SAVE YAGÉ
Preserving Yagé means preserving the territory, biodiversity, and ancestral memory
Thousands of Yagé ceremonies take place around the world each year. Yet most people are unaware of a worrying reality: The vine is disappearing.
The global growth in demand for Yagé / Banisteriopsis caapi is placing unprecedented pressure on the plant’s natural populations in the Amazon. And today, there are almost no organized regeneration systems capable of offsetting the rate of extraction.
If this trend continues, within a decade many traditional varieties of Banisteriopsis caapi could become rare.
Why is this happening?
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The vine takes time
A Yagé vine takes between 5 and 10 years to grow before it can be used properly. Yet in many regions, harvesting happens much faster than natural regeneration.
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Global consumption is growing exponentially
The number of retreats, ceremonies, centers, facilitators, and countries working with Yagé increases every year. But almost no one talks about reforestation, genetic preservation, or sustainability.
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More is being harvested than planted
In many cases, vines are cut directly from wild areas with no real process of land recovery. The pressure is no longer local — it is global.
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A single ceremony can consume years of the plant’s life
One retreat may require more than 15 kg of vine. That represents years of growth of an Amazonian plant for just a few days of experience. The question is no longer only spiritual or cultural. It is also ecological and ethical.
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The problem is still invisible
More than 90% of people who take part in ceremonies do not know that the vine is at real risk of gradually disappearing. Yagé is not an infinite resource. And if we do not start serious regeneration and preservation processes today, the future of this tradition could be deeply affected.
Plant the Vine
A regeneration and preservation initiative in Putumayo, Colombia
For more than two years, every group that participates in our programs in Colombia has actively contributed to planting and regenerating medicinal plants in Putumayo.
Part of Aluna Retreats’ territory was conceived from the very beginning as a space for ecological restoration and the preservation of species linked to Amazonian ancestral knowledge.
In 2026, Nina Mayer — a participant in our retreats and a collaborator in this vision — launched the “Plant the Vine” initiative, aiming to expand these efforts and invite more people to actively participate in preserving Yagé / Banisteriopsis caapi.
Aluna Retreats has supported and accompanied this initiative from its earliest stages.
The official launch of the project is planned for October 10–11, 2026 in Putumayo, Colombia, as a gathering dedicated to ecological regeneration, cultural preservation, and the continuity of ancestral knowledge.
We support local initiatives
At Aluna Retreats, we believe that the regeneration of Yagé must be led by the communities that have cared for these traditions for centuries. Therefore, we not only back projects like “Plant the Vine”, but we are also open to collaborating with any local initiative that arises from the territory (Putumayo and other regions). If you have a reforestation, genetic preservation, or education project related to Yagé, you can count on our support. Write to us⤵
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