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Saleem H. Ali (http://www.uvm.edu/~shali/) is Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont and the director of The Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security (http://www.uvm.edu/ieds/). His books include Treasures of the Earth: Need, Greed and a Sustainable Future; Islam and Education: Conflict and Conformity in Pakistan’s Madrassas; and the edited volume Peace Parks: Conservation and Conflict Resolution. He was chosen by the National Geographic Society as an “Emerging Explorer” in 2010 and by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader in 2011. He received his doctorate in environmental planning from MIT, a Master’s degree in environmental studies from Yale and an BSc in Chemistry from Tufts University. You can follow him on Twitter: @saleem_ali.
Various Track Two approaches to peacebuilding in the Middle East have been pursued through ecumenical dialogue and educational programs such as The University of the Middle East Project.[1] Yet the direct use of environmental conservation as a mutually agreeable way to approach territorial conflict resolution has thus far not been seriously deliberated. Some “realists” might be dismissive of such a prospect, but the concept of “peace parks” has shown practical promise in resolving territorial disputes.
