The Call of Amazonia: Lessons in Regeneration from the Lungs and Heart of the Earth

After an inspiring four-month journey through Central and South America from March to June 2024, I’ve been reflecting on how my travels ignited a curiosity about the manifestation of the Modes of Thought?of Regeneration in various cultures and contexts. As our team at Regenerative Rising continues to develop an online curriculum focused on Regenerative Modes of Thought, I have been eager to explore how they are expressed around the world. From exploring a beautiful regenerative farm in Mexico called Vía Orgánica (you can read that blog post here) to discovering a small Andean village’s potato stand with at least 30 ancient potato varieties, my understanding of regeneration has expanded significantly. However, one destination I had long dreamed of visiting stood out as a crucial nexus for both regenerative and degenerative forces — the Amazon Rainforest. This iconic ecosystem represents a pivotal Nodal point in the regenerative movement, while simultaneously facing the relentless pressures of degeneration. Nodal represents a point in a system where very small interventions may have large effects in order to make a critical change in the function of a system. In this context, the Amazon itself is nodal in the larger system of the Earth — and healing this key?system will create massive ripples of regeneration for the entirety of our planet.

What I found in the Amazon was deeply inspiring: a vibrant tapestry of life intricately woven together, supported by Indigenous cultures and allies who live in profound connection with the land. Their practices and philosophies embody many of the Regenerative Modes of Thought I had been pondering, demonstrating a harmonious existence that deeply respects and nurtures the land. However, this awe-inspiring experience was tempered by a sobering reality. The Amazon is also under siege from degenerative and extractive industries — mining, oil extraction, and illegal activities — that threaten to unravel this delicate and vital web of life. Learning about the devastating impact of these industries was heartbreaking. The stark contrast between the life-affirming practices of the Amazon’s guardians and the destructive forces at play highlights the critical importance of supporting regeneration while combating degradation, and calls for the urgent need for a collective shift in our consciousness.

My journey to the Amazon began in Iquitos, the largest city in the world only accessible by boat or plane. Our group, with whom I would spend nine days immersed in the jungle, took a narrow motorized boat through the expansive Amazon River. The river was so vast it felt more like a huge lake or small sea, with its countless tributaries resembling a complex network of highways branching into ever-smaller roads.

As we navigated deeper into the rainforest, I was enveloped by the dense foliage, with vines hanging low and trees stretching towards the sky. The air was thick with the rich, earthy aroma of wet soil and the symphony of bird calls. The Amazon Rainforest is a crucial component of our global biosphere, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" by climate scientists. Yet, it is equally deserving of the title "heart" — not just ecologically, but also as a mythic anchor for humanity. This vast forest acts as a massive biotic pump, cycling more than 20% of the world's fresh water through its intricate hydrological system.

This vast expanse of tropical rainforest stores approximately 150 billion metric tons of carbon, a crucial factor in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a key tenant of natural carbon sequestration solutions. The Amazon is home to almost 400 billion individual trees representing around 16,000 species, making it one of the most diverse and complex ecosystems on the planet. Additionally, the rainforest serves as a habitat for about 10% of the world’s known species, including countless plants, animals, and insects.

I had the opportunity to witness some of this rich diversity throughout my travels, and on one very memorable day, up close and personal, when I visited La Isla de Los Manos — a monkey sanctuary. As the tour guide showed us around, monkeys swung from our arms and licked the sweat off our faces like little kisses. I was struck by how different each monkey’s personality was — the guides knew each by name and were able to describe their distinct traits. Some were playful and outgoing, some shy, some aggressive, and some gentle. This experience reminded me of the Regenerative Mode of Thought: Essence. There is a distinctiveness inherent in all living things, be they human, animal, or even mineral. This essence (sometimes referred to as spirit), is something we all sense deeply. It represents the core and fundamental distinctiveness of each being, transcending mere attributes or traits. It is nuanced and mysterious, yet essential for interacting with the world in a way that respects and acknowledges all beings as they truly are — individual, sentient beings just like us, each with their unique essence to offer. So precious, so worth protecting.

Another deeply impactful experience was meeting and engaging with members of several local Amazonian tribes. Their lifestyle, characterized by a deep respect for the spirits of the natural world and the vital presence of both flora and fauna in their daily lives, reflects the Regenerative Mode of Thought: Heterarchy. Their lives are intricately connected with every animal, plant, human, and stone in the forest, creating a collective strength and depth that reveals itself through a rich community life and mutual support.

I was deeply moved by their generosity — embodying the Regenerative Mode of Thought: Reciprocity. The most effective way systems organize for beneficial shared outcomes is to make sure that every player works for all the other players, and thus themselves, as much as possible. They welcomed us with open arms, inviting us to join in their songs and dances with a genuine unabashed joy and expression that is rare in our individualistic and subdued culture. Their way of life reflects a deep sense of purpose, where every action, community member, plant, and animal has a special role. Nothing is wasted, and their inclusivity extends not only to their own community but also to outsiders like us and the surrounding animals, trees, and other beings of the forest.

