Reflections on 20 years of Mongabay News (commentary)

Founder’s Commentary: An occasional series where Mongabay founder Rhett Ayers Butler shares analysis and perspectives.

This month marks 20 years since I started the Mongabay news service.

At the time, it was just me — writing, editing and publishing from a desk with more ambition than resources. The idea was simple: provide consistent, fact-based environmental reporting that filled a gap I saw between advocacy groups and mainstream media. Coverage of tropical forests and biodiversity was rare, especially in Western outlets. Advocacy publications often told people what to think, while mainstream media, when it covered these issues, did so sporadically.

I wanted to offer something different: journalism that informed without prescribing, guided by evidence rather than ideology.

One of my first articles was about the beauty and importance of tropical forests — a theme that still runs through much of our reporting today. In those early days, I toiled to produce several hundred articles a year. Today, thanks to an extraordinary global team of journalists, editors and collaborators, we’re on track to publish more than 7,000 stories this year across six languages — and soon, even more. Our work now spans everything from ocean science to Indigenous rights to conservation solutions, but the core idea remains unchanged.

While the media landscape has shifted dramatically — new platforms, changing algorithms, different ways of reaching people — our commitment to high-quality, original reporting has stayed steady. Trends come and go. Trust is what endures.

Looking ahead, Mongabay is entering a new phase of expansion, outlined in our 2030 strategic plan. Some key elements will become increasingly visible to readers in the coming months and years: strengthening our coverage of oceans, expanding our solutions journalism on topics from Indigenous-led conservation to emerging technologies, growing our fellowship and training programs, and better leveraging primary sources of “big data.” We are also developing new ways to reach frontline communities who have historically been underserved when it comes to environmental information.

On that latter point, our ambition is to increase the flow of information in both directions — not just telling stories from the field, but elevating insights from communities about what’s working on the ground and surfacing early warnings about emerging challenges.

At the same time, we are keenly aware of the increasingly difficult conditions facing journalists around the world. Reporting from nature’s frontlines can be dangerous, for both journalists and the sources they rely on. While a journalist may be able to leave, the people who share their knowledge often cannot. They must live with the aftermath. With that reality in mind, Mongabay has implemented practices and protocols designed to prioritize safety, both for our teams and for the communities they serve.

Mongabay’s growth has never been a solitary endeavor. It has been shaped by countless people: brave reporters risking their safety to tell urgent stories, editors refining every detail, partners who believed in our vision, and readers like you who care deeply about the planet.

Along the way, I’ve learned a few things:

• Think first about your audience.
• Focus where you can add the most value.
• Stay adaptable, but don’t chase trends blindly.
• Own your mistakes — credibility depends on it.
• Lead with empathy, not instruction.
• Embrace nuance; environmental issues are rarely black and white.
• Share solutions, not just problems — hope has power.
• Understand that progress is seldom linear.
• Listen more than you speak.
• Keep going — perseverance often outpaces perfection.
• Be resourceful. Scarcity can drive innovation.
• Stay active. Movement can spark fresh thinking and unexpected ideas.
• Iterate constantly. Success grows from learning.
• Let impact guide your decisions, not vanity metrics.
• Recognize that timing and kindness often play outsized roles.

Two decades on, I’m still learning, still believing, and still hopeful. There is so much more to do, and the need for trusted, independent environmental journalism has never been greater. Thank you for being part of this journey — and for helping Mongabay continue to grow, evolve, and make a difference.

Banner image of Mongabay Founder and CEO Rhett A. Butler by Mongabay.

Credits

Shreya Dasgupta Editor

This story first appeared on Mongabay

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