In the often fractious landscape of environmental discourse, S. Gopikrishna Warrier is a steadying presence. As the editorial director of Mongabay-India, Warrier has spent the past seven years cultivating a newsroom that brings light, not heat, to India’s environmental challenges. His calm authority, born of nearly four decades in journalism and communications, has helped steer Mongabay’s Indian bureau from an ambitious idea into a trusted voice across the country’s media and policy spheres.

When Warrier joined Mongabay in 2017, he and Program Director Sandhya Sekar began to build a reporting platform that could bring biodiversity into mainstream public conversation, not as an afterthought to economic growth or social development, but as something fundamentally intertwined with both. Under Warrier’s editorial guidance, that aspiration became reality. Mongabay-India has since published thousands of deeply reported articles across English and Hindi, reaching readers from Kerala to Kashmir, and from coastal islands to Himalayan villages.

Warrier’s career began well before climate journalism became a defined beat. Inspired by pioneers like Darryl D’Monte during his university days, he formally trained in journalism after studying zoology and English literature. He is quick to note that environmental journalism, as a concept, was largely undefined when he started out. His early reporting was shaped by a desire to understand the natural world and its connections to society—a theme that remains central to his work today.

His editorial philosophy at Mongabay is shaped by a clear boundary: this is journalism, not advocacy.

“Our reporting may inspire activism by others,” he says, “but our focus remains on rigorous journalism.”

That clarity of purpose, coupled with an insistence on internal transparency and teamwork, has helped Mongabay-India earn its reputation for credibility.

And impact. Stories like the one from Himachal Pradesh—exposing misallocated forestry investments using geospatial analysis—have not only informed public debate but changed it. Others, such as a pre-election series on environmental politics, were ahead of the curve in pushing climate issues into the national conversation.

Building such a newsroom has required Warrier to draw on more than just editorial instincts. He and Program Director Sandhya Sekar built their team by hiring not the most decorated candidates, but those best suited for the role—and for collaboration.

“Teamwork is absolutely essential,” he says. “Talent alone is not enough.”

The ability to blend technical acumen, scientific literacy, and narrative clarity is part of what sets Mongabay-India apart. It is also what excites Warrier most about the years ahead. Looking forward, he hopes to experiment with short, on-camera video explainers—extending the approach he took in a recent podcast series tracing India’s environmental history from the 1991 economic reforms onward. These aren’t just formats; they are new ways to stitch together context, data, and storytelling for a wider audience.

Yet what motivates him remains constant: curiosity.

“I’m a perpetual student,” he says. That spirit animates his work and spills into his downtime, where he indulges in a lifelong passion for aviation—not from a cockpit, but through online videos and window-seat views of rivers and coastlines from above. “Proxy flying,” he calls it.

His is a leadership style that rarely seeks the spotlight but shapes the course nonetheless. In an age when environmental journalism is often caught in the crosshairs of polarization, Warrier offers a different model—one anchored in patience, precision, and the long view. The stories Mongabay-India publishes may be rooted in India’s landscapes, but their relevance spans the globe. As Warrier sees it, the problems may differ in detail, but their underlying causes are shared. So too, he believes, must be the response.

AN INTERVIEW WITH GOPI WARRIER

Rhett Butler for Mongabay: Please introduce yourself and your position at Mongabay.Gopi Warrier: My name is S. Gopikrishna Warrier. I’m the Editorial Director at Mongabay India.

Mongabay: And what does your day-to-day work look like at Mongabay?

Gopi Warrier: My day-to-day work primarily involves guiding the editorial direction at Mongabay India—deciding what stories to pursue and what not to. I work closely with our editors to track what’s in progress and also serve as a backup to the Program Director on programmatic issues, just as she backs me up on editorial matters. So, my key role is to ensure we produce impactful journalism while steering clear of trouble and upholding editorial quality.

Mongabay: What did you do before you joined Mongabay?

Gopi Warrier: I’ve been working in this space for over 37 years. Before Mongabay, I took on various roles related to environmental journalism—from working with media houses to handling communications and media relations at national-level NGOs and international agricultural research organizations. I’ve also trained journalists on climate change reporting.

The roles have varied, but the overarching theme has always been the environment and communication.

Mongabay: How did you first get into journalism?

Gopi Warrier: I think I’m part of the second generation of environmental journalists in India. While I was at university, I became fascinated by the work of pioneers like Darryl D’Monte and others. That inspired me to pursue journalism, specifically environmental journalism.

The idea took shape during my university years, though breaking into the field wasn’t easy—there weren’t many environmental journalists back then, so opportunities were limited.

Mongabay: Did you get a degree in journalism?

Gopi Warrier: Yes, I did my bachelor’s in zoology, then a master’s in English literature and language. Alongside that, I completed a postgraduate diploma in journalism.

Environmental journalism as a formal field didn’t exist back in the 1980s, but I did receive formal training in journalism.

Mongabay: What went through your mind when you applied for the Mongabay India position, especially considering Mongabay didn’t yet have a presence in India?

Gopi Warrier: I used to read Mongabay Global on and off and was familiar with its reporting. When the job opening came up, a few people brought it to my attention. I applied, though I wasn’t sure I’d be selected. But it happened—I was fortunate.

