In an era where the stakes for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development are rising across the African continent, David Akana is advancing a model of environmental journalism rooted in rigor, inclusion, and long-term impact. As Director of Programs at Mongabay Africa, Akana oversees everything from editorial strategy and partnerships to resource mobilization and newsroom operations. But his role is more than administrative; it’s deeply personal, shaped by a career that has spanned sports reporting, international development communications, and frontline environmental storytelling. Akana’s journey into environmental journalism began over two decades ago in Cameroon. A former sports journalist with a deep love for football, he shifted tracks in 2002 when he joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Central Africa. At the time, the move was driven by pragmatic considerations—financial stability and a chance to take on editorial leadership—but it marked a turning point. Grappling with topics like biodiversity loss and climate change wasn’t easy, but the complexity of the issues ultimately became part of the draw. “Once I was out in the field,” he says, “I realized how high the stakes truly were.” In June 2025, Mongabay Africa carried out its first reporting trip to Lobéké National Park, deep in the heart of the Congo Basin. In this photo, David Akana is seen en route to the park. Photo: David Akana That sense of purpose has only grown. For Akana, journalism is not just about reporting facts—it’s about helping people make sense of the systems that shape…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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