In a landmark year for environmental journalism, Mongabay's multimedia team has captured multiple prestigious international awards, showcasing the power of innovative storytelling in highlighting critical environmental and social issues.

The organization's remarkable achievements span multiple continents and media formats, with standout investigations revealing complex environmental challenges through cutting-edge reporting techniques. Mongabay Latam clinched two major awards for their groundbreaking investigation into narcotrafficking's impact on Indigenous Amazon territories, revealing how 67 illegal airstrips have been carved into Peru's precious rainforest landscapes.

Their award-winning story meticulously documented the devastating intersection of organized crime and environmental destruction. By combining satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and extensive on-the-ground interviews with over 60 sources, the team exposed how at least three reserves for Indigenous communities living in voluntary isolation have been infiltrated by illegal drug trafficking infrastructure.

Individual journalists also received significant recognition. Malavika Vyawahare was among 12 recipients of the 2025 Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership (SEAL) award, highlighting her impactful reporting on critical environmental issues ranging from luxury development near giant tortoise habitats in Seychelles to the presence of 'forever chemicals' in African breast milk and fires threatening rare lemurs in Madagascar.

Mongabay's audio storytelling also garnered substantial praise, with their India-focused podcast 'Wild Frequencies' winning three prestigious awards. Produced by Shreya Dasgupta, Kartik Chandramouli, and Abhijit Shylanath, the three-part series explores how researchers use bioacoustics to monitor and understand wildlife, capturing top honors from the Society of Publishers in Asia, Podcast Publisher Awards, and India Audio Summit Awards.

In another powerful narrative, contributors Matthew Reichel and Robyn Huang secured second place at the Indigenous Media Awards for their short film documenting young Indigenous Canadians reviving traditional seafood harvesting practices. As Brycen George, coordinator of the Ucluelet Warrior Program, poignantly stated, their work represents "food for the soul and... food to actually eat" - a testament to cultural preservation and community resilience.

These awards underscore Mongabay's commitment to creating accessible, high-quality multimedia journalism that connects global audiences with urgent environmental and cultural stories, promising even more innovative storytelling in the coming year.