Shamans Fear for the Extinction of Ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon

In the lush expanses of the Peruvian Amazon, a spiritual crisis looms. The ayahuasca plant, central to the rituals of the Shipibo-Conibo shamans, faces serious threats. Indigenous leaders have coined the term “spiritual extractivism” to describe this alarming trend, warning of its severe impacts on the forest and the rich traditional ecological knowledge nurtured here over centuries.

A critical meeting of Shipibo-Conibo shamans was convened in the Ucayali region. The meeting, organized by Asomashk, the Association of Ancestral Shamanic Doctors, focused on the future of spiritual tourism, the preservation of traditional wisdom, and the protection of the forest and Indigenous territories. The air was filled with the scent of mapacho, a medicinal tobacco used in ayahuasca ceremonies, blending with the aroma of the morning’s breakfast -- a hearty chicken broth served with chapo, a traditional jungle beverage made from bananas.

The rampant extraction of and trade in the woody vine used to prepare ayahuasca were the main points of contention. Shaman Walter Ramiro Lopez, president of Asomashk, voiced his concern, “People use it, but they don’t plant it.” The situation is exacerbated by the interest of foreign pharmaceutical companies in converting ayahuasca into medicine. Lopez warns, “There is a ‘spiritual extractivism’ through ayahuasca. If we don’t take care of it, we will simply allow others to exploit and take advantage of it.”

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This story was produced with support from the Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in Carta Capital on July 12, 2024. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Banner image: Ayahuasca ritual in Pucallpa, Peru / Credit: Carlos Minuano.