Mongabay

Mongabay

Media Production

Menlo Park, California 16,011 followers

News and Information from Nature's Frontline. Mongabay covers forests, oceans, wildlife, conservation, and communities

About us

Mongabay.com publishes news and information on tropical forests and related topics. Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development.

Website
https://mongabay.com
Industry
Media Production
Company size
51-200 employees
Headquarters
Menlo Park, California
Type
Nonprofit
Founded
1999
Specialties
green, forests, environment, indonesia, amazon rainforest, rainforests, conservation, sustainability, tropical forests, forestry, plantations, nature, wildlife, Indigenous peoples, biodiversity, environmental media, media production, environmental news, environmental journalism, madagascar, non-profit media, wildlife conservation, nature conservation, and just transitions

Locations

Employees at Mongabay

Updates

  • View organization page for Mongabay, graphic

    16,011 followers

    In environmental conservation, a profound gap exists between the wealth of data detailing our world’s changing ecosystems and the actionable insights needed to protect them. This is where the newly launched Mongabay Data Studio comes in! The MDS bridges the divide between environmental science and action by developing impactful tools, creating insightful data journalism, and connecting a network of credible partners. By integrating environmental, social and satellite data from reputable sources, MDS aims to make complex information accessible and actionable. The Mongabay Data Studio offers the opportunity to: ☑ Engage in novel research to create scalable tools that activate and inform audiences. ☑ Empower journalists to integrate accurate sources of scientific data as context and evidence within their news narratives. ☑ Build a collaborative global network of partners and people to mobilize. The official launch of Mongabay Data Studio took place on Feb 20, 2024, a milestone event that brought together more than 50 guests, including journalists, conservationists, technologists, and supporters from a range of Spanish and international organizations. Several partners, like Trase - Intelligence for sustainable trade, Vizzuality and the World Resources Institute, have collaborated with Mongabay to build the existing tools. Others involved are the individuals behind our environmental data journalism including Mongabay’s global network of journalists and Vizzuality’s team of technologists, designers and scientists. Given Mongabay Data Studio’s early phase, the potential for impact is immense, but so is the need for support. If you are interested in helping sustain impactful data journalism, there are two excellent ways you can do so with Mongabay. First, consider donating, which directly helps us continue to build new functionality and onboard new partners for Mongabay Data Studio. Second, subscribe to Mongabay’s newsletter to get the latest environmental news from nature’s frontline delivered right to your inbox. Learn more about the MDS: https://lnkd.in/gZWYQEtf. Check it out for yourself: https://lnkd.in/gqMsERru.

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  • Our founder and CEO Rhett Ayers Butler recaps his writing in 2024 - 198,000 words published last year.

    View profile for Rhett Ayers Butler, graphic
    Rhett Ayers Butler Rhett Ayers Butler is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit conservation and environmental science news platform

    2024 was a year of reflection—on loss, resilience & humanity’s enduring connection to the natural world. It tested our resolve to protect what is irreplaceable while offering glimmers of hope through collective action & stories of recovery. In my writing, I grappled with the fragility of life—human & non-human—and our profound responsibility to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity. From an obituary for the vaquita to a heartfelt letter to my 3-year-old about the peril of the Sumatran rhino, I sought to bridge emotion & fact, honoring losses while rallying for change. The extinction crisis loomed large as species vanished or teetered on the brink. These stories are not just about vanishing creatures but about the ecosystems & humanity they sustain. Each loss is a tear in the intricate web of life. Yet, even amid despair, there was room for action. My writing called for urgent steps to prevent further loss, emphasizing that extinction is a choice we still have the power to reject. Hope emerged as a theme—not blind optimism but a deliberate belief in the possibility of change. The recovery of mountain gorillas proved that conservation, fueled by determination & collaboration, can yield remarkable results. Similarly, the resilience of ecosystems & the people who protect them counterbalanced narratives of despair. I reflected on 25 years of Mongabay, sharing lessons in humility, luck, and modeling values that foster trust & collaboration. Transparency, respect, and persistence were touchstones guiding our work & relationships with contributors, audiences & communities. Moments of profound gratitude punctuated the year. Jane Goodall’s acknowledgment of Mongabay as a trusted source underscored journalism’s importance in a time of crisis. Her call to “Vote for Nature” resonated deeply, linking conservation & civic action as inseparable. 2024 was also about connection—to nature, to each other & to a larger purpose. Obituaries were not just memorials but calls to action, asking readers to reflect on the consequences of inaction & the possibilities of change. Journalism, I argued, must uplift the communities it covers. Our initiatives reflected this ethos, creating narratives that are both accurate & empowering. The fight for biodiversity extended beyond species to include cultural & ecological knowledge, emphasizing the stewardship of Indigenous peoples & communities. Investigative journalism continued to drive change, exposing harm & holding perpetrators accountable. These stories were testaments to the impact of persistence, collaboration & evidence-based reporting. As the year closed, I reflected on the resilience of nature & the human spirit. These stories reminded us of what is at stake & what remains possible. Conservation is not an abstract ideal—it is a series of daily choices, made by each of us. 2024 showed that the path forward depends on our capacity to care, adapt & persist. The future is unwritten, but it is one worth fighting for.

