Karla Mendes
Award-winning Brazilian Investigative Reporter at Mongabay. Fellow of the Pulitzer Center's Rainforest Investigations Network and OCJN. 2nd Vice President and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair at Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ)
- Reposted by Karla MendesRio de Janeiro state banned shark meat in 1,200 schools after a @mongabay.com investigation found 10 Brazilian states procured more than 5,400 tons of shark meat since 2004. Environmental and health concerns drove the ban. Impact by @bykarlamendes.bsky.social reporting. bit.ly/3OkgKDP
- he government of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro has banned shark meat for meals in most of the schools it manages, citing health and environmental concerns. My latest @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.org news.mongabay.com/2026/01/rio-...
- O governo do estado do Rio de Janeiro baniu a carne de tubarão na merenda escolar de 1.200 instituições da rede pública estadual. A medida foi adotada após pressão de conservacionistas, que alertaram sobre os riscos à saúde e ao meio ambiente. brasil.mongabay.com/2026/01/esta...
- Muito bom ver minha reportagem da @mongabay.com republicada pela @apublica.org
- 🐟 O RIO PAROU | No Lago Puruzinho, no Amazonas, o pescador Raimundo Nonato dos Santos vê o peixe desaparecer. Pirarucu, tambaqui e pirapitinga virou raridade após a usina de Santo Antônio. A pesca caiu, a renda sumiu e até a comida do dia a dia mudou. Leia mais: dlvr.it/TQS7Nr
- Reposted by Karla Mendes"That ‘Fish’ on the Menu? In Brazil’s Schools and Prisons, It’s Often Shark” by @philjaco.bsky.social, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social, and @kuangkeng.bsky.social, for @mongabay.com is one of two selections by Ocean Editor Jessica Aldred for the 2025 #PulitzerStaffPicks. 👉 bit.ly/YIStories25
- Reposted by Karla MendesThis week on the Mongabay Newscast @philjaco.bsky.social explains how he, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social and @pulitzercenter.org's Kuang Keng Kuek Ser uncovered the fact that state governments in Brazil have been serving shark meat to thousands of public institutions. Listen to full story here:
- Reposted by Karla MendesCongrats to Pulitzer Center Fellows @philjaco.bsky.social, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social, @nandawenzel.bsky.social, and Data Editor @kuangkeng.bsky.social!
- Got this Brazilian trofeu from the Rio Grande do Sul Press Association for our shark meat investigation - placed 2nd in the national reporting category with @bykarlamendes.bsky.social @nandawenzel.bsky.social @kuangkeng.bsky.social @mongabaylatam.bsky.social @pulitzercenter.org 🙏😤🙏
- Reposted by Karla Mendes🇦🇫 @zahranader.bsky.social — editora-chefe, @zantimes.bsky.social 🇷🇸 Mira Milosevic — editora executiva, @gfmd.info 🇫🇷 @laurentrichard.bsky.social — cineasta, fundadora @forbidden-stories.bsky.social 🇧🇷 @bykarlamendes.bsky.social — repórter investigativa, @mongabay.com #GIJC25
- Reposted by Karla Mendes🇦🇫 @zahranader.bsky.social — editor-in-chief, @zantimes.bsky.social 🇷🇸 Mira Milosevic — ED, @gfmd.info 🇫🇷 @laurentrichard.bsky.social — filmmaker, founder @forbidden-stories.bsky.social 🇧🇷 @bykarlamendes.bsky.social — investigative reporter, @mongabay.com
- Reposted by Karla MendesJournalists covering the EUDR, I urge you to listen to the webinar we just hosted on how to cover this topic with panelists from @earthsight.bsky.social and @rainforestalliance.bsky.social and @bykarlamendes.bsky.social:
- Reposted by Karla MendesWhat’s on the menu at thousands of Brazilian public institutions? Shark meat, and most people don’t even know it, report @philjaco.bsky.social, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social, and Kuang Keng Kuek Ser for @mongabay.com. Supported by @pulitzercenter.bsky.social. news.mongabay.com/custom-story...
- Reposted by Karla MendesBrazil is serving shark meat in thousands of schools, hospitals, prisons and other institutions, raising serious concerns. A report by #ORN Fellow @philjaco.bsky.social, #RIN Fellow @bykarlamendes.bsky.social, and Pulitzer Center's @kuangkeng.bsky.social for @mongabay.com. 👉 bit.ly/40EuQ6E
- Reposted by Karla MendesHear our @bykarlamendes.bsky.social discuss these findings that many #sharks are secretly on Brazilian menus, without public knowledge, here on US public radio:
- Reposted by Karla MendesIn Brazil’s schools & prisons, shark is often on the menu That's not great for public health An investigation by @philjaco.bsky.social @bykarlamendes.bsky.social & @kuangkeng.bsky.social for @mongabay.com reveals *thousands of tons* of mercury laden, possibly endangered #sharks & rays, are served:
- Extremamente emocionada por ser a 1ª brasileira a ganhar o prêmio John B Oakes por Excelência em Jornalismo Ambiental da Universidade de Columbia, EUA. Agradeço à @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social por todo apoio. E meu profundo agradecimento aos Guardiões da Floresta pela confiança!
