Mongabay Brasil Senior Editor, Xavier Bartaburu, received second place in the Text Report category of the Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips Contest of Journalism and Communication for his feature, “Why the Maxakali people are calling on their spirits to recover the Atlantic Forest.”
The contest, launched in 2026 by the Brazilian government with support from multiple federal ministries, UNESCO, Reporters Without Borders, and many more, recognizes journalism that advances the defense of the environment, Indigenous peoples, and traditional communities.
Bartaburu’s feature examines how the Maxakali people of Brazil are drawing on their spiritual traditions and ancestral knowledge to restore the Atlantic Forest after generations of deforestation and displacement. The story highlights the connection between cultural survival, sovereignty, and ecological recovery, centering Maxakali voices in the broader conversation about conservation.
The award is named in honor of Indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips, who were murdered in the Javari Valley in 2022 while documenting environmental crimes and Indigenous issues in the Amazon. Their deaths drew international attention to the risks faced by journalists and environmental defenders working in the region.
The contest received more than 900 entries across six categories from journalists, communicators, and community media producers throughout Brazil. Bartaburu’s story was selected as the second-place winner in the Text Report category, where five finalists were chosen from the national field of submissions.
The award ceremony took place at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília and brought together federal authorities, multinational organizations, Indigenous leaders, and civil society groups. The accolade places Bartaburu among a select group of journalists honored for reporting that elevates Indigenous perspectives and environmental justice.
This achievement adds to a growing body of global acknowledgment for Mongabay journalists and contributors whose work highlights biodiversity conservation, Indigenous rights, and environmental accountability across the globe.
Impact
The Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips Contest celebrates journalism that brings attention to underreported environmental and Indigenous issues while paying tribute to the legacy of two advocates who dedicated their lives to protecting the Amazon and its peoples.
For Mongabay, this visibility reinforces the value of investing in in-depth reporting that centers Indigenous voices and documents community-led conservation efforts. It demonstrates that stories connecting environmental protection with cultural resilience and human rights resonate far beyond their original publication.
Recognition from civil society and public organizations including the Brazilian government, UNESCO, and Reporters Without Borders underscores the growing international value placed on rigorous environmental journalism that elevates Indigenous perspectives and documents conservation efforts rooted in local knowledge systems.
The award also highlights the importance of independent journalism at a time when Indigenous communities are increasingly at the forefront of efforts to protect forests, biodiversity, and traditional knowledge systems. By supporting reporting like Bartaburu’s, Mongabay helps ensure that local perspectives reach worldwide audiences.
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Banner image: Joviano Maxakali, one of the leaders of the Maxakali Indigenous Land. Image by Xavier Bartaburu/Mongabay.