African environmental reporters tell critical stories the world often ignores

In Africa’s most climate-vulnerable regions, environmental journalists face a unique challenge: how to transform complex, slow-moving ecological changes into compelling stories that capture international attention. From the Congo Basin to the Sahel, reporters struggle to translate local environmental signals—often technical, politically sensitive, and fragmented across multiple jurisdictions—into journalism that resonates beyond national borders.

The problem isn’t a lack of newsworthy events. Biodiversity loss, climate stress, and ecosystem degradation create daily impacts across Central and East Africa. However, international media attention tends to spike around major summits or crises before quickly moving on to other stories. This leaves a critical gap in coverage of ongoing environmental challenges that have global implications.

What makes the difference is the dedicated work of journalists who remain committed to these regions long after the headlines fade. These reporters trace the intricate connections between land use changes, energy decisions, wildlife trafficking, and community adaptation strategies. Their stories reveal how forest governance policies may appear successful on paper but fail in implementation, or how conservation efforts succeed in one area while struggling in neighboring districts.

Veteran science journalist Aimable Twahirwa exemplifies this approach. After 25 years covering environmental issues across Central, East, and West Africa, Twahirwa joined Mongabay in 2024 to focus on regions often described in abstract terms but shaped by concrete local realities. His reporting examines wildlife trafficking networks, Indigenous forest governance roles, and renewable energy adoption—stories that illuminate how local environmental changes connect to global outcomes.