- 🏆 Congratulations to Karla Mendes and @mongabay.com for winning the 2025 #OakesAward! Their reporting uncovers illegal cattle ranching and violence threatening Indigenous lands in the Amazon, exposing urgent environmental and human rights crises.
- I'm extremely emotional to be the 1st Brazilian to win the John B Oakes Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism @columbiajournalism.bsky.social! Thanks to @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social for the support & thanks to the Guardians of the Forest for the trust! @sejorg.bsky.social
- 🏆 Congratulations to Karla Mendes and @mongabay.com for winning the 2025 #OakesAward! Their reporting uncovers illegal cattle ranching and violence threatening Indigenous lands in the Amazon, exposing urgent environmental and human rights crises.
- Reposted by Karla MendesAs Brazil expands oil, #COP30 head urges rich nations to phase out fossil fuels first - @bykarlamendes.bsky.social @shannahl.bsky.social @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/short-articl...
- Reposted by Karla MendesOperação federal na Terra Indígena Arariboia (MA), motivada por investigações do Mongabay sobre pecuária ilegal na região, removeu cerca de 2 mil cabeças e aplicou R$ 1,1 milhão em multas ambientais.
- Spurred by a @mongabay.com investigation, a federal crackdown removed 2,000 illegal cattle from Brazil’s Arariboia Indigenous Territory. But unexpected protests has prompted the government to consider regulating Indigenous-owned cattle bit.ly/40dCEfq @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social
- Desencadeada por uma investigação da @mongabay.com, uma operação removeu 2 mil cabeças de gado ilegal da Terra Indígena Arariboia. Mas protestos de indígenas levaram o governo a considerar legalizar gado para subsistência @pulitzercenter.bsky.social bit.ly/4lkWq0S
- Reposted by Karla MendesThat’s a wrap on #20CongressoAbraji! SEJ board members @bykarlamendes.bsky.social, Michael Kodas, @bobbymagill.bsky.social & @mollypeterson.bsky.social brought global perspectives to São Paulo and connected with attendees, Brazilian SEJ members. Stay tuned for their takeaways and a webinar!
- Reposted by Karla MendesCommunities in the Amazon reported severe cuts of up to 80% of Brazil nut crops, with some territories collecting “not even a single nut.” @nandawenzel.bsky.social and @bykarlamendes.bsky.social for @mongabay.com news.mongabay.com/2025/07/icon...
- “For me, it’s all about collaboration and solidarity. That’s really what this is a gesture of,” says @jonathan-watts.bsky.social, who led a group of expert writers to finish Phillips’ book. @andrew.intercept.com.br My latest for @mongabay.com bit.ly/44lC8OG
- “Para mim, é sobre colaboração e solidariedade. É o que realmente significa esse gesto”, diz @jonathan-watts.bsky.social, que liderou um grupo de escritores experientes para finalizar o livro de Phillips. @andrew.intercept.com.br Minha matéria para @mongabay.com bit.ly/44msyLo
- "Emotionally, it has several meanings for me. Firstly, because it’s like realizing Dom’s death, because he was still writing, he was still alive,” Alessandra Sampaio, widow of Dom Phillips, says about the recent launch of Phillips’ posthumous book. 3 years ago, he and Bruno Pereira were killed.
- On June 5, 2022, British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were brutally killed in the Javari Valley region, in the Brazilian Amazon; Phillips was investigating illegal fishing in the region for his book. On the eve of the book release, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social writes.
- “Emocionalmente, tem vários sentidos para mim. É como eu realizar a morte do Dom, porque ali ele ainda escrevia, ele ainda estava vivo”, diz Alessandra Sampaio, viúva de Dom Phillips, sobre o lançamento do seu livro póstumo. Há 3 anos, ele e Bruno Pereira foram assassinados bit.ly/4dMdqdk
- My "Blood timber" series is as a finalist for Brazil's 5th Integrity Award, promoted by the "I Don't Accept Corruption" Institute. The series is the only environmental investigation among 10 finalists. @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/series/blood...
