Challenging Monoculture: A Multidimensional Perspective on Forests, Psychedelics, and Cultural Diversity

How perspective can shape forests, psychedelics, and our future.

On a recent Monday morning in Lisbon, my friend Ben and I found ourselves engrossed in a conversation about eucalyptus trees. As a four-year expat in Ben's native Portugal, I've grown familiar with these towering trees, their straight trunks, and distinct lanceolate leaves. Yet, my perception of them has been largely negative. I've heard the stories of how the Portuguese paper industry has been farming them on the land, destroying the native ecosystems and with their flammable oils contributing to devastating forest fires. They are a source of deep contention in this country and their omnipresence, while aromatic, evoked in me a sense of disdain for them especially during my forest hikes. As I get curious about how innocent are these trees in themselves as bearing the brunt of human exploitation, I’m also asking myself how this relates to my life now in how I speak and think about psychedelic substance-induced mind-altering states, which have a particularly complex and evolving connotation in the dominant culture.

Part of my life’s path is to understand, translate, and make meaning of transformative experiences with substance-induced altered-states. This means embracing diverse perspectives, processing them without bias, and allowing them to evolve. It also means taking context into consideration in a multitude of ways.

And the story of the eucalyptus trees in Portugal is a lesson in the pitfalls of monoculture, and why diverse perspectives within a range of contexts are necessary for the bigger picture.

The eucalyptus enigma

Eucalyptus trees are beneficial in the appropriate context.

When I first moved to Portugal I shared the common sentiment of disenchantment with this species. Their exploitation seemed to be the root of the country’s ecological imbalance. Originally from Australia, it’s one of the most planted trees in the world, and are a common site in Portugal. They're a significant player in Europe's wood industry, especially in the production of pulp and paper. In Portugal alone, the annual consumption of Eucalyptus wood is a staggering 7.8 million m3 underbark. These trees are favored for their rapid growth, making them a prime choice for the paper industry. They’ve been criticized for their impact on local ecosystems, particularly due to their high water consumption, and their rapid expansion has raised environmental alarms. Issues like biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and increased vulnerability to pests and wildfires are some of the challenges associated with these plantations.

I uncovered a spectrum of scientific research and debate about the eucalyptus. There’s another side to the story. These trees can reduce waterlogging in certain areas, benefiting nearby plants. Their fallen leaves can also enhance soil acidity, promoting the growth of specific plants. In the right context they offer environmental and economic benefits, such as supporting sustainable bioenergy production and aiding in carbon sequestration.

When they’re planted as part of a variety of tree species they contribute to a biodiverse forest. When planted on a farm as a single species over a vast area, for the sole purposes of growing them to produce wood, they’re highly destructive.

When we step out of balance and take things to the extreme, this disharmony, which is inherently unnatural, literally kills.

The Ripple Effects of Monoculture: From Agriculture to Psychedelic Consciousness

Monoculture is pervasive. Whether we look ecologically, politically, socio-culturally, or economically, it's hard to find a monoculture that has brought about positive change. These systems inherently suppress, compress, and crush ideas, culture, and human progress.

The concept of a monoculture describes a system where one entity dominates, whether it's a species in an ecosystem, a single crop in agriculture, or a prevailing perspective in a discussion. By design, monocultures lack diversity, whether in agriculture, which make crops susceptible to threats like diseases, pests, or external disruptions or in intellectual discourse, where a singular line of thought can suppress fresh ideas and hinder progress.

Dominant political ideology and nationalism marginalizes ethnic, religious, and political minorities. The belief in the superiority of one's own nationstate at the expense of human life creates a volatile environment ripe for full-scale war. We’re experiencing this right now, with the devastating conflict in Gaza and the unbelievable loss of human life that is touching every single person on this planet at this very moment. This topic in itself, especially as it relates to context and perspective, deserves it’s own space and reflection for another moment.

Monocultures in professional settings often establish hierarchies based on arbitrary cultural values, perpetuating toxic dynamics. Those who align with the dominant "culture" are rewarded, while those who diverge in thought or style face exclusion. This not only reinforces biases but also stifles innovative thinking. Books like Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking underscores the value of cognitive diversity, suggesting that success in today's world is less related to individual talent and is more about diverse thinking.

