25 years of environmental reporting and key developments at Mongabay

22 Jan 2025

In 2024, Mongabay celebrated its 25th anniversary by delivering a year of transformative achievements that underscore our unique role in environmental journalism. Amid this milestone, Mongabay recorded significant accomplishments—expanding our reach, refining our platforms, and receiving greater recognition for our work. The numbers alone tell a story of success: a 55% increase in readership brought more than 36 million users to our websites, cementing Mongabay’s position as a global leader in reporting on critical environmental issues.

Inspiring real-world impact

Throughout the year, we remained deeply focused on our core mission, and investigative reporting continued to drive tangible results. For instance, a Mongabay investigation into a Mennonite deforestation scheme in Suriname prompted the cancellation of a 535,000-hectare agricultural project. In Peru, an exposé on deceptive agreements targeting Indigenous communities led to the termination of contracts tied to the scheme. Meanwhile, our reporting on timber laundering in the Brazilian Amazon spurred federal investigations and the suspension of carbon credit projects linked to illegal activities.

Mongabay’s influence also extended to corporate accountability. A landmark feature exposing fraudulent sustainability claims by Agropalma, Brazil’s second-largest palm oil exporter, resulted in the suspension of its certification and intensified scrutiny of the sector.

Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.

Internally, Mongabay underwent significant introspection through an independent evaluation of our tropical deforestation coverage. The findings affirmed our reporting’s exceptional value, with respondents emphasizing our irreplaceable role in informing policy, guiding professional decisions, and amplifying Indigenous voices. As one survey participant noted, “Mongabay is the one outlet that consistently covers rainforests, providing critical insights for decision-makers in philanthropy, government, and the private sector.”

Delivering news in diverse formats from more places

Among the year’s most notable developments was the expansion of Mongabay Africa, doubling the size of our team reporting on the continent. This exemplified our commitment to elevating underreported stories, especially from regions most affected by environmental change. Our new hires bolstered the bureau’s capacity to cover stories often overlooked by international media. The results were immediate: traffic to the bureau’s content doubled, with visitors from across Africa and around the globe.

African elephant. Image by Rhett A. Butler/Mongabay.

We also launched Mongabay Data Studio, an initiative that leverages data-driven storytelling to deepen readers’ understanding of complex environmental issues. This effort aligns with Mongabay’s broader effort to diversify content formats, including the unveiling of a redesigned news site in July. The updated site integrates features like enhanced search capabilities, thematic “Special Issues,” and multimedia offerings, ensuring that audiences can engage with our reporting through in-depth articles, quick reads, visual narratives, and more.

Complementing these innovations was the introduction of a short-form news program, filling a critical gap in covering breaking developments. By producing concise, timely updates, Mongabay expanded its appeal to general-interest audiences without compromising our hallmark depth.

Fostering a global network of environmental journalists

Our commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering local journalism was evident in the launch of a fellowship program in French for Francophone Africa, as well as a pilot initiative for Indigenous journalists in the Ecuadorian Amazon. These efforts reflect our long-standing dedication to ensuring that local perspectives remain at the heart of environmental reporting.

Mongabay Latam Managing Editor Alexa Valez Zuazo working with Shuar Indigenous fellow Yutsu Maiche. Image by Dora Montero/Mongabay.

A growing reputation

Recognition for these achievements came in many forms. The Biophilia Award, one of several accolades we collected this year, highlighted our influence in bridging the gap between conservation science and public awareness. A top-level profile in the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) further cemented our reputation as a trailblazer in nonprofit journalism. The piece lauded our international presence—operating in six languages with contributors across 80 countries—and our ability to consistently uncover underreported stories, with 73% of contributors stating that their stories would have gone unpublished if not for Mongabay.

Mongabay Founder Rhett Butler and Jane Goodall on stage in California. Image by Alejandro Prescott-Cornejo/Mongabay.

Fittingly, our 25th anniversary celebration was marked with a sold-out event featuring renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. Her endorsement of our work was unequivocal:

“If you really want to know the truth about a particular issue, go to Mongabay,” Goodall said, emphasizing Mongabay’s dual focus on exposing challenges and sharing solutions.