- Minha série “A madeira do sangue Guajajara” é finalista do 5º Prêmio INAC de Integridade, do Instituto Não Aceito Corrupção. A série é a única investigação ambiental entre os 10 finalistas @mongabay.com @pulitzercenter.bsky.social brasil.mongabay.com/series/a-mad...
- “Emotionally, it has several meanings for me. Firstly, because it’s like realizing Dom’s death, because he was still writing, he was still alive,” says Alessandra Sampaio, widow of British journalist Dom Phillips.
- On June 5, 2022, British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were brutally killed in the Javari Valley region, in the Brazilian Amazon; Phillips was investigating illegal fishing in the region for his book. On the eve of the book release, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social writes.
- I'm very thankful for this opportunity to speak with @makingpeacevisible.bsky.social about my work and the latest impact of a year-long investigation into illegal cattle in the Arariboia Indigenous Territory for @mongabay.com and the @pulitzercenter.bsky.social's Rainforest Investigations Network
- NEW EPISODE | Thanks to Award-winning Brazilian investigative journalist @bykarlamendes.bsky.social of @mongabay.com, indigenous Amazon forest defenders have a chance for justice, and illegal cattle are being removed from protected land. LISTEN: tinyurl.com/mw2fat68 @pulitzercenter.bsky.social
- Reposted by Karla MendesNice to hear @mongabay.com journalist @bykarlamendes.bsky.social on the @makingpeacevisible.bsky.social podcast They discuss the work of Brazilian Indigenous forest defenders & how her reporting helped them by spurring the gov't to remove illegal cattle from their lands, listen here:
- Reposted by Karla MendesThe Brazilian government launched an operation to removed thousands of illegal head of cattle from the Arariboia Indigenous Territory in the #Amazon Rainforest. The operation comes as a result of an investigation by RIN Fellow @bykarlamendes.bsky.social for @mongabay.bsky.social. bit.ly/3Ga27Ps
- What moves me the most is the capacity of my work make changes & fight injustices. “Your report is very similar to what we’re actually finding in the field,” I heard from authorites Ivestigative journalism matters! @mongabay.bsky.social @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social bit.ly/4juqs10
- O que me move como jornalista é a capacidade de promover mudanças e combater injustiças através do meu trabalho. “Teu relatório está muito parecido com o que a gente está encontrando em campo”, autoridades me disseram após a remoção de gado ilegal na TI Arariboia. bit.ly/4j7X6Wf
- Reposted by Karla MendesCritics say the Supreme Federal Court’s act is “unprecedented” in Brazil’s history by an institution that’s entitled to protect Indigenous and minorities’ rights — as dictated by the Constitution. @bykarlamendes.bsky.social for @mongabay.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/2025/03/unpr...
- Reposted by Karla Mendes🌎 A Society of Environmental Journalists (@sejorg.bsky.social) já tem data marcada para celebrar seus 35 anos! De 23 a 26 de abril, a conferência acontecerá no campus principal da Arizona State University (ASU).
- Reposted by Karla MendesThe @sejorg.bsky.social is offering fellowships for international journalists to attend its 34th Annual Conference in Arizona. 🚨 Deadline tomorrow: March 7. More: twp.ai/1TXKSE
- Reposted by Karla MendesATTN non-U.S. journalists: SEJ, in partnership with @uprootproject.bsky.social, is proud to offer travel stipends to help reduce financial barriers for international journalists in need to attend #SEJ2025. Deadline: This Friday, March 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Apply now: forms.gle/uDa5BW9Ybm8A...
- “Working on an acupuncture basis.” This has been the key strategy used by Rodrigo Agostinho, head of @ibamagov.bsky.social Brazil’s federal environmental agency to reduce deforestation in the Amazon and fight environmental crimes in the country. My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social bit.ly/3EejqxY
- “Atuar no regime de acupuntura”. Essa tem sido a estratégia-chave usada por Rodrigo Agostinho, à frente do @ibamagov.bsky.social há 2 anos, para reduzir o desmatamento na Amazônia e combater crimes ambientais no país. Minha matéria para @mongabay.bsky.social bit.ly/3WEEe8l
- Reposted by Karla MendesBrazil’s Indigenous affairs agency, Funai, recently released unprecedented images of a group of nine men from an uncontacted tribe in the Massaco Indigenous Territory, in the Amazon region. @bykarlamendes.bsky.social writes about uncontacted groups and rights groups' concerns:
- Reposted by Karla MendesBrazil: Calls for protection as new images emerge of uncontacted Amazonian tribe Unprecedented images of uncontacted Indigenous people have prompted a push for greater enforcement to protect them. @bykarlamendes.bsky.social in @mongabay.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/2025/01/call...
