Some staff members of Mongabay Africa & ALU School of Wildlife yesterday evening organized a workshop in Kigali Convention Center (KCC) to inform how Solutions Journalism drives the Business of Conservation in Africa.
The meeting was attended by the CEO of RDB, Francis Gatare, and by different guests from sectors of environment, agriculture, good governance, researchers, academia, media, civil society, etc.. The main idea was solutions journalism and potential investment opportunities in the African wildlife economy.
1. What is Mongabay? Mongabay was founded in 1999 by economist Rhett Ayers Butler of the United States of America, in California. It focuses on the interlinkages between nature and people and currently operates six bureaus in six different languages. With more than 100 full-time employees, the organization has over 1,000 contributors worldwide. In recent years, Mongabay has established itself as the foremost and most reputable media platform dedicated to environmental and conservation science, economics, politics, and sustainable development. In recent years, the organization has been honored with several prestigious awards for the excellence of its reporting, including the 2023 Biophilia Award.
2. Launch of Mongabay Africa: In response to urgent global planetary emergencies, such as climate change and biodiversity loss affecting Africa, Mongabay extended its operations to Africa in late 2023. With this launch, Mongabay embarked on a transformative journey, expanding its footprint in Africa. This expansion was not merely geographical but also a paradigm shift in our journalistic approach. We chose to champion solutions journalism, a potent tool to counter the often-skewed narrative of Africa perpetuated by Western Media. This approach enables us to spotlight the region’s resilience, innovation, and progress, challenging stereotypes and offering a more nuanced perspective.
3. What is the School of Wildlife? Established in 2016, the School of Wildlife Conservation is a faculty of the African Leadership University (ALU SOWC), dedicated to advancing wildlife conservation as a burgeoning sector in Africa. The school focuses on nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurial conservation leaders and conducting research into Africa’s wildlife economy. Through its forward-thinking programs in leadership development, education, and research, ALU SOWC provides a platform for young entrepreneurs to develop and refine innovative business models for the African wildlife economy. At a higher level, SOWC aims to influence industry decision-makers to embrace sustainable business practices and promote an entrepreneurial, business-oriented approach to African conservation efforts.
4. What do we mean by the Business of Conservation? The conservation sector has long been plagued by inefficiency and waste, leading to an extinction crisis fueled by human activity. The natural environment is suffering from unprecedented damage, necessitating the development of new models to manage Earth’s natural capital. The Business of Conservation involves establishing and upholding economic incentives for the sustainable use of wild resources while eliminating incentives that drive unsustainable practices. It aims to transform conservation into an opportunity for economic and social development, ensuring the sustained or increased growth of natural capital while addressing the needs of humanity.
5. Launch Objective(s)
a. Familiarize key audiences in Rwanda with Mongabay’s new strategic direction, impact and innovative approach to journalism, as well as the SOWC’s business of conservation approach.
b. Demonstrate how excellent journalism helps policymakers make informed decisions, foster public dialogue, and promote transparency and accountability.
c. Present the Wildlife Economy Investment Index (WEII) for Africa, a flagship of the SOWC, with the overarching aim of getting investors to seize opportunities in Africa’s wildlife economy.
d. Highlight the role of solutions journalism in transforming Africa’s often one-dimensional narrative as a war-torn, disease-ridden, poverty-stricken hellscape where all hope dies. (End)