Report/Case Study for Odd Sem (All B.

Tech and BCA-A, B Batches)

Course Title: Environmental Studies
Course Code: EVS101/EVSM114

Sl. No. Class Report/Case Study

1. B. Tech CSE-A Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
2. B. Tech CSE-B Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
3. B. Tech CSE-C Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
4. B. Tech CSE-D Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
5. B. Tech AIML-A Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
6. B. Tech AIML-B Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
7. BCA A Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain
8. BCA B Visit a local area to document environmental assets- River, Forest
grassland/Hill/Mountain

Important Notes:

➢ You are advised to write the report in A4 sheet papers (3-4 page depending upon your
observation and understanding) and staple all the pages to make a single file. Do not
give the report in a stick or binding file.

➢ The maximum marks for the report are (5 marks), so write properly, neatly and clearly
in 3 to 4 pages. Strictly no one should copy the report of any other student, else I will
simply divide the maximum marks by 2. So, write your report yourself only.

➢ Student are advised to carefully follow the instruction for the sample front page and
content to be included in the report, attach in this file.

➢ Last date to submit the report is 30 November 2024.

 SAMPLE FILE

A Case Study on (Name of the site visited)

Report/Case Study

(2024-2028)

Submitted by

NAME

BRANCH

(Enrol No:)

Reported Submitted to

Dr. Vishal Kumar Parida

AMITY SCHOOL OF ENGEEINERING AND TECHNOLOGY/

AMITY INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

AMITY UNIVERSITY JHARKHAND

RANCHI- 835303

November, 2024
 What to include in the report

▪ Visit to a Local Area to Document Environmental Assets

Students are required to visit to a nearby local area (River, Ocean, Lake, Hill, Mountain,
Forest, Grassland, Swamp land etc.) depending upon easy access and importance. Based on
your observation and understanding about various aspects of environment write a report.

(A) Study of River/Ocean/Lake Environment

1. Background data: Note down the name of the river or tributary, ocean, lake, its place of
origin and its course or route. Find out whether the river is perennial (flowing all year) or
seasonal in nature.
2. Water quality observations:
i. Note down whether the water of the river/ocean/lake is clear or turbid (dirty water). If
it is clear, what do you expect? Penetration of light into the water would be more,
therefore green aquatic plants will be growing better. The primary productivity will be
high. If it is turbid, how would it affect the primary productivity of the river? You know
that sunlight penetration is obstructed by turbidity.
ii. Find out if any pollution is occurring in the river/ocean/lake due to discharge of
effluents from some nearby industry. Write down the probable impacts of pollution on
aquatic life.
iii. Do you observe any froth and foam or dark coloured or greasy substances in the river?
If yes, then what are these? Find out the likely sources of these pollutants.
iv. Is there any point along the river stretch under study from where discharge of
wastewater (industrial/municipal sewage) is being done into the river? If yes, then look
for the visual differences in water quality at the upstream and downstream sites.
(1) Determine the pH of water using a portable pH-scan. The pH would normally range
between 6.5 to 8.5 (Take pH paper from me). If the pH is quite low i.e. acidic waters, it
indicates pollution by industries. If the pH is quite high i.e. alkaline, it indicates
contamination by municipal sewage.
(2) Is your river water of good quality or it is polluted?

3. Observations on aquatic life

i. Look for different types of life forms. Do you find some free-floating small
plants (phytoplanktons) or small animals (zooplanktons)? Are there some rooted
plants seen underneath? Do you observe aquatic animals like different fishes,
tortoise/turtle, crocodile/alligator, water snake etc.?
ii. What are the important aquatic birds seen by you? Draw a food-web diagram
that would be present in the river.
4. Uses: How is the river water used? Prepare a list of the uses.
5. Human impacts: What are the major impacts caused by human beings in your area on the
river? Have you learnt of any major incident e.g. massive fish death or cattle death or skin
problems to human beings consuming the water? Try to interpret the same.

