Sumaira Abdulali - Session 01, 2022-09-16

Sumaira Abdulali reflects on her family’s legacy in conservation, inspired by passionate conservationists, including her father-in-law and uncles. She talks about how she began her conservation work in the late 1990s, focussing on combating sand mining on a beach before shifting to urban projects to be closer to her children. She fought noise pollution in Mumbai, challenging government amendments and helping petition against noise, learning to implement court orders in the process.

In 2006, Abdulali founded the Awaaz Foundation to address noise pollution, leveraging professional expertise. She talks about continuing to tackle sand mining, filing petitions and obtaining court orders, revealing ongoing illegal mining in coastal districts. Despite facing physical attacks, Abdulali says she remained determined to advocate for change, arguing against helipads on private rooftops due to noise pollution.

She highlights Project Tiger as a success of conservation in India and notes the lack of recognition for other species and ecosystems. She discusses sand mining’s destructive impact on rivers and beaches and noise pollution’s effects on species and human health. Emphasising the importance of education, policy changes, and non-confrontational approaches, Abdulali highlights young people’s crucial role in conservation, the significance of diverse voices in advocacy, and the need for women to have a greater role than at present in environmental activism. (00:00:00) Introduction

(00:00:30) Being part of a family that was active in the conservation movement

(00:03:57) Getting into work advocating against sand mining and noise pollution

(00:13:45) Setting up of Awaaz Foundation and what has kept Abdulali going over the years

(00:18:26) Work related to noise pollution from helicopters

(00:21:58) How Abdulali goes about data collection and how people can report noise pollution

(00:23:54) Success of Project Tiger and the importance of also conserving other species and landscapes

(00:27:16) Sand mining and noise pollution’s impact on environment and human health

(00:33:27) Social justice and conservation and the impacts of sand mining

(00:38:17) Vision for the future of environmental conservation in India

(00:42:06) Role and place of law in conservation

(00:46:04) What additionally needs to be done differently going forward

(00:51:03) Role of women

(00:56:25) Winding up the session