About us
Wayusada seeks to assess the ecological legacies of the tropical rainforest of Upper Amazonia by exploring the nexus of nature and culture in the region. By highlighting narratives of indigenous groups, we aim to correct the misconception that the Amazon is a pristine wilderness and educate visitors on the people, biocultural history, and ecological legacy of the rainforest. Through our efforts, we hope to foster a diverse, hybrid perspective of the Amazon that informs, engages, and connects visitors to the ecosystems and communities of Upper Amazonia. 

A woman receives body paint on her throat and chest

The name “Wayusada” denotes a Kichwa Amazonian ceremony of transmitting ancient knowledge passed down through generations. Participants drink tea made from sacred wayusa leaves from the holly tree, in the morning, sharing dreams from the night before. We opted for the name Wayusada because of this cultural significance, as the name illustrates the way indigenous people interact with and shape their environment.

What comes to mind when you think of the Amazon Rainforest? While you may envision a pristine, untouched wilderness teeming with exotic plants and animals unaffected by human interference, this perception is biased and stems from a Western, colonial viewpoint that ignores centuries of human cultivation. In reality, the Amazon Rainforest has been intentionally shaped by indigenous people whose stories and cultural impact have been erased from history.

Wayusada is helping restore voice to indigenous communities by educating individuals on the “ecological legacy” of Upper Amazonia, a new field of research emphasizing the fusion of nature and culture to promote understanding that Upper Amazonia is an anthrome of past, present, and future people.

Ethnotourism allows tourists to learn more about ethnic and indigenous cultures through interactions with local people. Ecotourism is travel that explores nature with a focus on conservation efforts and responsible consumption. Wayusada helps connect tourists with these concepts in the Amazon to build a more purposeful understanding of the rainforest and its people.

The Napo Cultural and Wildlife Centers will promote Wayusada’s mission by featuring our website and social media channels in their community center, encouraging visitors to learn more about the intersection of nature and culture of the Amazon Rainforest.

Wayusada is part of a three-year National Science Foundation research project assessing the effects of human activity on the composition of tropical forests. Given the shifting perspective of human impact on Upper Amazonia from “all areas influenced or none” to considering spatial and temporal predictions of anthropogenic activity, the project explores human influence in the Amazon Rainforest through a transdisciplinary approach that integrates spatial and temporal assessments of Amazonian historical geography, indigenous cultures, and biodiversity to investigate human occupational history and its potential ecological legacies. International collaborations between professionals at The University of Georgia, Florida Institute of Technology, The University of San Francisco de Quito, and The University of Wageningen provide transdisciplinary insight, blending traditional scientific research with a multimedia outreach that emphasizes a hybrid understanding of Amazonian cultural development, ecosystem services, and tourism geography.

  • Mark B. Bush — Paleoecologist, Florida Institute of Technology.
  • Crystal McMichae — Paleobotanist,  University of Wageningen.
  • Gonzalo Rivas — Botanist, Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
  • Andy Kavoori — Environmental journalist, University of Georgia.
  • Fausto Sarmiento — Landscape ecologist, University of Georgia.
  • John Weatherford — New media expert, University of Georgia.
  • Renato Chávez — Ecotourism engineer, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo.

Contact us!