Monoculturalism narrows our lens, limiting our ability to appreciate the richness of global diversity and instead breed ignorance, prejudice, and conflict. Societal monoculture that travels from the global north to the global south can erase diverse cultural expressions and histories, leaving younger generations disconnected from their heritage. The global fashion industry's promotion of a narrow, Western-centric standard of beauty can lead to widespread body image issues and feelings of cultural inferiority among those who don't fit these standards. Educational systems that prioritize the history and achievements of the dominant culture, neglecting or misrepresenting minority contributions, perpetuate ignorance and biases. Monocultural societies have fewer tools at their disposal when faced with challenges, and those that had moved away from their traditional practices suffer more. A diverse cultural memory, with a range of solutions developed over time and across different environments, offers a broader toolkit for facing new challenges. The suppression of indigenous languages is a poignant example of monoculturalism at play, often stemming from colonialism. The world's 370 million indigenous peoples are estimated to speak more than 4,000 different languages, and we’re witnessing their systematic decline in favor of dominant languages, disappearing at a rate of one language every two weeks.

Stagnation in the arts are prevalent, even for the films we see on our screens every day. In Hollywood, mid-priced movies historically played a pivotal role in driving consistent business. Now, the current landscape of the film industry has a barbell distribution, yet neither the blockbuster movies nor the smaller productions the biggest hits for the audience. Two of the summer's top-grossing films, “Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," which captured nearly 1 billion in sales each worldwide, were produced on considerably “mid-range” budgets of $145 million and $100 million, respectively.

This trend in the film industry mirrors a broader societal shift towards extremes, often sidelining moderate voices and perspectives. The rise of AI and its potential for monocultural tendencies is a heated debate, given the dominance of tech giants and inherent biases in algorithms. Such systems risk homogenizing information and experiences if they lean on limited data sets or prioritize widespread appeal.

When we apply monocultural thinking to the arena of psychedelics, we face setbacks. Our narrowed perceptions of these substances can lead to increased stigma and hinder regulatory and medical advancements. One the other side, their glorification as a one-size-fits-all solution can result in spiritual bypassing, disillusionment, and cause harm to those unprepared and ill-suited to be using them.

Integration as Antidote: Applying Lessons from Psychedelics to Address Monoculture

Embracing diversity in all respects is the antidote to monoculture. AI can ensure diverse representation in design, development, and decision-making processes to help create algorithms that are more equitable and less biased. Agriculture can implement polyculture farming practices can enhance soil health, reduce vulnerability to pests, and increase yield. The workplace can promote inclusive policies that value diverse thought and experiences can drive innovation and reduce biases. Educational curricula can celebrate global histories and contributions that foster mutual respect and understanding among students. The arts can actively support independent filmmakers and diverse storytelling which wan lead to richer narratives that resonate with a broader audience. Initiatives to document, teach, and promote indigenous languages, especially among younger generations, helps preserve cultural heritage.

And in the realm of psychedelics, our political, medical, and cultural infrastructure can support scientific research, while fostering an open dialogue and sharing of diverse experiences, which can help dispel myths and broaden understanding, while also ensuring that these substances are used safely and effectively.

A return to the trees: a psychedelic perspective

So let’s get back to the trees. The Eucalyptus trees in Portugal are still in high debate. Are they harming or helping us? In context, as a monoculture, they kill and suppress. As one of many diverse species, they support and thrive. It’s simple, isn’t it.

And it’s not just about the trees themselves; it's about their role within a broader framework. Everything has value when viewed holistically. As a monoculture, eucalyptus are a threat; integrated, they’re beneficial. It’s about understanding how they fit within a greater, more harmonious system where nature wields the ultimate power to maintain balance.

The eucalyptus trees are my reminder of the broader implications of monoculture in our interconnected world. From homogenized forests to films, and from politics to language, the dangers of our narrowing viewpoints are clear. Even the realm of psychedelic consciousness isn’t exempt from the monocultural trap, and we need to embrace diversity of perspectives to begin to understand their role in the world we live in.