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1.4 Introduction to Environment and Environment Education

a. Introduction to environment
Environment includes everything surrounding us. There is presence of air, water,
soil, minerals, plants, animals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, micro-organisms
including the human beings in the surroundings. Human beings perform various social
traditions, cultural activities and religious practices in day to day life. These all are parts
of environment. Air, water, soil and minerals are the abiotic factors and are regarded as
physical aspects of environment. Plants, animals, birds, insects, micro-organisms, etc. are
biotic factors and are regarded as biological aspects whereas social traditions, cultural
activities and religious practices are regarded as socio-cultural aspect. Various human
activities as well as other environmental resources are affected by the moon, planets,
stars, satellites and other heavenly bodies. Hence, sky and the entire universe are also the
environment.
Environment

Physical Aspects Biological Aspects Socio-cultural Aspects
e.g. plants, animals, e.g. social tradition,
Natural things Artificial things birds, insects, rituals, customs, norms,
e.g. air, water, e.g. buildings, microbes, etc. values, etc.
soil, minerals, roads, bridges,
etc. schools, etc.
“Environment is the sum total of all the external conditions and their influences on the
development cycle of biotic elements.”

b. Introduction to environment education
All the components of environment are very important for people. They are directly
and indirectly linked for the proper growth, development and survival of people. With
the increase of population, various resources in environment are haphazardly utilized.
As a result, various environmental problems and consequences are observed which in
turn harm people themselves. People must use the resources in a sustainable way and
implement the ideas of environment education wisely. Environment education teaches us
the conservation of all the components of environment and its whole system in totality.
According to IUCN (1970), “Environment Education is a process of recognizing values and
clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and
appreciate the inter-relationship of a man, his culture and his biophysical surrounding.”
Environment Education also entails practice in decision making and self formulation of a
code of behaviour about issues concerning environmental quality.

Environment education can also be defined as an educational process by which people
gain knowledge, skills and understanding on environment and environmental matters
so that they can bring change in their attitudes and behaviours for sustainable use and
conservation of resources in environment.

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