Rhett Butler

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Founder of Mongabay.

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1016 stories
Francis Hallé. Photo by Thomas Samson / AFP

Francis Hallé, the botanist who took a raft into the rainforest canopy

Rhett Ayers Butler 22 Jan 2026

A new treaty comes into force to govern life on the high seas

Rhett Ayers Butler 17 Jan 2026
Mike Heusner. Photo courtesy of Caribbean Lifestyle Belize

Mike Heusner, steward of Belize’s waters, has died, aged 86

Rhett Ayers Butler 16 Jan 2026
Doug McConnell. (Photo by Jack Uhalde)

Doug McConnell, interpreter of Northern California, has died, aged 80

Rhett Ayers Butler 15 Jan 2026
Margerie Glacier in Alaska in 2007. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler.

What can—and cannot—be done to save the world’s glaciers

Rhett Ayers Butler 14 Jan 2026
Product of the women's keeping initiative. Photo credit: Felipe Rodriguez

Conservation’s unfinished business

Rhett Ayers Butler 12 Jan 2026
Tame Sumatran elephants were brought in to help clean up flood-affected residential areas in Meunasah Bie village, Meurah Dua district, Pidie Jaya.

A catastrophe that might offer a glimpse of hope for Indonesia (commentary)

Aida Greenbury 11 Jan 2026
Bob Weir. From his website.

Bob Weir, a musician who took the environment seriously

Rhett Ayers Butler 11 Jan 2026
Madhav Gadgil in 2016. Photo by Syed Shiyaz Mirza

Madhav Gadgil, advocate of democratic conservation, has died at 83

Rhett Ayers Butler 8 Jan 2026
Mushrooms in San Mateo County, California. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler.

An inventory of life in California

Rhett Ayers Butler 6 Jan 2026

Biologist kidnapped in Mexico

Rhett Ayers Butler 4 Jan 2026
Craig. Photo by Cristina Mittermeier

What Craig’s long life reveals about elephant conservation

Rhett Ayers Butler 3 Jan 2026
Purisima Creek, California in December 2025. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler

The conservation ledger: What we lost and what we gained in 2025

Rhett Ayers Butler 1 Jan 2026
Emma Johnston. Photo by The University of New South Wales

Emma Johnston, a marine ecologist with institutional reach, has died at 52

Rhett Ayers Butler 31 Dec 2025
Sunset over Borneo in 2025. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler

Mongabay’s most popular stories of 2025

Rhett Ayers Butler 31 Dec 2025
Richard Frederick Bradshaw. Photo courtesy of Phillips, Hager & North (PH&N).

Investor Dick Bradshaw took a long view of conservation

Rhett Ayers Butler 31 Dec 2025
Tatiana Schlossberg. Photo by Steven Senne/Associated Press

Tatiana Schlossberg, environmental journalist, has died, aged 35

Rhett Ayers Butler 30 Dec 2025
Andy Mahler in Bloomington, December 2024. Photo by Steven Higgs

Andy Mahler, advocate for public forests in America

Rhett Ayers Butler 30 Dec 2025
Elizabeth Erasito.

Elizabeth Erasito, custodian of Fiji’s parks and places

Rhett Ayers Butler 30 Dec 2025
George Teariki-Mataki Mateariki. Photo from Cook Islands Tourism

George Teariki-Mataki Mateariki, the Birdman of Atiu, has died, aged 67

Rhett Ayers Butler 29 Dec 2025
California redwood forest in December 2025. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler

15 forces that could reshape conservation in the next 10 years

Rhett Ayers Butler 28 Dec 2025
Brigitte Bardot. Photo: Getty

Brigitte Bardot, who turned fame into a lifelong fight for animals

Rhett Ayers Butler 28 Dec 2025
Clark Lungren. Courtesy of the Lungren family.

Clark Lungren and the case for compromise in conservation

Rhett Ayers Butler 28 Dec 2025
Joann Andrews

Joann Andrews, a patient force behind Yucatán’s protected landscapes

Rhett Ayers Butler 27 Dec 2025
Jay M Savage. Screenshot from an interview with OTS.

Jay M. Savage, witness to disappearing frogs and builder of tropical science

Rhett Ayers Butler 27 Dec 2025
Kristina-Maria-Gjerde. Image courtesy of the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative (DOSI).

Kristina Gjerde, defender of the deep ocean, has died

Rhett Ayers Butler 26 Dec 2025
Rainforest in Brunei in 2025. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler

The year in rainforests 2025: Deforestation fell; the risks did not

Rhett Ayers Butler 26 Dec 2025
Stuart Brooks. Photo courtesy of The National Trust for Scotland.

Stuart Brooks, peat protector, has died

Rhett Ayers Butler 26 Dec 2025
Tell Hicks, from his Facebook page.

Tell Hicks, reptile artist

Rhett Ayers Butler 25 Dec 2025
William Bond. Photo courtesy of the University of Cape Town.

William Bond, grasslands researcher who reminded conservation that context matters, has died

Rhett Ayers Butler 24 Dec 2025
Weather over Jambi. Photo by Rhett Ayers Butler.

2025: A year of consequence for Mongabay’s journalism

Rhett Ayers Butler 24 Dec 2025
Joanna Macy. Courtesy of the Macy family

Joanna Macy, author and teacher who turned despair into connection and agency

Rhett Ayers Butler 23 Dec 2025

News and Inspiration from Nature's Frontline.

Yo Yaj at Songkhla Lake, Thailand
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Mona Khalil in 2002 at in Tyre. Photo by Jihad Seqlawi/AFP/Getty Images
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