Textbook: Environmental management | Science and Technology Class 10 (Maharashtra SSC Board) PDF Download

 Page 1


36
4. Environmental management
Ø		 Ecosystem – A review  Ø		 Environment and Eco-system
Ø		 Environment Conservation Ø		 Environment management
Ø		 Biodiversity hotspots
Think and Answer
Ecosystem A review
 Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic 
factors and their interactions with each other. 
Each factor plays very important role in the 
ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. 
Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, 
horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are 
also important. Predators like lion and tiger 
which prevent the overpopulation of herbivores 
are also equally important. A question may 
arise in our mind that whether the caterpillars 
found in nature, organisms present in filthy 
places, termites, insects present in dung, are 
really useful? However, those organisms are 
also important though they are dirty. They are 
responsible for cleaning the environment. 
 It means that our existence is due to these 
factors present around us. Hence, we should 
care for these factors.  
1.  Write the name and category of each of the 
component shown in picture. 
2.  What is necessary to convert this picture       
into food web? Why?
 Discuss
‘Jivo Jivasya Jivanam’
Think:
1. Which are different trophic levels in food chain?
2. What is energy pyramid?
4.1  Food chain 
 If fallen foliage in forest, dead 
trees, and carcasses in and around 
villages had not been decomposed for 
years……
Can you recall?
Can you recall?
1. What is ecosystem? Which are its different components?
2. Which are the types of consumers? What are the criteria for  
    their classification?
3. What may be the relationship between lake and birds on tree?
4. What is difference between food chain and food web?
Page 2


36
4. Environmental management
Ø		 Ecosystem – A review  Ø		 Environment and Eco-system
Ø		 Environment Conservation Ø		 Environment management
Ø		 Biodiversity hotspots
Think and Answer
Ecosystem A review
 Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic 
factors and their interactions with each other. 
Each factor plays very important role in the 
ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. 
Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, 
horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are 
also important. Predators like lion and tiger 
which prevent the overpopulation of herbivores 
are also equally important. A question may 
arise in our mind that whether the caterpillars 
found in nature, organisms present in filthy 
places, termites, insects present in dung, are 
really useful? However, those organisms are 
also important though they are dirty. They are 
responsible for cleaning the environment. 
 It means that our existence is due to these 
factors present around us. Hence, we should 
care for these factors.  
1.  Write the name and category of each of the 
component shown in picture. 
2.  What is necessary to convert this picture       
into food web? Why?
 Discuss
‘Jivo Jivasya Jivanam’
Think:
1. Which are different trophic levels in food chain?
2. What is energy pyramid?
4.1  Food chain 
 If fallen foliage in forest, dead 
trees, and carcasses in and around 
villages had not been decomposed for 
years……
Can you recall?
Can you recall?
1. What is ecosystem? Which are its different components?
2. Which are the types of consumers? What are the criteria for  
    their classification?
3. What may be the relationship between lake and birds on tree?
4. What is difference between food chain and food web?
37
Let's Think
1. What will be the effect on paddy crop?
2. Number of which consumers will decline and which will increase?
3. What will be overall effect on that ecosystem?
Let's Think
Can you tell?
Complete the chart 
Abiotic components
Hydrogen, Oxygen, 
Nitrogen, 
Calcium, Iron, 
Sodium, Potassium
Proteins,
Carbohydrates, 
fats
Ecosystem
Air, water, vapour,
minerals, soil, 
sunlight
Inorganic substances
Physical factor Autotrophic
Tertiary 
consumer
Animals Producer
 A bird building nest on a tree feeds upon the fishes in nearby 
pond. Whether this bird is part of both i.e. tree as well as pond 
ecosystem?
Fill up the blank boxes and display the completed chart in 
classroom.
Paddy is cultivated on large scale in various states of South India. Paddy fields are 
frequently attacked by grasshoppers. Similarly, frogs are also present in large number in 
the mud of paddy fields, to feed upon grasshoppers and snakes are also present therein to 
feed upon their favourite food- frogs. 
