Humans satisfy all their need from natural environment. Different elements of the environment, such as land, water, biota etc acquire meaning and value with reference to the needs of people living in the region. The needs of people vary depending on the stage of cultural and technological development of the people. For example, waterfalls had very little value until harnessing of hydro-electric power was made possible by technological development. Cost is another important factor in resource development. Low grade mineral ores are mined only when high price of metals makes it profitable to mine them. Rocks, minerals, soils, rivers, plants and animals are gifts of nature or natural endowments. They become resources only when man locates them or finds a use for them or proposes to use them.

Humans’ relation with his natural environment has been changing with time. Increasingly, humans become capable of altering his physical environment to suit himself. Although the object of these alterations was to improve his living conditions, in some cases they have created major long-term problems, both for natural environment and himself. The course attempts to explain the ways in which humans have modified the environment, implications of these modifications and the manner in which it has to deal in future. It tries to bring the modern thinking on the subject, express ideas and raise discussions for corrective actions.