- I'm proud to share the news that my "Palm oil war" series won 2nd place in the prestigious ANPR Award with my “palm oil war” series! @mongabay.bsky.social @pulitzercenter.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social @abraji.bsky.social Muito feliz por ter ganhado o 2º lugar no Prêmio República!
- I’m happy to share the good news that the “Blood Timber” series is a finalist of Brazil’s Banrisul Journalism Award! The series is the result of a fellowship @pulitzercenter.bsky.social Rainforest Investigations Network @mongabay.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social www.facebook.com/ImprensaRS/p...
- Que alegria ser finalista do Prêmio Banrisul ARI com a série “A madeira do sangue Guajajara” na categoria nacional de mudanças climáticas. A série é resultado da bolsa @pulitzercenter.bsky.social Rainforest Investigations Network @mongabay.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social bit.ly/3ZPz7D5
- “They’re free and I’m still here. They might be planning to execute me too,” says Indigenous leader Laércio Guajajara, a survivor of an alleged ambush by illegal loggers that killed fellow forest guardian Paulo Guajajara 5 years ago in the Brazilian Amazon. @mongabay.bsky.social bit.ly/48LTK6S
- “Eles estão soltos e eu estou por aqui ainda. De repente, quem sabe, eles não planejam para me executar também.”, diz o líder indígena Laércio Guajajara, sobrevivente de uma emboscada de madeireiros ilegais que matou o colega guardião da floresta Paulo Paulino Guajajara em 2019. bit.ly/4hLRm47
- 5 years ago today, Paulo Paulino Guajajara was killed in the Arariboia Indigenous Territory. No one has yet gone on trial. @mongabay.bsky.social Há cinco anos, Paulo Paulino Guajajara foi assassinado na Terra Indígena Arariboia. Ninguém ainda foi julgado pelo crime. m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVxn...
- A record-high number of Indigenous people were elected in Brazil’s municipal elections, a key move that should increase the number of Indigenous people elected in the 2026 state and federal ballots, activists say. My latest for @mongabay.bsky.social news.mongabay.com/2024/10/braz...
- Um número recorde de indígenas foi eleito nas eleições municipais, uma medida fundamental para garantir os direitos dos povos indígenas e deve abrir caminho para eleger mais indígenas em 2026, afirmam ativistas. Minha matéria para a @mongabay.bsky.social brasil.mongabay.com/2024/10/reco...
- I am very humbled and immensely proud of being a finalist for the prestigious National Association of Prosecutors of the Republic (ANPR)’s Journalism Award with my series of stories about the “palm oil war” in the Amazon for @mongabay.bsky.social Pulitzer Center @sejorg.bsky.social
- Muito honrada e imensamente orgulhosa de ser finalista do prestigiado Prêmio República da Associação Nacional dos Procuradores da República - ANPR com minha série de reportagens sobre a “guerra do dendê” na Amazônia Link da série: brasil.mongabay.com/series/a-gue... www.anpr.org.br/comunicacao/...
- Reposted by Karla MendesSome of our team to follow 🙌 🦎 🐒 Our CEO: @rhettayersbutler.bsky.social Reporters: @john-cannon.bsky.social @nandawenzel.bsky.social @geraldrflynn.bsky.social @shokes.bsky.social @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social @bykarlamendes.bsky.social Editors: @alexdesanti.bsky.social & @jeremyhance.bsky.social
- Reposted by Karla MendesSome of our journalists to follow 🙌 @nandawenzel.bsky.social @alexdesanti.bsky.social @geraldrflynn.bsky.social @shokes.bsky.social @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social @rhettbuter.bsky.social @bykarlamendes.bsky.social + freelance team including: @jeremyhance.bsky.social @sarahderouin.bsky.social
- “You gave me hope". That was the phrase that struck me most during my debut as a speaker at Abraji conference about my investigation into correlation of environmental crimes & violence in Arariboia Territory @mongabay.bsky.social It also launched joint association with @sejorg.bsky.social
- Reposted by Karla MendesCommercial cattle ranching is banned on Indigenous territories in Brazil, but a yearlong investigation by our @bykarlamendes.bsky.social reveals large areas of the Arariboia Indigenous Territory have been used for ranching amid a record-high number of killings of the region’s Indigenous inhabitants:
- Reposted by Karla MendesNeed funding for a story related to the clean energy transition in the U.S.? Apply for an SEJ Fund for Environmental Journalism grant by January 8: www.sej.org/initiatives/...