When Mongabay India launched, I became its first editor and helped shape the editorial direction. I feel lucky to have been at the right place at the right time.

Mongabay: What do you like to do in your free time?

Gopi Warrier: I enjoy watching aviation videos. That’s something I really love. If I could have earned a pilot’s license just by watching those videos, I’d have had one long ago! It’s a real passion of mine. I also enjoy traveling and listening to music now and then.

Mongabay: Why do you like watching aviation videos?

Gopi Warrier: It’s a fascination I’ve had since school. I was always intrigued by aircrafts. At one point, I even considered making it a career. In hindsight, I think I’m better suited for what I’m doing now—but I still enjoy what I call “proxy flying” through those videos.

Mongabay: Is it the plane technology that interests you, or the view from above?

Gopi Warrier: It’s a combination of both.

The technology is fascinating, and there’s something special about being above the ground. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a flight without choosing a window seat. I love looking out and seeing rivers, mountains, and coastlines from above. It’s endlessly interesting to me—even if my travel companions sometimes get bored of my running commentary!

Mongabay: What do you most enjoy about your work at Mongabay?

Gopi Warrier: What I really enjoy at Mongabay is the ability to tell environmental stories that connect different aspects—environment, society, politics, the economy. I also love working with our team—both the motivated, talented group at Mongabay India and our colleagues globally. That sense of shared purpose is incredibly rewarding.

Mongabay: Why do you care about the issues Mongabay covers?

Gopi Warrier: This has been a long-standing concern for me. I believe we’ve stopped caring for the environment, and if that continues, life as we know it could become unsustainable. This is especially critical in a country like India, where the impacts of climate change are already being felt—and will only intensify. That’s why I think our work is so important.

Mongabay: What are you most proud of when it comes to your work?

Gopi Warrier: I’m proud to have helped build Mongabay India editorially. Over the past seven years, our stories have made a real impact. People now recognize Mongabay India as a credible brand and publication.

I’m also proud of helping to hire some of the best colleagues—who’ve gone on to do great work and win awards.

Mongabay: Is there a particular story or project you’d point to as a good example of impact?

Gopi Warrier: There are many impactful stories, but one that stands out is a mapping-based story from Himachal Pradesh. It showed that investments in forestry had been misplaced—many areas chosen weren’t actually suitable for forestry. That story made a difference.

I’m also proud of the trends we’ve helped start. For instance, Mongabay India was among the first to spotlight “wetland champions”—local people conserving wetlands. We were early to cover just transitions and environmental economics and their impact on society.

Another example: ahead of India’s 2019 national elections, we ran a series exploring the link between the environment and politics. That led other publications to pick up the theme of “environmental elections.” I’m happy we’ve helped shape the conversation.

Mongabay: What do you look for when building a team—when hiring people?

Gopi Warrier: When Sandhya and I began the hiring process, the first principle we agreed on was finding the best fit for each position. That doesn’t always mean the person with the highest qualifications—it means the person best suited for the specific role.

Another key factor we consider is whether the person can work well in a team. Someone might be very talented, but if they can’t collaborate effectively, they won’t thrive in Mongabay India’s culture. Teamwork is absolutely essential for us.

Mongabay: What are some of the lessons you’ve learned since starting Mongabay India?

Gopi Warrier: The lessons have been many—we’re learning all the time. But a few stand out.

First, internal communication is critical. We emphasize clear and open communication across the team.

Second, we’ve always anchored our journalism in two guiding principles. One: we do journalism—not activism or advocacy. Our reporting may inspire activism by others, but our focus remains on rigorous journalism.

Two: we aim to bring more light than heat. Environmental journalism can easily turn combative or polarized. We try to offer clarity and understanding, not conflict.

Also, as someone who has worked in environmental journalism for nearly four decades, I believe Mongabay plays a vital role in bridging divides—across countries, across continents—and telling the shared story of environmental challenges, opportunities, and threats.

We may face different issues in different places, but many of the root problems are common. With the experience Mongabay has built over the years, I believe we can work together—even more effectively—to respond to these challenges as a global community.

Mongabay: Is there any advice you would give to someone who wants to follow a similar path?

Gopi Warrier: Yes. Today, there are many more opportunities than when I started—more training programs, more platforms—but my advice is this: only pursue environmental journalism if you’re 100% serious. This field demands commitment.

Second, there are no shortcuts. Hard work is essential—whether it’s in field reporting, research, or writing. That’s the only way to grow, survive, and make a real contribution.

Mongabay: What is something you’re excited about?

Gopi Warrier: As for what I’m excited about in 2025, I’m hoping to produce short, face-to-camera video stories—something I’ve been discussing with the team. I want to continue the thread I started with my podcast series, building on themes of environmental history and connecting them to present-day developments and news. That’s something I’m genuinely excited about.

Last year, I was thrilled to produce a podcast series that explored Indian environmental history starting from the 1991 economic reforms. It allowed me to combine storytelling, analysis, and context—something I hope to build upon further this year.

Mongabay: And my last question: what motivates you?

Gopi Warrier: What motivates me is a constant desire to learn—the feeling that I’m a perpetual student. I’m driven by the excitement of discovering something new every day. Whether it’s from my travels, my colleagues—especially the younger ones—or the people I meet in the field, I’m always learning. That’s what keeps me going.