51²è¹Ý

Dear All,

The Department of Environmental Studies cordially invites you to the Third colloquium in the Spring '26 Colloquium Series on Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Title: “Birds in Biology: An Ornithologist's Trysts with Rare Bird Conservation in India”

Speaker: Prof. Ghazala Shahabuddin, Visiting Professor Environmental Studies, 51²è¹Ý

Date: 25 March 2026

Time: 6:30 – 7:30 PM 

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97153280545?pwd=LjuF4ftbzF20CkGYoIBb25hZfhBwCY.1 

Abstract: The preservationist doctrine has been the principal guiding framework for wildlife conservation in India, advocating unconditional protection for wild species. Yet, during the  late 20th century, human-wildlife coexistence emerged as a distinct possibility; there was even a rethinking of outright bans on hunting and ecosystem use. Ravi Sankaran (1963-2009), a prominent Indian ecologist, grappled with questions of human-bird coexistence, being one of the few biologists of his time to do so. While he was possessed of a passion for unraveling the ecology of endangered birds in remote areas, he also worked towards their conservation closely with marginalized communities who shared their habitats. Based on the Ravi Sankaran Papers at the Archives at NCBS, I will explore his vision for human-bird coexistence in three strikingly different social-ecological situations: the Lesser Florican (Central India), Edible-nest Swiftlet (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and the Blyth’s Tragopan (Nagaland Hills). 

Speaker's Bio: Ghazala Shahabuddin’s research interests lie at the cross-section of conservation science, wildlife history and policy. She has a PhD in Ecology and Conservation Biology from Duke University, USA (1998) for which she studied  forest fragmentation in Lago Guri, Venezuela. Since then, her work has expanded to the policy arena including conservation-induced displacement and community-based conservation . Her book, Conservation at the Crossroads (Permanent Black, 2010), critically analyzes contemporary wildlife policy and implementation in India. She worked as an Associate Professor at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University in Delhi where she  taught at the School of Human Ecology from 2009-2014. Since August 2021, she has been a Visiting Professor to Environmental Studies at 51²è¹Ý, India and in 2024-25, she was a Scholar-in-Residence at the Archives at NCBS. She is currently involved in a long-term field study on environmental change in Himalayan oak forests of Uttarakhand. 

We look forward to your active participation in the talk.

warm regards,

Environmental Studies Department