Ayahuasca Forum draws indigenous leaders and researchers to Spain
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Approximately 1,800 people attended the three-day World Ayahuasca Forum in Girona, Spain.
Indigenous people, researchers, doctors, and experts from around the world gathered to discuss ayahuasca, a traditional psychoactive beverage originating in the Amazon region. The Instituto Yorenka Tasorentsi of Brazil and the Barcelona-based Instituto de Etnobotánica Intercultural (Iceers) organised the event to foster collaboration between indigenous communities and Western science. Participants addressed issues such as protecting traditional knowledge, conserving natural resources, and regulating ayahuasca ceremonies.
The forum responded to decades of advocacy by indigenous communities who have expressed concern about the uncontrolled commercialisation of ayahuasca. The meeting analysed the impacts of ayahuasca’s growing popularity outside of its original Amazonian territories, including pressure on plants used in its preparation and increased tourism to those areas. Organisers hope the forum will establish a permanent coordinating structure between indigenous peoples and supporting organisations, with plans to form a Council of Indigenous Spiritual Leaders (CLEI) by 2027.