However, if frog population declines all of a sudden,
1. What is environment?
2. What is included in environment?
 Relationship between Environment and Ecosystem
 Environment is a broad concept. Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting 
the living organisms in any possible way is collectively called as environment. In short, 
environment is the condition in surrounding. It includes many biotic, abiotic, natural and 
artificial factors. There are two main types of environment. One is natural environment 
and other is artificial environment.
Decomposers
Page 3


36
4. Environmental management
Ø		 Ecosystem – A review  Ø		 Environment and Eco-system
Ø		 Environment Conservation Ø		 Environment management
Ø		 Biodiversity hotspots
Think and Answer
Ecosystem A review
 Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic 
factors and their interactions with each other. 
Each factor plays very important role in the 
ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. 
Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, 
horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are 
also important. Predators like lion and tiger 
which prevent the overpopulation of herbivores 
are also equally important. A question may 
arise in our mind that whether the caterpillars 
found in nature, organisms present in filthy 
places, termites, insects present in dung, are 
really useful? However, those organisms are 
also important though they are dirty. They are 
responsible for cleaning the environment. 
 It means that our existence is due to these 
factors present around us. Hence, we should 
care for these factors.  
1.  Write the name and category of each of the 
component shown in picture. 
2.  What is necessary to convert this picture       
into food web? Why?
 Discuss
‘Jivo Jivasya Jivanam’
Think:
1. Which are different trophic levels in food chain?
2. What is energy pyramid?
4.1  Food chain 
 If fallen foliage in forest, dead 
trees, and carcasses in and around 
villages had not been decomposed for 
years……
Can you recall?
Can you recall?
1. What is ecosystem? Which are its different components?
2. Which are the types of consumers? What are the criteria for  
    their classification?
3. What may be the relationship between lake and birds on tree?
4. What is difference between food chain and food web?
37
Let's Think
1. What will be the effect on paddy crop?
2. Number of which consumers will decline and which will increase?
3. What will be overall effect on that ecosystem?
Let's Think
Can you tell?
Complete the chart 
Abiotic components
Hydrogen, Oxygen, 
Nitrogen, 
Calcium, Iron, 
Sodium, Potassium
Proteins,
Carbohydrates, 
fats
Ecosystem
Air, water, vapour,
minerals, soil, 
sunlight
Inorganic substances
Physical factor Autotrophic
Tertiary 
consumer
Animals Producer
 A bird building nest on a tree feeds upon the fishes in nearby 
pond. Whether this bird is part of both i.e. tree as well as pond 
ecosystem?
Fill up the blank boxes and display the completed chart in 
classroom.
Paddy is cultivated on large scale in various states of South India. Paddy fields are 
frequently attacked by grasshoppers. Similarly, frogs are also present in large number in 
the mud of paddy fields, to feed upon grasshoppers and snakes are also present therein to 
feed upon their favourite food- frogs. 
However, if frog population declines all of a sudden,
1. What is environment?
2. What is included in environment?
 Relationship between Environment and Ecosystem
 Environment is a broad concept. Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting 
the living organisms in any possible way is collectively called as environment. In short, 
environment is the condition in surrounding. It includes many biotic, abiotic, natural and 
artificial factors. There are two main types of environment. One is natural environment 
and other is artificial environment.
Decomposers
38
Can you tell?
“The Earth is 
sufficient to satisfy 
everyone’s need but 
not the greed.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Observe and fill the information
Factors affecting environment
Natural factors Manmade factors
Earthquakes .................
..................................
Deforestation......................
......................................
Can you recall?
 Natural environment consists of air, atmosphere, water, land, living organisms, etc. 
Continuous interactions occur between biotic and abiotic factors. Their interactions are 
very important. Artificial environment is also affecting the natural environment directly 
or indirectly. Basically, environment consists of two basic factors- 1. Biotic factors,  
2. Abiotic factors. The science that deals with the study of interactions between biotic and 
abiotic factors of the environment is called as ecology. Basic functional unit used to study 
the ecology is called as ecosystem. 
 Environment consists of many ecosystems. We have studied some ecosystems in 
earlier classes. A small pond is an ecosystem whereas the Earth is largest ecosystem. In 
brief, biotic and abiotic factors occupying a definite geographical area and their interactions 
collectively constitute the ecosystem.
