Rhett Butler: using the power of words to transform forestry
Over the past decade, a young man by the name of Rhett Butler has built what is perhaps the world’s most successful one-stop site on tropical forests, Mongabay.com. Attracting more than a million visitors every month, Mongabay is a real powerhouse in the global forestry debate.
"I rarely work less than 100 hours per week and I haven’t had a day off since 2004”, reveals Rhett Butler.“But I love what I’m doing and I have no plans to stop.”
Rhett Butler is the founder of Mongabay, the go-to site for tropical forest management and conservation. With an almost supernatural dedication, he has spent the last 12 years populating the site with a wealth of well-researched and continuously updated information, served in a juicy sauce of excellent writing and stunning photos.
Most of the site’s contents including more than 8,000 articles and over 60,000 photos are provided by Mr. Butler himself.
Each month, more than a million visitors go to Mongabay in search of reports and perspective on recent developments within tropical forest politics and conservation science.
“My mission is to make people aware of what’s happening with the world’s forests and wildlife. Some of our articles do have direct impact as well, for example when we published a series of articles on the shipping companies involved in shipping illegal timber from Madagascar, which roused activist networks, and the illegal loggers subsequently lost access to the market. I also know that several governments and decision makers are constantly monitoring our news,” says Mr. Butler.
“Forest certification is critically important”
At 33, Mr. Butler is a well-established expert and speaker at international events such as the United Nations COP 16 climate summit. As part of his work, he continually explores the intricate linkages between deforestation, conservation science, politics and market developments.
As a conservationist, what is your view on forest certification?
“Forest certification is critically important because deforestation is increasingly driven by consumer demands. I take a broad view on conservation – people are part of it. I don’t believe in kicking people out to conserve wildlife. As a market-based tool, certification offers an incentive for responsible forest management.”
Do you think plantations and virgin rainforest should be certified?
“There are valid arguments why certification systems should cover plantations and virgin rainforests. But I would suggest a more advanced labeling system, allowing the consumer to see whether the product he is buying comes from a plantation or a virgin forest. I personally always choose FSC certified products if I need to buy lumber for any purpose, but I wouldn’t want to buy any wood from a virgin rainforest.”
Forests at a transition point
Where do you see the world’s forests in 10 years’ time?
“We’re at a transition point right now. On the one hand, poverty alleviation and the growth of affluent populations worldwide are exacting a heavy toll on the forests. The share of the global market that has concern about environmental performance is probably decreasing right now. In some of the new markets, FSC is seen as less attractive because it’s not the cheapest option and consumers are not factoring in all the externalities.”
"On the other hand, the economic importance of ecosystem services is increasingly recognised and starting to bring direct revenue, as in the REDD [Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation] scheme. Overall I’m optimistic, although it’s ten steps forward, nine steps back.”
A never-ending project
How did you conceive of Mongabay?
“When I was 17, I experienced for the second time in my life how a wonderful place on Earth that I cherished – a quiet and mysterious rainforest spot in Sabah - was destroyed. That’s when I decided to write a book about the rainforest.”
Despite his young age, Mr. Butler could embark on the project with the confidence of an experienced author: Vexed by the deficiencies of available aquarium books, he resolutely wrote a book on freshwater fish at the age of 14.
Happily, he made the decision to put the chapters of his new book out for free on a website. Mongabay was born and evolved to become much more than a book.
Based on Mr. Butler’s enormous energy and drive, the site has proliferated to include tropical freshwaters and free educational resources for kids in about 40 languages.
Mongabay often celebrates the sheer magic and diversity of tropical wildlife. This picture is from a photo series entitled "unusually blue animals".
He has also lauched the sister website Wild Magascar, dealing exclusively with the wildlife of that island. The latest outgrowth is the open-access scientific journal Tropical Conservation Science, co-founded by Mr. Butler and funded through Mongabay.
Where do you picture Mongabay and yourself in the future?
“I think I will be doing pretty much what I’m doing now, although I’d like to work less on day-to-day news in order to make room for larger projects. As for Mongabay, I plan to make the contents available in more langauges. And we’ll be looking into new technology platforms such as mobile apps and computer games.”
We bet it will all come true.
And why the name of Rhett Butler, the famous counterpart of Scarlett O’Hara in the legendary tale and movie ‘Gone with the Wind’? If you wish to find out, visit Mongabay. While looking for the answer (yes, it is there), you will discover a wealth of truly interesting information about forests and wildlife.
Pictures © Mongabay.
