Jambiyura: Conserving ethnobotanical knowledge in the Ecuadorian Amazon
What is Jambiyura?
Jambi Yura (which means “medicinal plant” in Quichua) is our mission to compile and document information on the traditional uses of plants by Quichua in the North Ecuadorian Amazon. The final product will be a book, available in Quichua, Spanish, and English, containing the traditional names, preparation, and application of plants. The book will also include personal narratives describing how knowledge has been discovered, transmitted, and used by Quichua people. Our Quichua collaborators will be co-authors of the book.
Why conserve indigenous knowledge?
Native communities of the Amazon Rainforest, including Amazonian Quichua, rely on the forest as their supermarket and pharmacy. A diversity of plants are used for injuries, nutrition, daily rituals, and much more. However, with each successive generation, fewer individuals are using the Quechua language, and valuable ethnobotanical knowledge is being lost. Without this deep-rooted connection to the land, the value of conservation also dissolves — Amazonian Quichua’s retain the rights to over 1,115,000 hectares of rainforest in Ecuador.
How can I support?
Donate - your donations directly support collaborative workshops and research with Quichua families involved in the book development.
"Hay mucha gente que no pone interés y que ignora. No saben lo que hay y lo que tienen las plantas. Si ese libro llega a las comunidades y capaz a otra gente que le interesa las plantas. Ese proyecto es bastante interesante para la futura generación."
— Jose Macanilla