(B) Study of a Forest

1. Background data: Note down the name of the forest. What type of a forest is it i.e. a
tropical rain forest/deciduous forest etc.? Is the present forest, a part of some Biosphere
reserve or National Park or Sanctuary? If yes, then what are the special features
associated with it?
2. Forest structure: Note down the salient features of the forest.
• What are the dominant trees? Are there any herbaceous climbers or woody
climbers? Is the forest having a close canopy or has open spaces?
• Does the forest show a thick/dense growth or it is degraded?
• Is there an understory of shrubs, herbs and grasses of lower height?
• Is there a thick or thin forest floor consisting of leaf litter (dry dead leaves), algae,
fungi etc.? What is the use of stratified structure i.e. multi-layered structure of
vegetation in the forest?
3. Commercial uses: Prepare a list of the various uses of the present forest.
4. Ecological utility: Do you feel cooler in the forest? Is it more humid? Is the air fresher
than that in the city? How many types of birds, animals or insects do you see around?
Make a list of the ecological uses of the forest based on your observations.
5. Human impacts: Do you observe any anthropogenic activities in the forest e.g. mining,
quarrying, deforestation, dam building, grazing, timber extraction etc.? What would be
their probable impacts?

(C) Study of a Grassland

1. Background information: What type of grassland is this? Is it perennial or annual? Are
there tall grasses or short grasses? Is it dominated by just a few species or is it a mixed
type of grassland? Is it protected i.e. fenced or disturbed?
2. Grassland quality observations:
• Try to identify the names of some of the dominant grasses or plants. Are these
dominant plants having a soft, delicate, juicy nature with green colour showing
good palatability? OR the dominant plants have a coarse, hard texture with spines/
thorns?
• Take out a few plants to see what type of roots do they have, Are there numerous
fibrous roots in a bunch, (adventitious roots), runner-type, having rhizomes or there
is a single, long tap root?
• If the roots are adventitious, they tend to bind the soil particles firmly and help in
conserving the soil. If the root is tapping root, then it cannot help in binding the
soil particles firmly. What is the condition dominant in the present grassland? Do
you observe soil erosion?
 3. Grazing and overgrazing: Find out if there is managed grazing on the grassland i.e.
only a limited number of livestock (cattle) is being allowed to graze OR there is
unmanaged grazing.
Normal grazing is useful for increasing the overall productivity/ yield of the grassland.
Overgrazing has several far-reaching consequences. Make your own observations in
the present grassland i.e. whether there is limited grazing or overgrazing.
• If you find that good quality grasses/herbs are growing then it is rightly grazed.
• If you see denuded areas with little grass cover it shows overgrazing.
• If you observe thorny, hard, prickly plants occupying some areas, it indicates
degradation of the grassland due to overgrazing.
4. Uses: Prepare a list of the utilities of the grassland.

(D) Study of Mountain/Hilly Area

1. Background data: Note down the name of the mountain ranges or the hills. Note down
the altitude of the region. Find out the average annual rainfall and temperature in the
area.
2. Observations on natural vegetation: Make your observations on the forests present
on the hill slopes. Do you find dense forests on the hills or deforestation is observed in
some areas? Look for some dominant tree species and find out their names and uses
from local people.
3. Landslides: You will come across some regions, where land- slide would have occurred
recently or in the past. Do you observe any major anthropogenic activity there? What
is the condition of forest growth in the region? Can you establish some links between
these aspects? You can gather some information about such aspects from the native
people.
4. Water-sheds: Try to look for some springs, rivers and channels coming out from the
mountains. The land area from which water drains under gravity to a common drainage
channel is called watershed. Gather some information about the water shed in the study
area, its uses and its status i.e. whether it is well managed or degraded.
5. Plantations/Farming: Look for the type of plantations (e.g. tea plantation) or farming
(e.g. maize, wheat) done artificially on the hill slops.
• What type of farming is done? Is it shifting cultivation, traditional or modernized?
What would be their impacts?
• Do you observe terrace farming, contour or strip cropping? Why is such cropping
helpful in hills?
• Find out the water and nutrient requirements of these crops. Do you find these
crops/plantations well suited to hill environment OR do you think they can have
some damaging effects later on? Discuss with local people.
6. How much anthropogenic activities do you observe on the mountain/hill? These
activities usually include mining, quarrying, tourism, construction, hydroelectric
projects etc. What major impacts do you observe or predict in future?

 Best Wishes 