Articles by Rhett A. Butler

Rhett Butler is the founder and CEO of Mongabay. Rhett founded Mongabay out of his passion for wildlife and wild places. He has traveled widely in the tropics and enjoys photography, hiking, and scuba-diving. LinkedIn Profile | Personal website | Contact

Rainforest in Sulawesi. Photo credit: Rhett A. Butler

2024 outlook for rainforests

Last week, Mongabay published a recap of the major trends in the world’s tropical rainforests for 2023. Here’s a glimpse into some of the key issues to monitor in 2024.…
Rainforest in Sulawesi. Photo credit: Rhett A. Butler
Planet satellite images of the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Jufari near the border of the states of Amazonas and Roraima in Brazil taken in October 2023, revealing sandbars and exposed riverbed during the severe drought that affected large parts of the Amazon rainforest. Photo courtesy of Planet Labs.

The year in rainforests: 2023

The following is Mongabay’s annual recap of major tropical rainforest storylines. This year, the list is more concise than in the past. Previous year-in-reviews: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |…
Planet satellite images of the confluence of the Rio Negro and Rio Jufari near the border of the states of Amazonas and Roraima in Brazil taken in October 2023, revealing sandbars and exposed riverbed during the severe drought that affected large parts of the Amazon rainforest. Photo courtesy of Planet Labs.

Rainforests in 2022: A look at the year ahead

Between rising deforestation in the Amazon, new financial and political commitments to reduce deforestation, and growing interest in “nature-based solutions” like conservation and reforestation, 2021 may prove to be a…
Composite image. Left: Amazon rainforest - photo credit: Rhett A. Butler. Right: Burning forest in the Brazilian Amazon - image credit: Greenpeace

The year in rainforests 2021

2021 was a year where tropical forests featured more prominently in global headlines than normal thanks to rising recognition of the role they play in addressing climate change and biodiversity…
Composite image. Left: Amazon rainforest - photo credit: Rhett A. Butler. Right: Burning forest in the Brazilian Amazon - image credit: Greenpeace
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