In celebration of the shortlisted papers for the Rachel Carson Prize 2025 for Early Career Researchers, we’re delighted to introduce you to some of our shortlisted individuals and papers.
ZAFARANI UWINGABIRE (she/her)
Read Zafarani’s shortlisted paper: ‘Worldviews and values of key societal actors influencing decision-making around nature: The case of wild pollinator conservation in Europe‘.
About the paper:
What is your shortlisted paper about, and what are you seeking to answer with your research?
In the shortlisted paper, we examine how acknowledging and understanding the worldviews and values of key societal actors who shape decisions about nature can strengthen wider engagement in conservation policymaking and implementation. Specifically, the research explores how integrating diverse perspectives into environmental governance can lead to more inclusive, effective, and durable conservation outcomes. Rather than treating conservation as purely technical, we argue how making values visible can improve both policy design and real-world action.
Were you surprised by anything when working on it? Did you have any challenges to overcome?
I was surprised by how willing people were to share their personal views about nature when offered a neutral and open space — beyond their formal roles and institutional agendas. Many spoke from the heart, which was essential to understand positions held and why. A major challenge was leading our interdisciplinary team where even basic concepts required long discussions to reach consensus—or, at times, to acknowledge productive disagreement. Ensuring that every co-author’s voice was genuinely reflected in the final paper was important to me. That process was demanding but ultimately strengthened the paper.
What is the next step in this field going to be?
In the near term, I want to scale up this work by studying the values of actors operating at local levels, especially those implementing policies. Understanding how they perceive and value nature can help bridge the gap between policy design and practice. In the longer term, I aim to explore governance approaches that create safe spaces for actors to act consistently with their core beliefs while reducing pressures on biodiversity and fostering continued learning and connection with nature.
What are the broader impacts or implications of your research for policy or practice?
My research in general shows that conservation challenges are not only ecological but deeply value-driven. By making worldviews explicit, we can design policies that resonate with those responsible for implementing them. In the shortlisted paper, we argue that combining ecological, economic, social, and ethical levers can improve policy effectiveness. Recognizing the plurality of biodiversity values helps address competing priorities and supports more legitimate, inclusive, and long-term sustainable biodiversity management.
About the author:
How did you get involved in ecology?
My grandparents were small-scale farmers, and I spent my childhood holidays at their home in rural Rwanda. We ate what the land produced; we played in rivers and forests. Nature defined our lives in all aspects (resource, recreational, relational and traditions, etc.). As an economist raised in a region where many depend on their tiny land, integrating ecology in my economic analysis felt natural. I want to support development paths that protect both people and nature. I often asked myself: should this way of being—so closely tied to land, place, and community—be traded for a development model centered primarily on financial gain? Would changing practices in ways that compromise the quality of landscapes—landscapes that offer not only food, but identity, belonging, and meaning—truly improve wellbeing?
What is your current position?
After a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at INRAE where I wrote this paper from, I became a lecturer at Institut Agro Dijon in France. I teach agricultural and food policies in an agricultural engineering shool, Institut Agro Dijon. I work with three audiences: undergraduate students, work-study students, and civil servants in continuing education. Teaching such diverse groups allows me to connect theory with practice and engage both future professionals and experienced policymakers in discussions about sustainability and governance.
Have you continued the research your paper is about?
Yes, I have expanded this research, where I focus on linking societal actors’ values to their actual actions. I examine how value–action alignment can inform more targeted and effective conservation policies. By understanding not only what people believe but how those beliefs translate into practice, I aim to help design governance approaches that better support meaningful and lasting biodiversity protection.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone in your field?
I would advise choosing research questions you truly care about. Let curiosity guide you. Have the courage to use the approaches you believe are most relevant, even if they cross disciplinary boundaries. As young scientists, we often feel pressure to conform to dominant methods and agendas. But meaningful progress often happens at the intersections. Stay intellectually open, and trust the value of thoughtful, well-grounded interdisciplinarity.
Read Zafarani’s shortlisted paper: ‘Worldviews and values of key societal actors influencing decision-making around nature: The case of wild pollinator conservation in Europe‘.
Relational Thinking 