- Reposted by Karla MendesTop agroecology stories my desk published in 2023: Sustainable ag is a core area of @mongabay.bsky.social coverage because how it’s yuze practiced now is generally detrimental to forests, biodiversity & climate 🌎 From agroforestry to development of climate-adapted seed stocks, 10 top features:
- Reposted by Karla MendesSo the World Economic Forum thinks we're fancy:
- Reposted by Karla MendesSEJ Spotlight: Meet SEJ’s first Brazilian & Latin American board member, @byKarlaMendes.bsky.social! She is an investigative reporter for Mongabay, Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow Pulitzer Center and SEJ’s DEI committee chair. Check out her award-winning work: www.sej.org/sejspotlight....
- Reposted by Karla MendesATT environmental journalists, @sejorg.bsky.social provides support for a diversity of attendees to travel to its annual conference, there’s a January 5 deadline to apply:
- Reposted by Karla MendesThis Giving Tuesday, help SEJ support those telling the world’s most important stories. Your donation will provide essential training, resources, grant and fellowship programs, and more for environmental journalists, educators and students. Give today: www.sej.org/donate.
- Reposted by Karla MendesOur award-winning team on Bluesky: @elizabethalberts.bsky.social @geraldrflynn.bsky.social @bykarlamendes.bsky.social @john-cannon.bsky.social @philjaco.bsky.social @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social @erikhoffner.bsky.social @alexdesanti.bsky.social @shokes.bsky.social @mongabaylatam.bsky.social
- Reposted by Karla Mendes[NEW PODCAST EPISODE] Our founder & CEO speaks with host @mikedigirolamo.bsky.social about continually improving deforestation trends in the Brazilian Amazon, plans for our new Africa bureau, and much more 🌎 Listen here or find the Mongabay Newscast via the podcast app of your choosing:
- Reposted by Karla MendesThis holiday season, help SEJ support the journalists telling the world’s most important stories — like Sarah Sax, an award-winning freelance journalist and video producer based in Brooklyn, NY. www.sej.org/donate-sej
- 1st report of my project as a Pulitzer Center's Rainforest Investigations Network fellow @mongabay.bsky.social sheds light on the cry for justice for Paulo Paulino Guajajara, murdered in 2019. Documentary filmmaker Max Baring & myself interviewed him 9 months before his death. @sejorg.bsky.social
- Justice may soon be on the horizon for the Guajajara people: Indigenous forest guardian Paulo Paulino Guajajara’s case will be the first killing of a defender that will go before a Brazilian federal jury, likely in the first half of 2024, @bykarlamendes.bsky.social reports:
- Reposted by Karla MendesOur @bykarlamendes.bsky.social speaks tomorrow alongside environmental journalists from NBC, NY Times, etc for @sejorg.bsky.social's "Journalists' Guide to Environment & Energy 2024" Special guest: David Byrne! More info & registration to join the discussion: www.eventbrite.com/e/environmen...
- Reposted by Karla MendesThe devastation caused by the Amazonian palm oil industry was at the heart of an award-winning investigation by @mongabay.bsky.social reporter @bykarlamendes.bsky.social. But first she had to face hostile sources, intransigent regulators and a robbery attempt. www.sej.org/publications...
- 4 years ago today, Paulo Guajajara was murdered in an ambush in the Arariboia Indigenous Territory. I interviewed him 9 months before. In August, I got back to Arariboia to talk with his family and Laercio Guajajara, who survived the ambush. @mongabay.bsky.social @sejorg.bsky.social bit.ly/3QtLIHo
- Reposted by Karla Mendes💀 Deadline tomorrow for #SEJ2024 Panel Proposals! myemail.constantcontact.com/-SEJ2024-Cal...
- Very proud to be a finalist of #PremioRoche with my investigation into water contamination by palm oil companies in the Amazon! Orgulhosa de ser finalista do #PremioRoche com minha investigação sobre contaminação da água por empresas de óleo de palma na Amazônia! @mongabay.bsky.social bit.ly/40jEjic
- Reposted by Karla MendesNoted again by NASA this week 🌎 👍💪 The space agency's Landsat program used our roundup of new satellite data on Amazon deforestation for a report of their own: landsat.visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=... Our report notes that deforestation is still declining, despite the current conditions:
- Reposted by Karla MendesWhat do you think should be on the agenda for SEJ2024 in Philly? If you're an SEJ or @uprootproject.bsky.social member, you're welcome to submit a proposal: conta.cc/3Lgmudx. Deadline: November 1.
- Reposted by Karla MendesIntrepid reporting by my @mongabay.bsky.social colleagues in Cambodia's northern rainforests, which sadly continue to be eaten away by criminal logging syndicates. Cambodia has long had one of the world's highest rates of deforestation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILy7...