Which cycles are operated in environment? What is their 
importance?
 Environmental balance is maintained through continuous operation of various natural 
cycles like water cycle, carbon cycle, gaseous cycles like nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, etc. 
Environmental balance is also maintained due to various food chains of ecosystem. 
Human existence is totally impossible without the existence of nature. Hence, it is 
basic responsibility of human being to preserve the nature without disturbing its balance. 
It is said that we have got this Earth planet on lease from our future generations and not 
as an ancestral property from our ancestors. Hence we should not forget to conserve it 
for ourselves and for future generations.
Environmental Conservation
1. Which factors affect the environment? How?
2. What will happen if number of consumers in environment goes  
     on increasing gradually? 
3. What will be the effect of industry established on river bank on the river ecosystem?
 When some natural factors of environment and some artificial polluted factors harm 
the environment, it creates imbalance between various factors of the environment and 
ultimately affects the existence of biotic factors.
Observe the environment around you. 
Complete the following flow chart.
Page 4


36
4. Environmental management
Ø		 Ecosystem – A review  Ø		 Environment and Eco-system
Ø		 Environment Conservation Ø		 Environment management
Ø		 Biodiversity hotspots
Think and Answer
Ecosystem A review
 Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic 
factors and their interactions with each other. 
Each factor plays very important role in the 
ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. 
Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, 
horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are 
also important. Predators like lion and tiger 
which prevent the overpopulation of herbivores 
are also equally important. A question may 
arise in our mind that whether the caterpillars 
found in nature, organisms present in filthy 
places, termites, insects present in dung, are 
really useful? However, those organisms are 
also important though they are dirty. They are 
responsible for cleaning the environment. 
 It means that our existence is due to these 
factors present around us. Hence, we should 
care for these factors.  
1.  Write the name and category of each of the 
component shown in picture. 
2.  What is necessary to convert this picture       
into food web? Why?
 Discuss
‘Jivo Jivasya Jivanam’
Think:
1. Which are different trophic levels in food chain?
2. What is energy pyramid?
4.1  Food chain 
 If fallen foliage in forest, dead 
trees, and carcasses in and around 
villages had not been decomposed for 
years……
Can you recall?
Can you recall?
1. What is ecosystem? Which are its different components?
2. Which are the types of consumers? What are the criteria for  
    their classification?
3. What may be the relationship between lake and birds on tree?
4. What is difference between food chain and food web?
37
Let's Think
1. What will be the effect on paddy crop?
2. Number of which consumers will decline and which will increase?
3. What will be overall effect on that ecosystem?
Let's Think
Can you tell?
Complete the chart 
Abiotic components
Hydrogen, Oxygen, 
Nitrogen, 
Calcium, Iron, 
Sodium, Potassium
Proteins,
Carbohydrates, 
fats
Ecosystem
Air, water, vapour,
minerals, soil, 
sunlight
Inorganic substances
Physical factor Autotrophic
Tertiary 
consumer
Animals Producer
 A bird building nest on a tree feeds upon the fishes in nearby 
pond. Whether this bird is part of both i.e. tree as well as pond 
ecosystem?
Fill up the blank boxes and display the completed chart in 
classroom.
Paddy is cultivated on large scale in various states of South India. Paddy fields are 
frequently attacked by grasshoppers. Similarly, frogs are also present in large number in 
the mud of paddy fields, to feed upon grasshoppers and snakes are also present therein to 
feed upon their favourite food- frogs. 
However, if frog population declines all of a sudden,
1. What is environment?
2. What is included in environment?
 Relationship between Environment and Ecosystem
 Environment is a broad concept. Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting 
the living organisms in any possible way is collectively called as environment. In short, 
environment is the condition in surrounding. It includes many biotic, abiotic, natural and 
artificial factors. There are two main types of environment. One is natural environment 
and other is artificial environment.
Decomposers
38
Can you tell?
“The Earth is 
sufficient to satisfy 
everyone’s need but 
not the greed.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Observe and fill the information
Factors affecting environment
Natural factors Manmade factors
Earthquakes .................
