor air pollution .
The National Biomass Cookstoves Programme (NBCP) was launched by the
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to promote the use of improved
cookstoves, which would result in reduced emissions and offer cleaner cooking
energy solutions.
SOURCE: http://www.swaniti.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Air-Pollution-in-India.pdf

National ‘Air Quality Index’ to enable common man to understand Air Quality
• Announced in October 2014 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the National Air Quality Index (AQI) is a
measurement index consisting of 8 parameters, which would disseminate information in a simple and effective manner to the common
man as characterized by its slogan “One Color, One Number and One Description”.
• This data would be available for 10 cities in the first phase after the launch and would be disseminated in a real-time manner to
enhance public awareness.
• Under the AQI scheme, the levels of the 8 pollutants are categorized as Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and
Severe based on the ambient concentration, conformity to National Ambient Air Quality Standards and likely health impact.
• It is planned that this air quality index would be extended to 20 state capitals and 46 million plus cities over the next couple of years.
This was launched by the Prime Minister on the 6thApril, 2015.
Effects of Air pollution
1. Respiratory and heart problems: The effects of Air pollution are alarming. They are known to create several respiratory and heart
conditions along with Cancer, among other threats to the body. Children in areas exposed to air pollutants are said to commonly suffer
from pneumonia and asthma.
2. Global warming: Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing due to Global warming. With increased
temperatures world wide, increase in sea levels and melting of ice from colder regions and icebergs, displacement and loss of habitat have
already signaled an impending disaster if actions for preservation and normalization aren’t undertaken soon.
3. Acid Rain: Harmful gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere during the burning of fossil fuels.
When it rains, the water droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic and then falls on the ground in the form of acid
rain. Acid rain can cause great damage to human, animals and crops.
4. Eutrophication: Eutrophication is a condition where high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface
and turns itself into algae and and adversely affect fish, plants and animal species. The green colored algae that is present on lakes and
ponds is due to presence of this chemical only.
5. Effect on Wildlife: Just like humans, animals also face some devastating affects of air pollution. Toxic chemicals present in the air can
force wildlife species to move to new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also
affect sea animals.
6. Depletion of Ozone layer: Ozone exists in earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from harmful ultraviolet (UV)
rays. Earth’s ozone layer is depleting due to the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, hydro chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere. As ozone
layer will go thin, it will emit harmful rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye related problems. UV rays also have the capability to
affect crops.

•Conclusion
•Air Pollution is a complicated issue and negatively impacts the health of citizens as well
as the economy of the country.
•Both indoor and outdoor air pollution have emerged as one of the leading causes of deaths
in India and while recent reports highlight the worsening outdoor air pollution in urban
centres, indoor air pollution due to biomass burning and inefficient ‘chulhas’ is also an
area of concern.
•The Government of India and the state governments have recognized the adverse effect of
air pollution and there is increased seriousness about addressing the air quality issue
among all the stakeholders.
•Furthermore, recent efforts such as the launch of National Air Quality Index point to the
need for enhancing public awareness on the quality of air they are breathing.
•A shift towards renewable energy is part of the plan to reduce dependency on fossil fuels
as well as provide clean energy to households, which are currently using kerosene for
lighting purposes.
•It is important that a comprehensive, integrated and long-term plan of action, involving
coordination between different ministries and departments, is drawn to address the issue,
reduce air pollution and ensure that citizens breathe clean air.

