About us

Mongabay believes credible and accurate journalism is essential to successfully address the planetary emergency because sharing knowledge through stories can inform, inspire and sustain effective action worldwide.

Mission

Mongabay is an independent, nonprofit media organization reporting on nature and planetary challenges with a global network of local journalists. Mongabay serves a diverse audience by providing free access to news and information in numerous languages and formats to address knowledge gaps and improve transparency. By revealing the evidence of ecosystem destruction and its consequences for people worldwide, Mongabay creates opportunities to hold those responsible accountable.

Mongabay improves understanding of the forces undermining the health of Earth’s systems. Mongabay makes science accessible and elevates the voices and knowledge of people directly impacted by environmental change.

History


Mongabay was founded by Rhett A. Butler in 1999 out of his passion for tropical forests. Its name was inspired by an island in Madagascar called Nosy Mangabe.

Since then, Mongabay has grown into an award winning daily news outlet well-known for impactful and unique environmental reporting and analysis. Mongabay provides access to large volumes of reliable, credible and accurate evidence and insights. We publish in 6 different languages and produce original content in English, Indonesian, Spanish, French, Hindi, and Portuguese. Mongabay is widely recognized as one of the top sources of news, information and analysis from Nature’s frontline.

In 2012, Mongabay.org was registered as a nonprofit to facilitate the development of new education and journalism initiatives, and leverage Mongabay’s existing network, traffic, and reputation under a sustainable business model. The first project under Mongabay.org was the launch of Mongabay.co.id, an Indonesian environmental news service run by a team of Indonesian journalists. Following its success, Mongabay launched a regional Spanish-language bureau, Mongabay Latam, in 2016, Mongabay India in 2018, the Portuguese-language Mongabay Brasil in 2019, and Mongabay Hindi in 2020. Most recently, in 2023 Mongabay launched the Mongabay Africa bureau and the Mongabay Data Studio in 2024.

With our large global network of locally-based journalists, Mongabay reaches millions of people each month. It is commonly used as an information source by mainstream media, including The Economist, Bloomberg, National Geographic, and the Associated Press. Mongabay is also widely recognized as an accurate and trust-worthy source by civil society organizations as well as development agencies.

Over the years Mongabay’s impact has been substantial. Articles on the site have sparked protests in Madagascar against a French shipping company transporting timber logged illegally from rainforest reserves and helped block destructive projects like a plan to log 70 percent of Woodlark Island off New Guinea for a giant oil palm plantation. Mongabay stories have influenced investment flows, including a decision to spare Cameroon’s rainforests from logging in order to win payments from the carbon market. Stories and photos have also inspired art.

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People

Staff

Mongabay’s global newsroom includes over 100 staff members.

Board of Directors

Oversight of the organization is the responsibility of its board members.

Reporting Network

Mongabay’s global network of contributing journalists now numbers over 1,100 contributors in some 85 countries.

Editorial Standards

Mongabay’s editorial standards rely upon guidelines and policies from many professional journalism associations, news outlets, and wire services. Mongabay editorial standards include its principles of editorial decision-making, fact checking, and ethics policies.

Read our standards

Operations

Mongabay is a nonprofit news organization that regularly publishes information about its operations in annual reports and public tax filings. Mongabay is committed to using donor funds efficiently and effectively. Below please find our IRS filings and recent annual reports. Our federal EIN is 45-3714703 and our official name is “Mongabay.Org Corporation”, which in some systems is listed as “Mongabayorg Corporation”.

Reports, reviews, and scores from nonprofit evaluators:

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Tax filings

Strategic Plan

Since its inception in 1999, Mongabay has grown from a rainforest information website maintained by a single person to a global news organization, thanks to a commitment to original journalism that drives real-world impact. As we face escalating global environmental crises, Mongabay recognizes the need for transformative action and expanded coverage of the issues and solutions to the challenges. Mongabay’s 2030 Strategic Plan outlines our approach to meeting these challenges.

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