Chaikoni Jonibo Garden

Chaikoni Jonibo Garden

The inhabitants of the Shipibo community of San Francisco of Yarinacocha in Peruvian Amazonia, and more particularly the ACOMACISHICON association, have been engaged for more than ten years in the conservation of the Chaikoni Jonibo ethnobotanic garden. Thanks to their efforts they were able to preserve trees and existing plants in an area particularly damaged by deforestation and acculturation, aggravated by the proximity of the city of Pucallpa. The ACOMACISHICON association also transplanted more than one hundred species of healing plants useful for the population, transforming this grove into a real botanical garden.

Since 2008 the French association Lupuna came to support the local association to improve the layout of the garden and participate in its promotion.

Within a 3 hectares garden grow more than 100 medicinal species and plants of great interest for the current life of the Shipibo people. Forming one of the last preserved ecosystem of the surroundings, the garden is a haven for local wildlife.

In addition to its interest in the preservation of biodiversity, the Chaikoni Jonibo garden is also invested in promoting Shipibo culture. The name of the garden, Chaikoni Jonibo, means “enchanted human”. These invisible beings are characters of Shipibo mythology and the guardians of the forest and culture. As a reminder of its name, nine statues that represent the Shipibo myths and legends, and a jar of human scale representative of the traditional Shipibo ceramics are displayed along the paths.

At A Glance

  • Region
    South America
  • Country
    Peru
  • Area
    San Francisco Shipibo Community, Ucayali, Peruvian Amazon
  • Latitude
    8° 17′ 7.0008″ S
  • Longitude
    74° 39′ 18″ W
  • Partners
    Association of Preservation of the environment and of the Shipibo-Conibo native culture of the San Francisco de Yarinacocha Community, ACOMACISHICON. Lupuna Association, French association of Peruvian culture promotion. Tropical and Mountain Research Veterinary Institute (IVITA), Pucallpa, which is the laboratory of the San Marco Major National University, Lima, Peru.
  • Ecosystem
    Upper Amazon Rainforest
  • Cultural Scope
    Native and introduced medicinal plants of local communities, Shipibo culture and traditions