V S Vijayan

Vadayil Sankaran Vijayan (വി. എസ്. വിജയന്‍) (born 29 May 1945) is an Indian environmentalist, wildlife biologist, ornithologist, an admirer of naturopathy and the founding Director of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. He is currently the chairman of the Salim Ali Foundation.

Vijayan did his post graduation in Zoology at M.S.University of Baroda. He obtained Ph.D. in Field Ornithology in 1976 from the University of Bombay for his work on the Ecological isolation in bulbuls (Class Aves, family Pycnonotidae) with special reference to Pycnonotus cafer (L) and Pycnonotus luteolus (Lesson) at Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu under the guidance of Salim Ali. He is married to Lalitha Vijayan, a noted ornithologist, a Ph D. student of Salim Ali and former scientist of Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. The couple has a son V.V. Robin, an evolutionary biologist.

Contributions to environmental conservation His report on the Impact of hydroelectric dam on wildlife in Silent Valley was the first scientific basis for the start of the Save Silent Valley movement. The long-term studies conducted under his leadership on the ecology of Keoladeo National Park was instrumental in developing management plans for the park. This study with large-scale bird banding also contributed to the knowledge on migratory birds of Indian subcontinent. Vijayan brought attention of the public and policy makers through his reports on the environmental impacts of the proposed Pathrakadavu hydroelectric project, Pooyamkutty hydroelectric project, Athirapilly hydroelectric project, Aranmula International Airport, genetically modified crops. As the founder Director of the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, the premier ornithology institute in the country, he led several studies for the conservation of threatened bird of India. He contributed to the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) known as Gadgil Committee as a member which mooted several controversies and agitations across the Western Ghats states. He was instrumental in developing the Pupil's Biodiversity Register for each Grama Panchayath in the state of Kerala. He also developed an organic farming policy for Kerala state during his tenure as the Chairman of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board.

Positions held

Member: Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) known as Gadgil Committee, Chairman: Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Director (1991-2005): Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Officer on Special Duty (1990): Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Senior Scientist (1987-1990): Bombay Natural History Society, Project Scientist (1981-1987): Bombay Natural History Society, Member (1980-1984): Senate of Calicut University, Member (1979-1983): Kerala State Wildlife Advisory Board, Member (1979 1982): IUCN's Asian Elephant Specialist Group, Wildlife Biologist and Head of Division of Wildlife Biology (1977-1981): Kerala Forest Research Institute, Research Assistant (1976-1977): Kerala Forest Research Institute, Research Associate (1976): Bombay Natural History Society, Visiting Scientist (1975-1976): Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Salim Ali-Loke Wan Tho Research Fellow (1972 75): Bombay Natural History Society, Research Assistant (1969 71): Bombay Natural History Society.

Awards/fellowships Padmanabhan Memorial award (2010) Salim Ali-Loke Wan Tho Research Fellowship (1972): Bombay Natural History Society,