Pollutant Health Impact
Tobacco smoke
Tobacco smoke generates a wide range of harmful chemicals and is a major cause of ill health, as it is known
to cause cancer, not only to the smoker but affecting passive smokers too, ranging from burning sensation in
the eyes or nose, and throat irritation, to cancer, bronchitis, severe asthma, and a decrease in lung function.
Biological pollutants These are mostly allergens that can cause asthma, hay fever, and other allergic diseases.
Volatile organic compounds
Volatile compounds can cause irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In severe cases there may be headaches,
nausea, and loss of coordination. In the longer run, some of them are suspected to cause damage to the liver
and other parts of the body.
Formaldehyde Exposure causes irritation to the eyes, nose and may cause allergies in some people
Lead
Prolonged exposure can cause damage to the nervous system, digestive problems, and in some cases cause
cancer. It is especially hazardous to small children.
Radon
A radioactive gas that can accumulate inside the house, it originates from the rocks and soil under the house
and its level is dominated by the outdoor air and also to some extent the other gases being emitted indoors.
Exposure to this gas increases the risk of lung cancer.
Ozone
Exposure to this gas makes our eyes itch, burn, and water and it has also been associated with increase in
respiratory disorders such as asthma. It lowers our resistance to colds and pneumonia.
Oxides of nitrogen This gas can make children susceptible to respiratory diseases in the winters.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
CO combines with haemoglobin to lessen the amount of oxygen that enters our blood through our lungs. The
binding with other haeme proteins causes changes in the function of the affected organs such as the brain and
the cardiovascular system, and also the developing foetus. It can impair our concentration, slow our reflexes,
and make us confused and sleepy.
Sulphur dioxide. (SO2)
Sulphur Dioxide in the air is caused due to the rise in combustion of fossil fuels. It can oxidize and form
sulphuric acid mist. SO2 in the air leads to diseases of the lung and other lung disorders such as wheezing
and shortness of breath. Long-term effects are more difficult to ascertain as SO2 exposure is often combined
with that of SPM.
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)
SPM consists of dust, fumes, mist and smoke. Lead is of major concern, others being nickel, arsenic, and
those present in diesel exhaust. These particles when breathed in, lodge in our lung tissues and cause lung
damage and respiratory problems. The importance of SPM as a major pollutant needs special emphasis as a)
it affects more people globally than any other pollutant on a continuing basis; b) there is more monitoring
data available on this than any other pollutant; and c) more epidemiological evidence has been collected on
the exposure to this than to any other pollutant.
Some of the indoor air pollutants and their health impacts

LAND POLLUTION
• Land Pollution has come to become one of the serious concerns that we
collectively battle.
• Land pollution, in other words, means degradation or destruction of earth’s
surface and soil, directly or indirectly as a result of human activities.
• Anthropogenic activities are conducted citing development, and the same
affects the land drastically, we witness land pollution; by drastic we are
referring to any activity that lessens the quality and/or productivity of the
land as an ideal place for agriculture, forestation, construction etc.
• The degradation of land that could be used constructively in other words is
land pollution.
• Land Pollution has led to a series of issues that we have come to realize in
recent times, after decades of neglect.
• The increasing numbers of barren land plots and the decreasing numbers of
forest cover is at an alarming ratio.
• Moreover the extension of cities and towns due to increasing population is
leading to further exploitation of the land. Land fills and reclamations are
being planned and executed to meet the increased demand of lands.
• This leads to further deterioration of land, and pollution caused by the land
fill contents.
• Also due to the lack of green cover, the land gets affected in several ways
like soil erosion occurs washing away the fertile portions of the land. Or
even a landslide can be seen as an example.

CAUSES OF LAND POLLUTION
Sources of land pollution:
1. Deforestation and soil erosion: Deforestation carried out to create dry lands is one of the major concerns. Land that is once
converted into a dry or barren land, can never be made fertile again, whatever the magnitude of measures to redeem it are.
Land conversion, meaning the alteration or modification of the original properties of the land to make it use-worthy for a
specific purpose is another major cause. This hampers the land immensely. Also there is a constant waste of land. Unused
available land over the years turns barren; this land then cannot be used. So in search of more land, potent land is hunted and
its indigenous state is compromised with.
2. Agricultural activities: With growing human population, demand for food has increased considerably. Farmers often use highly
toxic fertilizers and pesticides to get rid off insects, fungi and bacteria from their crops. However with the overuse of these
chemicals, they result in contamination and poisoning of soil.
3. Mining activities: During extraction and mining activities, several land spaces are created beneath the surface. We constant hear
about land caving in; this is nothing but nature’s way of filling the spaces left out after mining or extraction activity.
4. Overcrowded landfills: Each household produces tonnes of garbage each year. Garbage like aluminum, plastic, paper, cloth,
wood is collected and sent to the local recycling unit. Items that can not be recycled become a part of the landfills that
hampers the beauty of the city and cause land pollution.
5. Industrialization: Due to increase in demand for food, shelter and house, more goods are produced. This resulted in creation of
more waste that needs to be disposed of. To meet the demand of the growing population, more industries were developed
which led to deforestation. Research and development paved the way for modern fertilizers and chemicals that were highly
toxic and led to soil contamination.
6. Construction activities: Due to urbanization, large amount of construction activities are taking place which has resulted in large
waste articles like wood, metal, bricks, plastic that can be seen by naked eyes outside any building or office which is under
construction.
7. Nuclear waste: Nuclear plants can produce huge amount of energy through nuclear fission and fusion. The left over radioactive
material contains harmful and toxic chemicals that can affect human health. They are dumped beneath the earth to avoid any
casualty.
8. Sewage treatment: Large amount of solid waste is leftover once the sewage has been treated. The leftover material is sent to
landfill site which end up in polluting the environment.

