Rhett Ayers Butler

Butler studied Management Science and Economics University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1999 Butler founded Mongabayorg Corporation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in Menlo Park, California that raises awareness about social and environmental issues relating to forests and other ecosystems. Mongabay.org was established in 2012 as the non-profit arm of Mongabay and its first project with Mongabay-Indonesia, an Indonesian-language environmental news service. Butler has served as CEO since inception. == Reporting focus ==

Butler's reporting has focused on environmental issues in the tropics, especially topics related to forests, like biodiversity, conservation, and deforestation. He's done extensive reporting in Indonesia, Malaysia, Borneo, the Amazon rainforest, and Madagascar. In 2011 Butler published Rainforests, a book geared toward kids. == Research ==

Butler has co-authored more than 20 academic papers in publications ranging from Science to Trends in Ecology & Evolution. These papers have usually focused on trends in deforestation and tropical forest conservation, public interest in conservation, conservation practice, palm oil, and conservation technology. == Philip Jacobson arrest ==

Butler played a prominent role in the effort to free American journalist Philip Jacobson after his detention on 17 December 2019 on an alleged visa violation. Jacobson was released without charge on 31 January 2020. == Awards ==

• Parker-Gentry Award from the Field Museum of Natural History • SEAL Environmental Journalism Award, 2021 == References ==