Interview Summary
Lalitha Vijayan discusses her involvement in India's conservation journey since 1977, particularly the Silent Valley movement where she supported VS Vijayan in preparing a report on Silent Valley, highlighting its ecological importance which was instrumental in its designation as a national park.
She pursued her PhD on insectivorous birds under Dr. Salim Ali, focusing on ecological isolation. She details her fieldwork challenges, including instances of harassment and wildlife encounters while also highlighting the pervasive male chauvinism in the field. However, she also notes the encouraging rise of female wildlife enthusiasts and researchers in recent years.
Vijayan discusses working on wetland ecosystems in Keoladeo National Park, and species studies in the Andamans and the Western Ghats. She also highlights her role in the establishment of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in Coimbatore. She emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and the role of conservation movements in influencing environmental policies.
(00:00:28) Involvement in the Silent Valley movement, initiatives by the Silent Valley movement, PhD work, interactions with Salim Ali, declaration of Silent Valley as a national park
(00:09:12) Relevance of conservation activism through movements, mentorship by Salim Ali, growing importance of conservation vocabulary, role of Salim Ali in the Silent Valley movement, research questions and analysis in thesis, assistance from scholars at IISc
(00:22:08) Challenges faced by females in conservation fieldwork, male chauvinism in conservation research and action, improvement in the involvement of women in the field
(00:34:35) Post-PhD work, involvement in wetland ecosystems project in Keoladeo National Park, participation in the establishment of SACON, choice of location for SACON, funding and grants at SACON
(00:46:08) Species study of Andaman teal, impact assessment of human interference on bird and plant communities in the Western Ghats, data sampling, analysis and findings
Dates
- Creation: 2022-12-21
Creator
- From the File: Venkatram, Preeti Shree (Interviewer, Person)
- From the File: Shome, Nayanika (Processing Archivist, Person)
- From the File: Vijayan, Lalitha (Interviewee, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Level of Access: Open/Online
Biography
Lalitha Vijayan is an ornithologist and ecologist associated with the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, where she has made contributions to the study of birds and their habitats. With a focus on avian ecology, her research includes studies on bird communities, wetland ecosystems, and the conservation of threatened species.
At SACON, Vijayan has held leadership roles and has been involved in various research programs that assess the impact of environmental changes on bird populations and the conservation of specific bird species, including endemic and migratory birds under threat due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
Vijayan has helped shape conservation policies and raised awareness about the need to protect fragile ecosystems in India. She has actively collaborated with international conservation efforts and advocated for sustainable environmental practices. She continues to mentor young scientists while promoting community-based conservation initiatives.
Extent
74 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Geographic
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in