..................................
Deforestation......................
......................................
Can you recall?
 Natural environment consists of air, atmosphere, water, land, living organisms, etc. 
Continuous interactions occur between biotic and abiotic factors. Their interactions are 
very important. Artificial environment is also affecting the natural environment directly 
or indirectly. Basically, environment consists of two basic factors- 1. Biotic factors,  
2. Abiotic factors. The science that deals with the study of interactions between biotic and 
abiotic factors of the environment is called as ecology. Basic functional unit used to study 
the ecology is called as ecosystem. 
 Environment consists of many ecosystems. We have studied some ecosystems in 
earlier classes. A small pond is an ecosystem whereas the Earth is largest ecosystem. In 
brief, biotic and abiotic factors occupying a definite geographical area and their interactions 
collectively constitute the ecosystem.
Which cycles are operated in environment? What is their 
importance?
 Environmental balance is maintained through continuous operation of various natural 
cycles like water cycle, carbon cycle, gaseous cycles like nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, etc. 
Environmental balance is also maintained due to various food chains of ecosystem. 
Human existence is totally impossible without the existence of nature. Hence, it is 
basic responsibility of human being to preserve the nature without disturbing its balance. 
It is said that we have got this Earth planet on lease from our future generations and not 
as an ancestral property from our ancestors. Hence we should not forget to conserve it 
for ourselves and for future generations.
Environmental Conservation
1. Which factors affect the environment? How?
2. What will happen if number of consumers in environment goes  
     on increasing gradually? 
3. What will be the effect of industry established on river bank on the river ecosystem?
 When some natural factors of environment and some artificial polluted factors harm 
the environment, it creates imbalance between various factors of the environment and 
ultimately affects the existence of biotic factors.
Observe the environment around you. 
Complete the following flow chart.
39
4.2  Fog and pollution in city- A problem
Complete the Chart
Air pollution Water pollution
Soil pollution 
Compo-
nents 
Gases  : CO
2
, CO, Hydro-
carbons, Sulphur, NOx, 
Hydrogen sulphide, etc.
Solid : dust, ash, carbon, 
lead, asbestos, etc.
Source  
Industrial wastes, 
Domestic waste, 
Sewage, Chemicals 
discharged from 
Industries, Pesticides 
used in agriculture.
Effect  
Soil erosion, Retarded 
growth of plants/ crops, 
Nutritional deficiency etc. 
Control 
Measure
Can you recall?
 At present, many environmental problems have been arisen due to effect of various 
natural and artificial factors on the Earth. Environmental pollution is one of those main 
factors. Generally, contamination of any material is its pollution. Unnecessary and 
unacceptable change in the surrounding environment due to natural events or human 
activities are called as environmental pollution. i.e. direct or indirect changes in physical, 
chemical and biological properties of air, water and soil which will be harmful to humans 
and other living beings is environmental pollution. Various reasons like population 
explosion, fast industrialization, and indiscriminate use of natural resources, deforestation, 
and unplanned urbanization are responsible for environmental pollution.
1. Which are the types of pollution?
2. What do we mean by natural and artificial pollution?
 Pollution is a broad concept. 
Various types of pollutions like 
that of air, water, sound, soil, 
thermal, light, pollution occur 
around us. Ultimate adverse 
effect of all these is on existence 
of all the living organisms and 
out of this, environmental 
conservation has become the need 
of hour.
We have studied the air pollution, water pollution and soil 
pollution in detail in earlier classes. Based on that, complete 
the following chart.
Page 5


36
4. Environmental management
Ø		 Ecosystem – A review  Ø		 Environment and Eco-system
Ø		 Environment Conservation Ø		 Environment management
Ø		 Biodiversity hotspots
Think and Answer
Ecosystem A review
 Ecosystem is formed by biotic and abiotic 
factors and their interactions with each other. 
Each factor plays very important role in the 
ecosystem. Producers like plants are important. 
