How long-term environmental reporting is changing conservation outcomes in southeast asia

Environmental journalist Isabel Esterman believes that meaningful impact comes not from single blockbuster stories, but from years of persistent reporting that gradually shifts public understanding and policy. As managing editor for Southeast Asia at Mongabay, one of the world’s leading environmental news platforms, Esterman has demonstrated how sustained coverage can produce real-world conservation results.

Her approach has yielded striking outcomes across multiple projects. When Mongabay began investigating the critically endangered Sumatran rhino, official estimates claimed over 100 animals remained in the wild. However, Esterman’s team uncovered evidence suggesting the true number was closer to 30. Their comprehensive reporting eventually led conservation organizations to adopt more realistic population figures—a crucial shift that enables more effective protection strategies. “Being able to have a more realistic figure to work with makes a big difference for conservation,” Esterman explains.

Since joining Mongabay in 2016, Esterman has tackled diverse environmental issues from scrutinizing questionable carbon credit land deals in Malaysia to exposing ritual use as an overlooked driver of ape trafficking in Africa. Her work exemplifies how “staying with the story” can break new ground and reshape how people understand complex environmental challenges.

Operating in Southeast Asia presents unique obstacles, including shrinking press freedoms and safety concerns that affect what stories can be told and how. Esterman emphasizes that working with local journalists requires careful risk assessment to ensure environmental reporting can continue safely and responsibly, highlighting the often dangerous reality of environmental journalism in the region.