Witnessing the deep spiritual connection that Indigenous cultures have with the natural world was profoundly moving. I met shamans and healers who have lived on a single fish and plantain a day for months, or even upwards of a year, isolated in the jungle, "dieting" with plants to commune with them and learn from their spirits. For them, nature is not just a resource but a realm of sentient beings, each with its own purpose and lessons, from which the human race has a lot to learn. This experience reshaped my understanding of how we might engage with the natural world, highlighting the Regenerative Mode of Thought: Hierarchy. Just as every element in nature, from the smallest particles to the largest ecosystems, operates within a larger context, the Amazon’s interconnected communities and environments show us the importance of respecting and preserving our relationships with all human and non-human beings with deep reverence and reciprocity.

"If we lose the Amazon, we lose the fight against climate change. Indigenous peoples know, and have been saying for quite some time, that everything in this life is interconnected. When you destroy Mother Earth in one place, every part of the world feels this destruction." — Sonia Guajajara, the first ever Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Brazil

The mindset of seeing how we are all intrinsically connected stands in stark contrast to the extreme environmental degradation caused by extractive and illegal industries in the Amazon. The Indigenous peoples' harmonious existence and reliance on the natural world emphasizes the urgent need for protecting the rainforest and the roughly 385 Indigenous groups from extractive industries. The 11th Pan-Amazonian Social Forum (FOSPA) highlighted this conflict, as Indigenous peoples and social movements gathered to demand that the Amazon be designated a "No-Go Zone" for mining, calling attention to the detrimental impact of international actors on their sacred land.

The Belo Sun project, proposed by a Canadian mining company, aims to be the largest open-pit mine in Latin America near the Xingu River in Brazil. This project has raised significant concerns about environmental damage and disruption to local communities. Belo Sun’s legal actions against community leaders and environmental advocates — accusing them of land invasion and misinformation — are seen as attempts to intimidate and suppress opposition. This legal conflict, involving 40 individuals from social and environmental organizations, has drawn international criticism and underscores the need for corporate accountability.

Oil exploitation in the Amazon has long driven environmental and social conflict. Despite global warnings, fossil fuel investments have continued, with nearly $6.9 trillion invested since the Paris Agreement, including $705 billion in 2023 alone. And, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, oil contamination from Texaco (now Chevron) and Petroecuador has caused severe health and environmental problems. Toxic waste from Texaco’s operations, which ended in 1990, still contaminates water and agricultural lands — leading to high cancer rates and other health issues. Many sites remain untreated despite legal obligations to remediate them, worsening the crisis.

Meanwhile, Indigenous rights in Brazil are under threat despite recent legal victories. The Brazilian Supreme Court’s rejection of the Marco Temporal thesis, which restricted Indigenous land rights to 1988, faces new challenges from factions pushing for amendments that could undermine land protections and worsen environmental degradation. Recent delays in voting on these amendments, due to Indigenous mobilization, reflect ongoing tensions. Additionally, a controversial "reconciliation" process led by Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes has been criticized for sidelining Indigenous voices in favor of economic interests.

Crime in the Amazon has also surged, intertwined with Indigenous exploitation and environmental destruction. The region has become a hub for criminal activities across Latin America with illegal mining and cocaine production severely impacting the environment. In 2020, over 4,500 illegal mining hotspots were identified, devastating biodiversity and ecosystems. Indigenous communities face encroachments, pollution, and violence from criminal groups. In the Peruvian Amazon, sexual violence against Indigenous children has been extensively documented, with systemic impunity and institutional racism exacerbating the crisis. Indigenous leaders are fighting for justice, but systemic issues persist — leaving communities vulnerable to escalating violence from drug gangs.

Support for Indigenous peoples and land protectors is crucial, whether through sharing their way of life or fighting for conservation. Recent successes, such as the Ecuadorian referendum blocking oil drilling in Yasuni National Park and Brazil’s commitment to halt deforestation under President Lula’s "Arcs of Restoration" policy, demonstrate the impact of collective action and provide a sense of hope.

This immersion into the heart and lungs of our Earth stirred something deep within me — a profound sense of connection and responsibility to play my part in helping protect this rich and enchanting land.?Reflecting on my journey, it becomes evident that this beautiful rainforest teeters on the edge of transformation — caught between the forces of regeneration and degeneration. The stark contrast between the life-giving spirit of the Amazon and her peoples and the relentless assault of extractive industries and illegal exploitation requires urgent action. As we forge ahead with our mission at Regenerative Rising , the lessons from the Amazon echo a call for global solidarity and a fundamental shift in consciousness to tip the scales towards the more beautiful world we know is possible. A world that many of the peoples of the Amazon embody each day. So let us allow the wisdom of Mother Amazonia to weave her guidance into lives, striving to ensure that her lungs maintain strength, and the verdant heart of our world beats strong and true for generations to come.