This book offers a practical journey into environmental studies and disaster management, focusing on real-world observation, hands-on activities, and field-based learning. Students are encouraged to visit and document local natural assets, such as rivers, forests, grasslands, hills, and mountains, developing valuable skills in environmental assessment. Chapters guide readers through renewable energy topics, with direct experience in biogas production from organic wastes and visits to power generation units including windmills, hydropower, and solar installations. Biodiversity is examined both in agricultural settings and in comparative studies between polluted and unpolluted environments, allowing for direct observation of ecological patterns and human influence. Engagement with local polluted sites across urban, rural, industrial, and agricultural contexts enables students to study the distribution and diversity of plants, insects, and birds firsthand. The text introduces critical methods for environmental sampling and preservation, laying a strong foundation for accurate and meaningful environmental analysis. A comprehensive water quality section covers essential topics, including testing for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, E. coli enumeration, and measurement of suspended particulate matter. Field explorations extend to basic ecosystem studies in ponds, rivers, and hills, as well as site visits to areas affected by natural disasters to observe impacts and resilience strategies. Carefully crafted activities support laboratory and fieldwork, ensuring students gain confidence in data collection, scientific analysis, and environmental reporting. This manual is perfect for undergraduates, aspiring researchers, and educators eager to promote environmental awareness, foster practical skills, and build a foundation in disaster readiness and sustainable resource management.
Dr. V. Vijaya Lakshmi Senior Professor and Associate Dean Department of Resource Management and Consumer Sciences Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University College of Community Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad.
Mrs. Ch. Snehalatha Assistant Professor Department of Resource Management and Consumer Sciences Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University College of Community Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad.
Dr. A. Sri Latha Teaching Associate Department of Resource Management and Consumer Sciences Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University College of Community Science, Saifabad, Hyderabad.
Practical
1. Visit to a Local Area to Document Environmental Assets River/Forest/Grassland/Hill/Mountain ....................................................1
2. Energy: Biogas Production from Organic Wastes ...................................7
3. Visit to Windmill/ Hydropower/Solar Power Generation Units .....................................................................................9
4. Biodiversity Assessment in Farming System ........................................13
5. Floral and Faunal Diversity Assessment in Polluted and Unpolluted System .........................................................................17
6. Visit to Local Polluted Site-Urban/Rural/Industrial/Agricultural to Study of Common Plants, Insects and Birds ................23
7. Environmental Sampling and Preservation ...........................................29
8. Water Quality Analysis: pH, EC and TDS ............................................31
9. Estimation of Acidity, Alkalinity of Water Samples .............................35
10. Estimation of Water Hardness ...............................................................39
11. Estimation of Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Water Samples ..........................................43
12. Estimation of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in Water Samples .......................................................................................47
13. Enumeration of E. coli in Water Samples ............................................51
14. Assessment of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) ............................55
Exercise
15. Study of Simple Ecosystem – Visit to Pond/River/Hills .......................59
16. Visit to Areas Affected by Natural Disaster ..........................................65
17. Study of Common Plants/Insects/Birds in Forest .................................71
18. Study of Common Plants/Insects/Birds in Grassland ...........................77
19. Study of Common Plants/Insects/Birds in Deserts ...............................83
20. Study of Hill Slope Ecosystem .............................................................89
21. Study of Pond and River Ecosystems ...................................................93
22. Man-made Disaster Management Strategies .........................................97
23. Minor Disaster Management Strategies ..............................................103
24. Major Disaster Management Strategies ..............................................105
