Mongabay’s investigative journalism continues to shine a light on critical environmental issues across Latin America, sparking policy discussions and driving tangible actions. This case study focuses on Mongabay’s coverage of deforestation risks in Suriname and Paraguay, revealing how independent reporting can influence decision-making, empower Indigenous communities, and hold governments accountable.
Suriname’s rainforest at risk
In December 2023, Mongabay published an in-depth report revealing that the government of Suriname was weighing a series of land deals that would allow the Ministry of Agriculture and a group of private entities to develop agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture activities on hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, most of it Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon covers 93% of Suriname’s total land area, making agricultural expansion an especially sensitive issue. In addition, five private entities were involved in the deals, with an interest in commodities like soy and cashews.
By March 2024, Mongabay followed up with a pivotal update: Suriname President Chan Santokhi confirmed to local media that he cancelled a pilot program setting aside 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) for 50 Mennonite families, easing some fears that the country was on the verge of destroying large parts of the Amazon Rainforest. Mennonite colonies have a history of contributing to widespread deforestation in other parts of Latin America, including Belize, Mexico, and Bolivia, as our team documented in this powerful video report.
Deforestation alerts on Indigenous land in Paraguay
Between January and October 2022, Mongabay Latam reported that Global Forest Watch identified 684 deforestation alerts in the Pindo’i Indigenous reserve in Paraguay via satellite, despite laws prohibiting deforestation in these territories. Mennonite colonies established in Paraguay between the 1920s and 1950s have long been associated with deforestation in Indigenous territories, as they expand agricultural activities, including the farming of soy, maize, and wheat. Indigenous communities there face threats to their livelihoods due to such deforestation, plus contamination of their air and water from chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and the limited economic alternatives often force them to work for Mennonite plantations.
