Born in Massachusetts to Pakistani parents, Dr. Saleem Ali has maintained a dual citizenry in the literal and practical sense all his life. His father Shaukat Ali was a professor at University of Massachusetts and his mother Parveen Shaukat the Vice Principal of Forman Christian (FC) College in Lahore. Dr. Ali spent equal amounts of time with parents who were happily married to each other as well as their careers. He went to elementary school in the US, completed his high school in Pakistan, and his college and doctorate in the US. Like his parents, Dr. Ali chose academics and research as his field. He earned a doctorate in environmental planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree (M.E.S.) in environmental law and policy from Yale University, and a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Tufts University.

Presently, Dr. Ali is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Natural Resources and on the adjunct faculty of Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies. He is also a member of the expert advisory group on environmental conflicts for the United Nations Environment Programme with a specific interest in transboundary conservation zones or "peace parks." As part of this effort, he is a member of the IUCN Taskforce on Transboundary Conservation. One of Dr. Ali's current notable projects is the K-2 Siachen Peace Park. 

In an exclusive interview with The Saturday Post, Dr. Ali talks about his experience as well as observations about environmental challenges in Pakistan.

1. What is your current focus at the University of Vermont?

My research focuses on the causes and consequences of environmental conflicts and how ecological factors can promote peace. My interest in conflict resolution extends beyond environmental factors as well, especially geopolitical issues in South Asia.

2. What are some of the projects or organizations you are working for in addition to your teaching and research at University of Vermont?

I also have a joint appointment in our Asian studies program and have affiliate positions at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University and the United Nations mandated University for Peace (in Costa Rica), where I teach short one-week module courses on conflict resolution.

3. What would you say are the key environmental challenges for Pakistan and why are they significant?

Water availability and sanitation are the most critical environmental challenges in Pakistan since we do not have minimal infrastructure to treat wastewater and this has serious health consequences. Additionally, urban air quality is a serious challenge for Pakistan, largely due to direct burning of refuse and firewood. Emissions from cars have been reduced by the rapid growth of CNG but the refuse burning problem persists. Our infrastructure for solid waste management is deplorable which leads to the refuse being a problem.

4. What are your observations on Pakistan’s environmental policy regarding the challenges you identified? On the right track or not?

We have good laws on the books but enforcement is minimal. Only recently have NGOS begun to make a difference with enforcement. We have excellent international NGOs such as WWF and IUCN present in Pakistan but a lot of their work tends to be consultative and they seldom exert pressure on the government for enforcement action.

5. How can countries like Pakistan take funds away from immediate issues and invest in their environment? What are some good models from other countries you’ve studied?

Investing in the environment is a win-win proposition in most cases since ultimately all economic systems must also depend on environmental resources for sustenance. Energy conservation makes environmental sense but also economic sense as it is a direct cost saving. Japan is a good example of how conservation measures for water and energy have led to highly efficient and economically viable lifestyles for dense urbanized populations.

6. What is your opinion on the recent controversy surrounding the Saindak-Copper Gold Project in Baluchistan? They say the contractors will run the project dry within 10 years leaving little or nothing for Pakistan. Can you shed some light on this?

Mining projects need to be planned with utmost care since they are inherently obsolescent and can lead to boom and bust cycles. In Baluchistan the government should ensure that the revenues and royalties from the project are invested in a trust fund that can be used to catalyze other industries when the project shuts down.

7. Are you involved with conducting or creating opportunities for any environmental research in Pakistan?

A lot of my empirical research has not been in Pakistan; my focus was on indigenous people and mining issues.  I have now started to do some research in Pakistan, starting with the energy sector, because the government is encouraging expert participation. For example, I was one of the foreign reviewers of the Environmental Science & Forestry Curriculum for the Higher Education Commission.  However, a lot will depend on how cooperative the government is in providing me access to data and being able to work with a critical environmental perspective.

Also, I am very interested in environment as a peace building tool and one of my current projects is the K-2 Siachen Peace Park - essentially for creating a conservation area or "peace park" in the Karakoram Mountains, managed jointly by India, Pakistan, and other countries.  We have been working with scientists and community members for this initiative.  200 million people depend on glacial water; Siachen is the only non-polar glacier in the world.  The lower elevations are home to several endangered species like the snow leopard.  The area has tremendous environmental research, and also tourism, potential.  There are several challenges but we hope that we can use common environmental conservation goals to bring together multiple nations, especially India and Pakistan.

8. What kind of a role can overseas Pakistanis (all generations) play in promoting intellectual thought and research about environment in Pakistan? Any ideas on how the diaspora can come together and fund some initiatives?

The Pakistani diaspora has an excellent record of philanthropy, as exemplified by a recent study conducted by Adil Najam on this topic. It would be useful if we can have some coordination between these various efforts and not compete or duplicate projects. Environmental work in the water sector needs to be given priority as it is directly related to key human development indicators such as child mortality.

9. As someone ingrained and assimilated in the American society, and in touch with Pakistan, how would you characterize the way Americans perceive Pakistanis and vice versa, versus the actual reality of these two societies? What are some of the myths and urban legends that need to be shattered on either side?

Since 9/11, perceptions of Pakistanis about America and vice versa have been starkly caricatured. We have an industry of media pundits on both sides which like to spin conspiracy theories that are very appealing to the general public. I often refer to this as the X-Files mentality which might provide for good entertainment in some quarters but is sadly escalating conflict.

10. What about Muslim identity and dealing with the negative stereotypes that have come to be associated with it?

I have a strong Muslim identity (in fact I performed Hajj last year as well) but feel quite uncomfortable about the way Islam is being interpreted by mainstream clerics these days. We desperately need an Islamic reformation that will allow Muslims to move away from some rather anachronistic practices such as the Hudood laws in places like Saudi Arabia.

11. How does family life coincide with all your research, travel, and work?

Balancing family life with my profession can be challenging but there is no question for me that family matters always take priority for me. My wife Maria, has been a tremendous support and has made many professional sacrifices so that my career could flourish. She is herself a psychologist by training but has been a full-time homemaker since the birth of our older son Shahmir (now 8). We also have a five-year old, named Shahroze. Maria plans to start her own career once Shahroze is in school full-time.

12. Any words of advice for people interested in pursuing environmental studies or taking up a career in environmental research or management?

There are tremendous opportunities for professional development in these fields. Spend time outdoors, connect with the environment and you will quite naturally be attracted to it. The great conservation biologist E.O. Wilson has referred to this phenomenon as "Biophilia" -- a natural love for nature which all humans have but it just needs to be spurred by better connections with nature. even if you are not an environmental professional by training you can find ecological connections in all of your endeavors -- that is the beauty of this field -- it permeates all aspects of our lives from choices about what we buy, how we travel, what we eat, how we dispose of our wastes etc.