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  • Rhett Ayers Butler recaps some of the key storylines for tropical forests over the past year.

    View profile for Rhett Ayers Butler, graphic
    Rhett Ayers Butler Rhett Ayers Butler is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit conservation and environmental science news platform

    The year in rainforests 2024 Key storylines that shaped tropical forests this year. 🇧🇷 Brazil The Brazilian Amazon experienced a notable decline in deforestation in 2024, but amid surging fires and the effects of climate change, the broader outlook for the Amazon remains precarious. 🇸🇷 Suriname Suriname’s courts issued a groundbreaking ruling in a case that pitted Indigenous and Maroon communities against large-scale Mennonite farmers, halting the planned conversion of 535,000 ha of primary rainforest for industrial agriculture. 🇮🇩 Indonesia The country’s primary forest loss rose by 27% to 292,300 ha, reversing years of declining deforestation. Despite this, the loss remained far below the alarming rates of the mid-2010s. However, with a new government at the helm and other devleopments, the sustainability of these gains is uncertain. 🇨🇩 DRC 2023 saw the highest primary forest loss on record in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with few signs of a significant shift in course in 2024. 🇪🇺 EUDR The E.U’s efforts to combat global deforestation through stringent regulation encountered a setback when the European Parliament voted to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation by 12 months. 💸 Conservation finance Efforts to fund forest conservation saw significant advancements in 2024, including the launch of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF). Designed to mobilize $125B in private & sovereign investments, TFFF aims to direct $4B/yr to tropical nations for conservation. 💲Carbon markets The voluntary carbon market came under significant scrutiny in 2024 prompting greater emphasis on standards and accountability. 🦍 Biodiversity credits Biodiversity credits gained traction as a tool for conservation funding, but while 2024 brought notable progress, skepticism about their effectiveness persisted. 🔬Forest science New research highlighted the economic and ecological importance of tropical forests, challenging conventional views on land use and climate solutions. 🛰️ Remote sensing advances Technology advancements in 2024 dramatically enhanced forest and biodiversity monitoring capabilities, providing new insights & further countering the argument that action is hindered by insufficient information. 🦜 30x30 Biodiversity gained unprecedented visibility ahead of COP16 in Cali, with a wide range of entities committing to preserving life on Earth as we know it. But the outcomes from the meeting were mixed. ⚠️Illegality in the Amazon Illegal activities continued to plague the Amazon, undermining conservation efforts & exacerbating environmental degradation. 🌍 Politics Elections in the U.S., Indonesia, & Brazil signaled potential shifts in environmental priorities, highlighting the critical role governance plays in shaping the future of tropical forests. The story: https://mongabay.cc/YIR24

  • A recap of our 2024!