EFFECTS OF LAND POLLUTION
1. Soil pollution: Soil pollution is another form of land pollution, where the
upper layer of the soil is damaged. This is caused by the overuse of
chemical fertilizers, soil erosion caused by running water and other
pest control measures; this leads to loss of fertile land for agriculture,
forest cover, fodder patches for grazing etc.
2. Change in climate patterns: The effects of land pollution are very
hazardous and can lead to the loss of ecosystems. When land is
polluted, it directly or indirectly affects the climate patterns.
3. Environmental Impact: When deforestation is committed, the tree cover
is compromised on. This leads to a steep imbalance in the rain cycle. A
disturbed rain cycle affects a lot of factors. To begin with, the green
cover is reduced. Trees and plants help balance the atmosphere,
without them we are subjected to various concerns like Global
warming, the green house effect, irregular rainfall and flash floods
among other imbalances.
4. Effect on human health: The land when contaminated with toxic
chemicals and pesticides lead to problem of skin cancer and human
respiratory system. The toxic chemicals can reach our body through
foods and vegetables that we eat as they are grown in polluted soil.
5. Cause Air pollution: Landfills across the city keep on growing due to increase in waste and are later burned which leads to air
pollution. They become home for rodents, mice etc which in turn transmit diseases.
6. Distraction for Tourist: The city looses its attraction as tourist destination as landfills do not look good when you move around the
city. It leads to loss of revenue for the state government.
7. Effect on wildlife: The animal kingdom has suffered mostly in the past decades. They face a serious threat with regards to loss of
habitat and natural environment. The constant human activity on land, is leaving it polluted; forcing these species to move further
away and adapt to new regions or die trying to adjust. Several species are pushed to the verge of extinction, due to no homeland.
Other issues that we face include increased temperature, unseasonal weather activity, acid rains etc. The discharge of chemicals on
land, makes it dangerous for the ecosystem too. These chemicals are consumed by the animals and plants and thereby make their
way in the ecosystem. This process is called bio magnification and is a serious threat to the ecology.

SOLUTIONS FOR LAND POLLUTION
• Awareness programmes about the concept of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
• Reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities.
• Avoid buying packages items as they will lead to garbage and end up in
landfill site.
• Ensure that you do not litter on the ground and do proper disposal of
garbage.
• Buy biodegradable products.
• Organic gardening and eat organic food that will be grown without the use
of pesticides.
• Dumping grounds away from residential areas.
• Several creatures survive under the land too.
• Disrupting the harmony of the land, is disrupting their habitat.
• We walk and survive on land. It is literally the base of our ecosystem. It is in
our good interest to take care of it and nurture it.

WATER POLLUTION
•Rural India has more than 700 million people residing in about 1.42
million habitations spread over 15 diverse ecological regions.
•Meeting the drinking water needs of such a large population can be a
daunting task.
•The non-uniformity in level of awareness, socio-economic development,
education, poverty, practices and rituals and water availability add to the
complexity of the task.
•Despite an estimated total of Rs. 1,105 billion spent on providing safe
drinking water since the First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951, lack
of safe and secure drinking water continues to be a major hurdle and a
national economic burden.
•Around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne diseases
annually, 1.5 million children are estimated to die of diarrhoea alone and
73 million working days are lost due to waterborne disease each year.
•The resulting economic burden is estimated at $600 million a year.
• While ‘traditional diseases’ such as diarrhoea continue to take a heavy
toll, 66 million Indians are at risk due to excess fluoride and 10 million
due to excess arsenic in groundwater.
•In all, 1,95,813 habitations in the country are affected by poor water
quality.
•It is clear that the large investments have not yielded comparable
improvements in health and other socio-economic indicators.

