Mexico: They denounce the looting of sage in Baja California

The article highlights the significant surge in demand for Apiana sage, also known as white sage, due to its use in herbal medicine and spiritual practices, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. This demand has led to a troubling trend of mass looting of this native plant from Baja California, causing environmental damage and affecting indigenous communities. The plant, which is currently unwilded and only found in the wild, is sold irregularly on various e-commerce platforms and social media sites, with disregard for its cultural and spiritual significance to indigenous groups like the Yuman ethno-linguistic family. The unregulated harvesting has resulted in severe damage, with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection struggling to curb the illegal activities. Local communities have reported illegal extraction activities, with some instances involving tonnage on a weekly basis, which are not yet reflected in the seizure statistics. The issue is further complicated by the usurpation of indigenous knowledge and the plant's overexploitation for profit, leading to concerns about sustainability and the need for regulation to protect the plant and respect its cultural significance.