    View profile for Rhett Ayers Butler, graphic
    Rhett Ayers Butler Rhett Ayers Butler is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit conservation and environmental science news platform

    Mongabay's Year in Review. In 2024, Mongabay marked its 25th anniversary with a year of growth, innovation, and recognition, affirming our position as a leader in delivering news and inspiration from Nature’s frontlines via a global network of local reporters. Some numbers: 📈 Our websites attracted over 36 million visitors 📰 We published over 5,600 stories & 1,500 videos 🎓 We worked with 22 paid fellows in more than a dozen countries ✒️ Our stories carried more than 1,000 different bylines One of the year’s most consequential achievements was the expansion of Mongabay Africa. Our team doubled in size, dramatically increasing our capacity to spotlight underreported stories from a continent disproportionately affected by environmental change. The impact was immediate: traffic to the bureau’s reporting doubled, attracting readers from across Africa and beyond. Innovation was another hallmark of 2024. The launch of Mongabay Data Studio added a powerful, data-driven dimension to our storytelling, helping readers better grasp complex issues. The redesign of our news site increased accessibility through improved search, thematic Special Issues, and multimedia features. Meanwhile, a new short-form news program bridged a gap in breaking environmental coverage, offering timely updates while maintaining our trademark depth. Our stronger embrace of multimedia accelerated with the appointment of a Creative Director to lead video, podcast, and visual storytelling efforts. New initiatives also underscored our commitment to inclusivity: a French-language fellowship for Francophone Africa and a pilot program for Indigenous journalists in the Ecuadorian Amazon gave underrepresented voices a global platform. Recognition grew. The Biophilia Award honored our success in connecting conservation science to public awareness, while a Columbia Journalism Review profile noted our global presence and our ability to uncover stories others overlook. Notably, 73% of contributors reported that their work would not have been published without Mongabay. Our investigative reporting remained a powerful force for change. Revelations about Mennonite-driven deforestation in Suriname halted a 535,000-ha agricultural project. Stories on exploitative agreements in Peru ended an operation targeting Indigenous communities, while exposés on timber laundering in Brazil triggered federal investigations and disrupted a dubious carbon credit scheme. As Jane Goodall, guest of honor at Mongabay’s anniversary celebration, proclaimed, “If you really want to know the truth about an issue, go to Mongabay.” Her words resonated with the year’s achievements. In an era of mounting challenges for nonprofit journalism, our resilience, innovation, and impact chart a bold course for Mongabay’s next quarter-century: delivering transformative journalism that informs, inspires, and drives tangible change.

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  • The Columbia Journalism Review just profiled Mongabay, including context from Rhett Ayers Butler and Gerry Flynn.

    View profile for Rhett Ayers Butler, graphic
    Rhett Ayers Butler Rhett Ayers Butler is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit conservation and environmental science news platform

    The Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), one of the most authoritative and respected voices in journalism, recently profiled Mongabay. The piece, written by Lauren Watson, provides an in-depth look at how our nonprofit newsroom navigates the challenges of reporting on conservation and environmental issues globally, often in high-risk areas. Key points from the article include: 🌍 International presence: We operate in six languages, with more than 100 staff in 30 countries and over 1,000 freelance journalists across 80 countries. ⚡ Focus on impact: Our decentralized structure enables us to cover critical underreported stories. According to a funder’s review, “73% of the articles Mongabay published in the past year were stories that had otherwise gone unreported.” 🛟 Emphasis on safety: Reporting in high-risk regions requires extensive preparation. As highlighted in the piece, “The greatest concerns among Mongabay’s leadership are the safety of local reporters, especially freelancers, and the impact of their coverage on sources.” 💡 Innovative storytelling: We pair investigative reporting with visual tools like satellite imagery and interactive maps, while using multimedia formats such as videos and explainers to enhance reach and understanding. 💲 Financial independence: With a diverse range of funders—none contributing more than 9% of our revenue—we maintain editorial integrity and avoid overreliance on any single donor. “It gives me the power to walk away from any grant or say ‘no’ to any funder,” I told Watson. 🌈 Solutions-oriented journalism: We've recently expanded coverage that goes beyond solely identifying problems, offering actionable solutions for policymakers and stakeholders. CJR’s recognition underscores the vital role of independent, nonprofit journalism in fostering accountability and driving meaningful change. For funders looking to support impactful journalism, this profile highlights why investing in Mongabay’s mission matters. The full article is available at: https://lnkd.in/e7sr-MXd

