Interview with Keynote speaker: Mohammed Chahim

“It is necessary that scientists use their voices to amplify their findings, be part of social debates, and find allies in those they would not usually seek out,” says Mohammed Chahim, Dutch Member of the European Parliament (S&D), Policy speaker at ECCB ‘26 “This is key to effective nature conservation.”

 “Over the past few years, there has been a shift toward the belief that one must choose between competitiveness and nature. Many parliamentarians have argued that economic growth should be prioritised over biodiversity. There is a notion that increasing marketability and defence will increase productivity and safety, and nature regulations stand in the way. The private sector has taken advantage of this panic to water down its obligations. The EU is not behind, and if it ever does occur, it will not be due to increasing its regulations on nature protection.” 

“Not only do we have collective ownership over biodiversity, but we also have a duty to ensure its longevity. To achieve effective nature conservation, allies need to be made in those one would not usually seek out. In many cases, farmers are seen as the “bad guys” because they are often not supported in implementing resource and land regulations. Policy-makers need to back farmers and supermarkets just as much as nature conservation laws need to be supported. Diverse motivations can still lead to a shared outcome. Nature conservation is not achieved by a singular method, approach, or person.” 

“Some economists posit that nature should be incorporated into economic growth indicators. Nature is for everyone, meaning everyone owns it, so does one have the right to value it? This is discussed in many arenas, but the responsibility to protect biodiversity should not be debated. Regardless of one’s political stance, nature conservation should be a shared agreement among all parties.” 

“The solution to ensuring nature conservation is not always visible to the average eye. The ability to distinguish what constitutes healthy and unhealthy in nature is a capacity many scientists may possess. As policymakers, we need scientists to guide us, and in turn, we need to bring them into the core of the debates. There is no right answer to preventing scientific research from being sidelined. It is necessary that scientists use their voice to power their findings and embrace subjectivity. They must be part of societal debates. By bringing them into the decision-making process, scientists are able to further share, educate, and instruct on their assessments, and what their outcomes can mean for overarching goals that parliamentarians are working to achieve.” 

“Educational institutions can play a big role in nurturing populations that put biodiversity at the forefront of achieving a healthy society. It starts in primary schools and ensures that nature is understood as a circular process. Our climate is not a single-use product. Educational institutions can bring visibility to the need for effective nature conservation”