ECO 201: Environmental Science and Agroecology
Credit Hours: 2 (2+0)
Full Marks: 50 (Theory: 50, Practical: 0)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand the concept, scope, and importance of environmental science and agroecology.
- Analyze environmental issues and conservation strategies.
- Understand agroecosystem dynamics, climate change impacts, and sustainability principles.
- Learn Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures.
I. Syllabus Overview
- Introduction to environmental science and agroecology with reference to Nepal.
- Environmental issues: population, deforestation, urbanization, waste disposal, pesticide use/abuse.
- Pollutants: types, sources, and impacts on ecosystems and agriculture.
- Conservation strategies, climate change adaptation, and government policies.
- Farmhouse ecology, ecological principles, and agroecosystem dynamics.
- Agroecosystem interactions: crops, weeds, pests, pathogens, and management strategies.
- Environmental degradation, declining soil fertility, biodiversity loss, and health hazards.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).
- Global warming, greenhouse gases, and climate change impacts in Nepal.
- Agroecology of production systems: shifting cultivation, crop rotation, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and organic farming.
- Sustainability principles and challenges in agroecosystems.
II. Course Outline (Lectures – 30)
| S.N. | Topic | Subtopics | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to environmental science & agroecology | Concepts, fields, scope; Human-environment interactions | 2 |
| 2 | Environmental issues | Population, deforestation, urbanization, waste disposal, pesticide use/abuse | 4 |
| 3 | Types and sources of pollutants | Air, soil, water; impacts on natural & agricultural ecosystems | 5 |
| 4 | Conservation & management strategies | Organizations, climate change effects, adaptation, government policy, education & R&D | 5 |
| 5 | Farmhouse ecology & agroecosystem dynamics | Components, linkages, energy flow, ecological pyramids, food chains/webs | 2 |
| 6 | Agroecosystem ecology | Crop-weed-pest-pathogen interactions; management strategies | 2 |
| 7 | Environmental impacts on agriculture | Chemical agriculture, soil erosion, fertility decline, biodiversity loss, food & water contamination | 3 |
| 8 | Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) | Definition, need, legal provisions, types, procedure | 3 |
| 9 | Global warming & climate change | Greenhouse effect, sources & sinks of GHGs, impacts on snow, sea levels, agriculture, economy | 4 |
| 10 | Agro-ecology of production systems & sustainability | Shifting cultivation, multiple cropping, crop rotation, cover cropping, agroforestry, conservation & organic farming, principles of sustainability | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
References
- Altieri, M. A. (1987). Agro-ecology: The Scientific Basis of Alternative Agriculture. University of California.
- Conway, G. R. (1986). Agro-ecosystem Analysis for Research and Development. Winrock International Institute for Agriculture Development, Bangkok.
- Shimpei Murakami. (1991). Lessons from Nature: A Guide to Ecological Agriculture in the Tropics. NongJok Natural Farming Center, Bangkok.
- Khadka, R. B., Bisset, R., & Neame, P. A. (1996). EIA Training Manual for Professionals and Managers. IUCN Publication.
