S.A.C.R.D., which stands for Synchronizing Action on Cacti Resiliency Directives, is a BIPOC and Allies-led/run 508(c)(1)(a) nonprofit based in Arizona, dedicated to the protection of the Sacred Peyote cactus. Our culturally diverse team is made up of Indigenous peoples, cultivation experts, community activists, and spiritually centered humans. The majority of our voting members are Indigenous, ensuring that our decisions and actions are deeply rooted in the wisdom, traditions, and perspectives of the communities most connected to Peyote. In response to the growing threats to Peyote’s natural habitat, we are called to act through sustainable, community-driven stewardship, cultivation, and education. Our mission goes beyond preservation: we aim to create a future where the ecological, cultural, and spiritual significance of Peyote is celebrated and passed onto future generations.

By amplifying diverse voices and embracing our shared roots, we ensure the continued thriving of this Sacrament. We are committed to safeguarding this beautiful cacti, and honoring the cultural and spiritual heritage it represents. Through our work, we strive to protect Peyote for the generations to come.

The Issue at Hand

The narrow strip of land along the Rio Grande River in Southern and Western Texas is the only place in the United States where the Peyote cactus grows naturally and has flourished for millennia. These natural Peyote gardens are where humans have been harvesting from for more than 5000 years providing physical sustenance and spiritual connection for many communities, particularly in ceremonial practices. It is with deep regret that we acknowledge there are severe threats that are endangering this habitat. Climate change, non-sustainable harvesting practices, illegal poaching, urban and commercial development by energy, mining, and agricultural companies are making the harvestable acreage smaller and smaller by the week. These large companies buy this land for pennies on the dollar and bulldoze all the plant life to put up solar fields, wind turbines, mono crop greenhouses and to conduct mining operations.

As Populations Grow

The need for the Sacred Peyote increases in religious ceremonies, but the current methods of harvesting without cultivating can no longer meet the need. Without action, Peyote could vanish forever, taking with it centuries of cultural, spiritual and medicinal traditions.

This way of doing things is not sustainable and if something isn’t done our future generations will not have access to this life saving Medicine.

To Protect Peyote

We must implement large scale, sustainable cultivation projects. By working with indigenous communities and agricultural experts, we have developed methods to cultivate Peyote sustainably, organically and responsibly, ensuring that it remains available for spiritual and ceremonial use and empowers upcoming generations to learn to cultivate the cacti and preserve its Sacredness for future generations. The future of Peyote depends on our actions now. By joining us with our mission, you are helping to preserve this cacti, indigenous cultures and heritage, and a blessed way of life. Together, we can ensure that Peyote and its Spiritual heritage will thrive for generations to come.

Key Facts

Only 1% of seeds distributed by wild plants ever reach maturity.
Native American church ceremonies use approximately 2 million buttons annually (very old 2007 statistics) and replanting and growing on a large scale to take pressure off of the natural supply caused by this ceremonial use is not being done.
Naturally grown Peyote takes 25 years to reach maturity in the wild but greenhouse cultivation can reduce maturity time to 7 years.
Research gaps in Peyote’s natural environment exist despite diminishing population.