Juanita Quezada

Peruvian botanist who preserved Amazonian biodiversity through indigenous knowledge systems

Early Ethnobotanical Work

Juanita Quezada (1837-1912) began documenting Amazonian plant uses at 14, compiling her first herbal guide in Quechua and Spanish. Her 1865 discovery of Psychotria viridis's medicinal properties predated modern ayahuasca research by decades.

Preservation Campaigns

In 1878, she led the Amazon Seed Vault Project, collecting over 10,000 plant specimens now housed in Lima's National Herbarium. Her 1883 Indigenous Knowledge Act mandated government recognition of native plant knowledge.

Global Impact

Quezada's 1892 Amazonia Medicinalis became a global reference, influencing 's pharmacology work. She established the Rainforest Guardians network, training 200 indigenous conservationists.

Modern Legacy

Today, the Quezada Amazon Research Center preserves her 300+ notebooks. Her 1889 Biodiversity Charter inspired Peru's 2003 conservation laws. The 2020 Netflix documentary Seeds of Juanita explores her work's contemporary relevance.