In Malaysian Borneo, Mongabay staff features writer John Cannon exposed a secret, 100-year deal between the Sabah state government and a group of foreign companies intent on selling carbon credits to polluting industries, based on the conservation of two million hectares of rainforest (approximately 4.9 million acres). This potential agreement was discussed quietly without meaningful consultation with civil society nor Indigenous communities, who might have lost access to these forests they depend upon.
His 2021 article about it went global and highlighted the impact of sustained reporting on specific topics like carbon offsets, and the importance of ongoing engagement with local communities. Many of his sources – from Indigenous and community leaders to conservationists and politicians – were linked to fieldwork he did in Sabah in 2019.
Local leaders like Cynthia Ong knew he was trustworthy and knowledgeable. “Mongabay understands the intrinsic importance of Indigenous communities to land, and vice versa,” she said. “John Cannon has visited our communities and always prioritized listening to Indigenous voices, and made sure they feature on the Mongabay platform.”
According to her, Mongabay breaking the initial story ‘made all the difference.’ When her community originally reached out, Mongabay “responded immediately. This led to other national and international outlets taking up the story, but everyone referred to that first story. So, it had an immediate and direct impact on the communities that would have been affected in that land deal.”