Herbivores like deer, goats, sheep, cattle, 
horses, camels, etc. feeding upon producers are 
also important. Predators like lion and tiger 
which prevent the overpopulation of herbivores 
are also equally important. A question may 
arise in our mind that whether the caterpillars 
found in nature, organisms present in filthy 
places, termites, insects present in dung, are 
really useful? However, those organisms are 
also important though they are dirty. They are 
responsible for cleaning the environment. 
 It means that our existence is due to these 
factors present around us. Hence, we should 
care for these factors.  
1.  Write the name and category of each of the 
component shown in picture. 
2.  What is necessary to convert this picture       
into food web? Why?
 Discuss
‘Jivo Jivasya Jivanam’
Think:
1. Which are different trophic levels in food chain?
2. What is energy pyramid?
4.1  Food chain 
 If fallen foliage in forest, dead 
trees, and carcasses in and around 
villages had not been decomposed for 
years……
Can you recall?
Can you recall?
1. What is ecosystem? Which are its different components?
2. Which are the types of consumers? What are the criteria for  
    their classification?
3. What may be the relationship between lake and birds on tree?
4. What is difference between food chain and food web?
37
Let's Think
1. What will be the effect on paddy crop?
2. Number of which consumers will decline and which will increase?
3. What will be overall effect on that ecosystem?
Let's Think
Can you tell?
Complete the chart 
Abiotic components
Hydrogen, Oxygen, 
Nitrogen, 
Calcium, Iron, 
Sodium, Potassium
Proteins,
Carbohydrates, 
fats
Ecosystem
Air, water, vapour,
minerals, soil, 
sunlight
Inorganic substances
Physical factor Autotrophic
Tertiary 
consumer
Animals Producer
 A bird building nest on a tree feeds upon the fishes in nearby 
pond. Whether this bird is part of both i.e. tree as well as pond 
ecosystem?
Fill up the blank boxes and display the completed chart in 
classroom.
Paddy is cultivated on large scale in various states of South India. Paddy fields are 
frequently attacked by grasshoppers. Similarly, frogs are also present in large number in 
the mud of paddy fields, to feed upon grasshoppers and snakes are also present therein to 
feed upon their favourite food- frogs. 
However, if frog population declines all of a sudden,
1. What is environment?
2. What is included in environment?
 Relationship between Environment and Ecosystem
 Environment is a broad concept. Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting 
the living organisms in any possible way is collectively called as environment. In short, 
environment is the condition in surrounding. It includes many biotic, abiotic, natural and 
artificial factors. There are two main types of environment. One is natural environment 
and other is artificial environment.
Decomposers
38
Can you tell?
“The Earth is 
sufficient to satisfy 
everyone’s need but 
not the greed.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Observe and fill the information
Factors affecting environment
Natural factors Manmade factors
Earthquakes .................
..................................
Deforestation......................
......................................
Can you recall?
 Natural environment consists of air, atmosphere, water, land, living organisms, etc. 
Continuous interactions occur between biotic and abiotic factors. Their interactions are 
very important. Artificial environment is also affecting the natural environment directly 
or indirectly. Basically, environment consists of two basic factors- 1. Biotic factors,  
2. Abiotic factors. The science that deals with the study of interactions between biotic and 
abiotic factors of the environment is called as ecology. Basic functional unit used to study 
the ecology is called as ecosystem. 
 Environment consists of many ecosystems. We have studied some ecosystems in 
earlier classes. A small pond is an ecosystem whereas the Earth is largest ecosystem. In 
brief, biotic and abiotic factors occupying a definite geographical area and their interactions 
collectively constitute the ecosystem.
Which cycles are operated in environment? What is their 
importance?
 Environmental balance is maintained through continuous operation of various natural 
cycles like water cycle, carbon cycle, gaseous cycles like nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, etc. 
Environmental balance is also maintained due to various food chains of ecosystem. 
Human existence is totally impossible without the existence of nature. Hence, it is 
basic responsibility of human being to preserve the nature without disturbing its balance. 
It is said that we have got this Earth planet on lease from our future generations and not 
as an ancestral property from our ancestors. Hence we should not forget to conserve it 
for ourselves and for future generations.
