🌿A Healthy Rainforest Impacts Us All

Protecting the Amazon is Rooted in Supporting Its People

The Amazon Rainforest spans nine countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana), covers over 2.1 million square miles (about twice the size of India), and is estimated to contain about 123 billion tons of carbon above and below ground (NOAA). This is the world’s largest rainforest, and is home to more than 400 Indigenous nations and tribes, a staggering 10% of all known species on Earth, while being one of Earth’s most important water stores. And yet, deforestation continues at an alarming rate, with approximately 20% (roughly the size of the United Kingdom) lost in just 50 years (Sentient).

Every day, around 1.5 million trees are cut down in the Amazon Rainforest. (InfoAmazonia).

Since the 60s, deforestation, illegal logging, extractive industries, agriculture expansion, and corporate greed have eroded this precious ecosystem. And while the statistics are shocking, the impact is deeply personal. Because the truth is this: when the Amazon Rainforest suffers, we all suffer. And when we read that ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon brought in $720 million in 2017 alone (Mongabay), with Ayahuasca tourism accounting for another estimated $62+ million per year (ICEERS).

The Peruvian Amazon, where our first impact mission is rooted, is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. It is also one of the most economically vulnerable, despite its ecological wealth. Here, Indigenous communities steward millions of acres of rainforest. But many face serious barriers:

• Lack of legal support for land titles

• Neglect of infrastructure like clean water, safe roads, and homes

• No safety nets for spiritual leaders or traditional healers when they pass

• Constant pressure from extractive industries, illegal coca farming, and land grabs

At Earth Medicine Apparel Co., we affirm that protecting the Amazon starts with supporting its people directly. (Mongabay)

»🌱 Support the GoFundMe for Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family«

That’s why our first impact campaign centers on Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family, a small, Indigenous-led healing community and nature reserve in the Loreto region of Peru. After the sudden death of the great wisdom keeper, Maestro Jhonny Javá, his surviving wife, Uli, and his sons are continuing the work — preserving traditional medicine, stewarding jungle land, and keeping their sacred healing center open to the world. We held a video call with Uli and asked - How can we help you?

That’s where you — and we — come in.

Through our capsule collection (available online August 15) and our GoFundMe campaign, we're creating tangible support that helps this family restore their infrastructure, maintain their land, and continue offering their gifts.

The Amazon Rainforest doesn’t just exist in nature documentaries.
It’s not a metaphor or myth.
It’s a living, breathing ecosystem that regulates global climate, rainfall, and air quality — and it’s deeply intertwined with our past, present, and future.

And we’re honored to be one small thread in the global web working to protect it, with art, intention, and direct action.

Want to follow along?

In addition to our weekly EarthMed Threads^TM…we’re on Instagram too @earthmedicineapparelco 

We pledge to be transparent - how we’re raising money, how we’re creating networks of support, where we succeed, and where we come up short. We aim to demonstrate to every person who collects one of our original designs how they are now linked to a network of support we’ve created through art and shared values.

The website is targeted to launch on August 15th!

Our capsule collection features designs made in collaboration with Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family to honor the Earth Medicine, Kambô, and the life and legacy of one of Earth’s most precious wisdom keepers who transitioned to the Rainbow Bridge in January of 2022.

These original, limited edition designs are screenprinted domestically by artist-led print shops on ethically made apparel using sustainable materials, and we pledge an ongoing portion of profits from these designs to support our campaign partners. We took great care in our sourcing and finding the best partners to bring each unique design to life, and we’re so happy with how they turned out!

Donate directly to Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family

If you feel called to share some cash from your heart to support this incredible family during a time of grief and rebuilding, you can donate directly to our GoFundMe campaign. Have you ever been touched by the magic of Kambô, the mystery of the Amazon, the rich biodiversity of South America, or celebrated the fact that frogs are awesome? Please consider giving to our campaign, and please share with your friends and family!

Feeling the jungle love,

Founder

Coming Soon on EarthMed Threads

• Some thoughts on seeking sacred pause and inspiration in Portugal

• Website update

• Announcing August vending dates