The Spirit of the Rainforest: How indigenous wisdom and scientific curiosity reconnects us to the natural world

Before you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know… Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet. Dr Rosa is no stranger to the Amazon. Growing up with the rainforest as her back garden, she learnt the lessons of the rainforest from her grandmother, a native healer in natural medicine. She went on to pursue a classical education in science, gaining a PhD in the US, but has always been pulled back to the heart of the Amazon. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight. In this debut, you’ll learn about Dr Rosa’s journeys in the Amazon: her treacherous encounters with a boiling river, her conservation work with stingless bees, her experience of taking ayahuasca as a natural psychedelic – and all the amazing biodiversity of the rainforest. At the heart of Rosa’s expedition is her passion to combine science with the indigenous knowledge of the Amazon. She shares her experience of learning from the indigenous communities that she visits, and shows what they have to teach us – stretching beyond the realm scientific knowledge. Here Rosa learns the most important lessons in how to reconnect to the natural world – and, in turn, will teach us to do the same. In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.