Since launching in 2016, Mongabay Latam has grown into a vital source for environmental news in Spanish-speaking Latin America, culminating in the recent Puma Fest event that brought together hundreds of reporters, Indigenous journalists, scientists, and environmental experts.
- Mongabay Latam launched in 2016 to serve Spanish-speaking Latin America.
- Puma Fest gathered 400 attendees for talks, workshops, and networking.
- The newsroom supports investigative skills and cross-border collaborations.
What happened
Mongabay Latam recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting Puma Fest in Bogotá, an event that drew approximately 400 in-person participants and 700 registrants overall. This vibrant gathering was held in partnership with Fundación Gabo and coincided with the 14th Gabo Festival, bringing together journalists, editors, Indigenous communicators, students, and scientists.
The festival featured ten talks, six workshops, and multiple networking opportunities designed to meet the practical needs of environmental reporting. Attendees engaged enthusiastically, with session rooms filled to capacity and lively discussions extending beyond formal events. Complementing Puma Fest, Mongabay Latam also presented a powerful theater production highlighting Indigenous perspectives on the drug economy's impact on the Amazon, combining journalism with performance art.
Why it feels good
The strong turnout and eager participation at Puma Fest reflect the deep trust and respect Mongabay Latam has earned throughout a decade of regionally led environmental journalism. The team’s commitment to working with local journalists, developing investigative expertise, and sharing information widely has nurtured a collaborative community across Latin America.
Supporting initiatives like the Puma Network, formed to encourage reporter cooperation, and Indigenous journalist training programs, Mongabay Latam fosters skill building and cross-border teamwork. This approach not only raises the quality of environmental reporting but also empowers diverse voices to tell their own stories about the region’s pressing ecological challenges.
What to enjoy or watch next
Looking ahead, Mongabay Latam plans to hold Puma Fest as a biennial event, allowing new investigations, collaborations, and reporting techniques to mature between gatherings. This promises regular opportunities for the environmental journalism community in Latin America to connect, learn, and inspire each other.
Meanwhile, the powerful multimedia work stemming from Mongabay Latam’s investigations—such as the dramatized presentation on clandestine airstrips in the Peruvian Amazon—offers audiences engaging ways to understand complex environmental and social issues. Keep an eye on Mongabay Latam’s platforms for upcoming reports, documentaries, and collaborations that continue to shed light on Latin America’s natural world and the people working to protect it.