Environmental Conservation
1. Which factors affect the environment? How?
2. What will happen if number of consumers in environment goes  
     on increasing gradually? 
3. What will be the effect of industry established on river bank on the river ecosystem?
 When some natural factors of environment and some artificial polluted factors harm 
the environment, it creates imbalance between various factors of the environment and 
ultimately affects the existence of biotic factors.
Observe the environment around you. 
Complete the following flow chart.
39
4.2  Fog and pollution in city- A problem
Complete the Chart
Air pollution Water pollution
Soil pollution 
Compo-
nents 
Gases  : CO
2
, CO, Hydro-
carbons, Sulphur, NOx, 
Hydrogen sulphide, etc.
Solid : dust, ash, carbon, 
lead, asbestos, etc.
Source  
Industrial wastes, 
Domestic waste, 
Sewage, Chemicals 
discharged from 
Industries, Pesticides 
used in agriculture.
Effect  
Soil erosion, Retarded 
growth of plants/ crops, 
Nutritional deficiency etc. 
Control 
Measure
Can you recall?
 At present, many environmental problems have been arisen due to effect of various 
natural and artificial factors on the Earth. Environmental pollution is one of those main 
factors. Generally, contamination of any material is its pollution. Unnecessary and 
unacceptable change in the surrounding environment due to natural events or human 
activities are called as environmental pollution. i.e. direct or indirect changes in physical, 
chemical and biological properties of air, water and soil which will be harmful to humans 
and other living beings is environmental pollution. Various reasons like population 
explosion, fast industrialization, and indiscriminate use of natural resources, deforestation, 
and unplanned urbanization are responsible for environmental pollution.
1. Which are the types of pollution?
2. What do we mean by natural and artificial pollution?
 Pollution is a broad concept. 
Various types of pollutions like 
that of air, water, sound, soil, 
thermal, light, pollution occur 
around us. Ultimate adverse 
effect of all these is on existence 
of all the living organisms and 
out of this, environmental 
conservation has become the need 
of hour.
We have studied the air pollution, water pollution and soil 
pollution in detail in earlier classes. Based on that, complete 
the following chart.
40
Do you know?
Radioactive pollution: Radioactive pollution can occur due to two reasons as natural and 
artificial. UV and IR radiations are natural radiations whereas X-rays and radiations from 
atomic energy plants are artificial radiations. Chernobyl, Windscale, and Three Miles Island 
mishaps are the major mishaps of the world till present. Thousands of people have been 
affected for long term due to these accidents. Some of the effects of radiations are as follows-
1. Cancerous ulceration occurs due to higher radiations of X-rays.
2. Tissues in the body are destroyed.
3. Genetic changes occur.
4. Vision is adversely affected.
Why is it said that pollution control is important?
Need of environmental conservation
A peek into the history 
In 1972, United Nations 
Environment Program (UNEP) 
has been established in a 
conference arranged on human 
and environment in which 
environmental problems were 
discussed. Afterwards,  in India, 
a separate environmental 
department had been established 
after through discussion on 
environmental problems. 
Ministry of environment and 
forests is involved in planning, 
inducting and increasing 
awareness about environment 
and forest through various 
programs since 1985.   
 General public is not aware about the rules of 
environment conservation. There should be large 
scale participation of the people in environment 
conservation. It will be possible to answer the 
environmental problems only if environmental 
protection-conservation becomes an effective 
public movement. For this purpose, values like 
positive attitude and affection towards environment, 
knowledge about it, etc. should be inculcated among 
the children since their childhood. This will help 
to make the future generations more aware about 
environmental conservation and protection. So as to 
achieve this, it is necessary to increase the awareness 
through education.
 Today, all the developed, developing and 
underdeveloped countries have accepted the 
responsibility of environmental protection. Their 
efforts are in that direction. They have defined the 
future plans about environmental protection and have 
constituted the necessary laws.
Complete the Chart
To solve the
 natural and 
artificial 
problems
Need of
 Environmental 
conservation
To maintain the 
balance in nature
Use your brain power
Nowadays, we are observing 
the environmental degradation 
everywhere. Complete the flow 
chart given besides with the help 
of environment.