Environment and Development

 

Week 1: Introduction

Topics: Development, economic growth and sustainable development, Basic ecosystem ecology

1. Define economic growth and sustainable development. How are they related?

2. Differentiate between development and economic growth with examples.

3. Explain the concept of sustainable development in the context of environmental protection.

4. Discuss the basic principles of ecosystem ecology.

5. What are ecosystem components? Give examples.

6. Explain the interrelationship between economy and environment.

7. Discuss any three indicators of sustainable development.

8. Explain the role of natural capital in economic growth.

9. What is the difference between weak sustainability and strong sustainability?

10. Discuss the importance of ecological balance for development.

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Week 2: Environmentalism

Topics: Environmentalism, Environmental Movement, Environmentalism in the Global South

1. Define environmentalism and explain its core objectives.

2. Discuss any two major environmental movements in India.

3. Explain the key characteristics of environmentalism in the Global South.

4. Differentiate between environmentalism in developed and developing nations.

5. How did the Chipko Movement influence environmental policies?

6. Discuss the role of NGOs in promoting environmentalism.

7. Explain how industrialization impacted environmental movements.

8. What challenges does environmentalism face in the Global South?

9. Discuss the importance of grassroots participation in environmental movements.

10. Write a short note on the Silent Valley Movement.

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Week 3: Approaches to Environment

Topics: Ecofeminism, Feminist political ecology, Marxism and ecology

1. Define ecofeminism and explain its principles.

2. How does ecofeminism link gender and environmental issues?

3. Explain the concept of feminist political ecology.

4. Discuss the contribution of feminist political ecology to environmental policy.

5. Explain the Marxist view of ecology.

6. How does Marxism explain environmental degradation?

7. Compare ecofeminism and Marxist ecology approaches.

8. Discuss the role of women in environmental protection from an ecofeminist perspective.

9. Explain how capitalist production systems affect ecology.

10. Critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of Marxist ecology.

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Week 4: Environmental Ethics

Topics: Deep ecology, Gandhi and ecology, Social ecology

1. Define deep ecology and explain its philosophy.

2. Compare deep ecology and shallow ecology.

3. Explain Gandhi’s principles related to ecology.

4. How does Gandhian thought support sustainable living?

5. Explain the concept of social ecology.

6. Discuss the relationship between social structures and environmental problems.

7. Compare deep ecology and social ecology.

8. How does social ecology address environmental justice?

9. Explain the ethical basis of deep ecology.

10. Discuss any one example of Gandhian environmental practices.

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Week 5: Religion, Environment and Conservation

Topics: Religion, historical roots of ecological crisis, biodiversity ethics in Buddhism & Hinduism, Christian religion & ecological crisis

1. Explain the relationship between religion and environmental conservation.

2. Discuss the historical roots of the ecological crisis.

3. Explain biodiversity conservation ethics in Buddhism.

4. How does Hinduism promote biodiversity conservation?

5. Discuss the role of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation.

6. Explain Christian perspectives on the ecological crisis.

7. Compare biodiversity ethics in Hinduism and Buddhism.

8. How have religious teachings influenced environmental protection?

9. Discuss the role of spirituality in ecological conservation.

10. Give examples of religious rituals promoting conservation.

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Week 6: Natural Resource Management

Topics: Common property vs. private property, livelihoods, forests, and conservation

1. Differentiate between common property and private property resources.

2. Explain the concept of common-pool resource management.

3. How do property rights influence resource conservation?

4. Discuss the role of forests in rural livelihoods.

5. Explain the link between forests and biodiversity conservation.

6. Discuss challenges in managing common property resources.

7. Explain the concept of community-based forest management.

8. How does privatization affect natural resource sustainability?

9. Discuss examples of successful common property management in India.

10. Explain the role of local communities in forest conservation.

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Week 7: Displacement, Dispossession and Development

Topics: Conservation-induced displacement, EIA, land acquisition

1. Define conservation-induced displacement and give examples.

2. Discuss social impacts of displacement due to conservation projects.

3. Explain the role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in development projects.

4. Describe the objectives of the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy.

5. Discuss the challenges in implementing resettlement policies.

6. Explain the concept of dispossession in the context of land acquisition.

7. How does land acquisition affect indigenous communities?

8. Discuss case studies of displacement due to large dams.

9. Explain legal safeguards for displaced populations.

10. Suggest measures to reduce displacement impacts.

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Week 8: Mainstream Development and Indigenous Peoples

Topics: Mining, competing visions, dams & resistance

1. Discuss the impact of mining on indigenous communities.

2. Explain competing visions of development along the Narmada River.

3. How do large dams affect indigenous livelihoods?

4. Discuss resistance movements against dam construction.

5. Explain the environmental impacts of mining.

6. Discuss the role of public consultation in development projects.

7. Explain the trade-off between economic growth and indigenous rights.

8. Describe any case study of resistance to development projects.

9. Discuss how development can strengthen indigenous communities.

10. Suggest measures for sustainable mining.

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Week 9: Gender and Development

Topics: Gendered approach, sustainable development

1. Explain the gendered approach to development.

2. How does gender inequality affect development outcomes?

3. Discuss the role of women in sustainable development.

4. Explain how environmental degradation affects women differently.

5. Discuss policies that integrate gender in development planning.

6. How does gender mainstreaming benefit environmental policies?

7. Explain the concept of Women, Environment, and Development (WED).

8. Discuss the role of women in natural resource management.

9. Explain the link between gender equity and poverty reduction.

10. Give examples of women-led environmental initiatives.

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Week 10: Environment and Climate Change

Topics: Climate change policy, Eastern Himalayas

1. Explain the major causes of climate change.

2. Discuss national policies for climate change mitigation.

3. Explain adaptation strategies for climate change.

4. Discuss the impact of climate change on the Eastern Himalayas.

5. How does climate change affect biodiversity?

6. Explain India’s role in international climate change negotiations.

7. Discuss renewable energy as a climate change mitigation tool.

8. Explain community-based climate change adaptation.

9. Discuss challenges in implementing climate policies.

10. Explain the role of afforestation in climate change mitigation.

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Week 11: Belief & Knowledge Systems

Topics: Ecological knowledge, biodiversity conservation, traditional religion in NE India

1. Explain the concept of ecological knowledge.

2. Discuss the role of traditional ecological knowledge in conservation.

3. How does biodiversity conservation support sustainability?

4. Explain the contribution of traditional religion to nature conservation in Northeast India.

5. Discuss case studies of community-led biodiversity conservation.

6. Compare scientific and traditional ecological knowledge systems.

7. Explain the importance of sacred landscapes in conservation.

8. Discuss challenges in preserving indigenous ecological knowledge.

9. Explain the role of cultural beliefs in biodiversity protection.

10. Discuss how ecological knowledge can be integrated into modern policy.

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Week 12: Local Knowledge in Environment-Development Discourse

Topics: Indigenous knowledge, relevance, case studies

1. Define indigenous knowledge and its characteristics.

2. Discuss the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable development.

3. Explain how indigenous knowledge contributes to environmental management.

4. Give examples of indigenous practices in agriculture and forestry.

5. Discuss case studies where indigenous knowledge helped solve environmental problems.

6. Compare indigenous and scientific knowledge approaches.

7. Explain challenges in preserving indigenous knowledge.

8. Discuss the role of education in promoting indigenous knowledge.

9. How can policymakers integrate indigenous knowledge into development planning?

10. Explain the importance of documenting indigenous knowledge for future generations.

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