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  • Fishing activity on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of states, is controlled by many regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), which manage fishing in roughly 91% of the world's oceans. But who holds them accountable? How do they set rules? How can journalists cover these organizations' work and increase transparency? Find out on the latest Mongabay webinar for journalists. Joining the panel is Mongabay staff writer Malavika Vyawahare, Grantly Galland, project director of international fisheries at the Pew Charitable Trust, and Darius Campbell, executive secretary of the NEAFC, an RMFO that manages fishing activity in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

    How to Cover RFMOs | Mongabay Webinars

    How to Cover RFMOs | Mongabay Webinars

    www.linkedin.com

  • Mongabay is hosting How to Cover Regional Fisheries Management Orgs in 1hr. Panelists: Grantly Galland, Malavika Vyawahare, and Darius Campbell Moderator: Mike DiGirolamo Make sure to attend it today!

    View organization page for Mongabay, graphic

    16,011 followers

    Fishing activity on the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of states, is controlled by many regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), which manage fishing in roughly 91% of the world's oceans. But who holds them accountable? How do they set rules? How can journalists cover these organizations' work and increase transparency? Find out on the latest Mongabay webinar for journalists. Joining the panel is Mongabay staff writer Malavika Vyawahare, Grantly Galland, project director of international fisheries at the Pew Charitable Trust, and Darius Campbell, executive secretary of the NEAFC, an RMFO that manages fishing activity in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean.

    How to Cover RFMOs | Mongabay Webinars

    How to Cover RFMOs | Mongabay Webinars

    www.linkedin.com

  • Rhett Ayers Butler reiterates the importance of reporting from nature's frontline regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's election in the U.S.

    View profile for Rhett Ayers Butler, graphic
    Rhett Ayers Butler Rhett Ayers Butler is an Influencer

    Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a nonprofit conservation and environmental science news platform

    As we await results from tomorrow's election, one of the most important in recent U.S. history, the implications for the planet and its future feel more pressing than ever. No matter who prevails, our work at Mongabay remains profoundly significant. The outcome will undoubtedly influence policy shifts impacting ecosystems, climate action, and biodiversity, potentially altering the course of environmental stewardship in the United States and around the globe. Yet, regardless of the result, we stand at a pivotal juncture where our team's collective efforts in reporting on the planet’s most vulnerable ecosystems, species, and communities remain vital. Each story we tell, each issue we uncover, and every audience we reach becomes an act of preservation in the face of immense pressures. We’re at Mongabay because we understand that the threats to biodiversity and climate stability are not abstract—they are urgent, interwoven realities. The ecosystems that support life are fragile, and the choices society makes in the coming years will echo for generations. As we press onward, the world will continue to need transparent, courageous reporting on environmental issues to drive accountability and inspire action. At Mongabay, our role in shaping an informed, engaged public has never been more essential. Together, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to contribute to the understanding of our world, to shine a light on those working to protect our shared natural heritage, and to document the stories of resilience that remind us what’s still possible. I thank our staff, our contributors, and the broader network of environmental reporters for your commitment, focus, and dedication. The stakes are high, but so is our potential impact.

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  • This episode of Mongabay Explains delves into the biodiversity crisis in California, which is known to be one of the most biodiverse states in the U.S., hosting about 6,500 animal species, subspecies and plants. California has been bearing the brunt of climate change in recent years as wildfires and drought transform the land. The film focuses on three species that are being negatively affected by the climate crisis: California tiger salamanders, acorn woodpeckers, and monarch butterflies. The filmmaker says California is the “poster child of what's happening to our ecosystems around the world.” Read more about this: https://lnkd.in/gyu6nKEu. And if you like content like this, subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/mongabaytv. And don't forget to hit that notification bell so you never miss another video!

  • An initiative in Assam, India is helping farmers switch from mono-cropping to agroforestry. Agroforestry is a farming system where a mix of trees and plants are grown side by side. This mix of crops can help maintain nutrients in soil and provide farmers with more diverse revenue streams. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7_hJdGW. WATCH the video below. And if you enjoy content like this, don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell on our YouTube channel so you never miss another video - www.youtube.com/mongabaytv.

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