CAUSES OF WATER POLLUTION
•Farmers' use of chemical fertilisers can also affect surface waters such as lakes and
rivers and eventually end up in groundwater too.
•Agricultural run-off often causes algae in the water to "bloom" or reproduce at an
artificially fast rate, until the water is choked with organisms, which then tend to
suffocate and die as there is not enough oxygen in the water to support them.
•When this happens, local fish stocks are affected too. Fish and other water organisms
often find it hard to survive in the polluted waters.
•The problem is especially bad where years of poor farming practice has led to dusty
soils without enough structure to hold nutrients in place until they can be used by
plants.
•If organic matter has been regularly returned to the soil a complex, rich soil structure is
maintained and run-off is less likely to happen.
•Some of these problems can arise with organic fertilisers too, though they should be
easier to avoid.
•Problems can occur as a consequence of poor farming practices, where organic manure
is stored too close to water sources.
•Organic fertilisers (properly composted,) are less prone to causing agricultural run-off
once they have been applied to the land because they help build soil structure. They are
also generally less quickly dissolved by rainfall than many commercial fertilisers.
•If there are too many nitrates (from fertilisers) in the drinking water supply this can
lead to Blue Baby Syndrome, a potentially fatal disease affecting newborn babies.
•Sewage is another human product which often ends up as a major pollutant of water
sources.
•While this is not routinely a problem in the developed world, in developing countries
there is often a serious lack of proper facilities for disposing of human waste.
•The United Nations estimated in 2000 that just under half the population of the earth
(44%) was living with unsatisfactory sewage disposal systems

ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Working Assumptions:
Environmental concerns, such as the conservation of biological diversity and the maintenance of critical ecosystem functions must be addressed,
and addressed at all levels of human enterprise詰ocal to global. As the institution responsible for the largest public facility development in the
nation's most populous state, it is the proper role of the University of California to take a leadership role in environmentally sound and sustainable
planning and development. This responsibility must extend beyond the teaching and research functions and serve to guide the physical planning,
development and maintenance of all University facilities.
Therefore it is desirable to maintain, and where possible, to restore and enhance the condition of the natural systems of the UC Santa Cruz campus
landscape. This must be undertaken with the recognition that UC Santa Cruz is a fully functioning, major university campus, and that planning
and management affecting the campus landscape must seek to achieve a balance between the functioning of ecological systems and the human
activities necessary to achieve the mission of the University.
Principles:
The following principles should be recognized and utilized in the formulation of guidelines and the preparation of Area Plans for implementation
of the LRDP.
•Maintain, enhance and restore the biological diversity of the campus flora and fauna (plants and animals); species (in terms of numbers of
individuals) and genetic diversity (in terms of variety of the occurrence pattern of each species) must be maintained. Recognize the uniqueness of
the campus natural setting in terms of its location at a major transition between northern and southern California ecological regimes.
•Maintain a multiplicity of habitat types; maintain and enhance the vegetation mosaic; maintain and encourage plant succession; minimize
isolation of habitat, patches of vegetation, or specimen trees; maintain continuous understory and canopy vegetation to the maximum extent
feasible.
•Maintain and encourage mixed-age stands of forest and chaparral vegetation in both vegetation clearing for building sites and in the management
and maintenance of the campus landscape.
•Protect important stands of vegetation--both canopy and understory--in the campus core (as set forth in the McBride Report).
•Minimize disturbance--both facilities construction and ad hoc disturbance such as informal paths-- in sensitive habitat areas (such as seep zones,
raptor nesting sites, rare and unusual flora etc.).
•Utilize native species in all landscaping beyond the edge of building complexes; limit the use of exotic flora to courtyards and areas within or
immediately adjacent to building complexes.
•Minimize habitat fragmentation by maintaining larger habitat areas to the maximum extent possible; a single larger area protects biological
diversity better than do a series of smaller areas.
•Establish and maintain a network of corridors between habitat areas; species dispersal and movement is adversely effected by barriers and
discontinuities.
•Maintain large carnivores and their habitat requirements to the maximum extent feasible; predators are a key element in maintaining populations
of prey species.

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