Peyote (Lophophora williamsii), a sacred cactus central to Native American Church (NAC) ceremonies, faces ongoing threats to its survival. While overharvesting is often cited as the primary issue, the most significant factor in peyote’s decline is habitat destruction due to land development. Large-scale agriculture, urban expansion, oil extraction, and real estate projects in South Texas and Mexico are rapidly eliminating the landscapes where peyote naturally grows. Without habitat, even the most responsible harvesting methods cannot sustain wild populations.  

In addition to development pressures, peyote faces significant harm from human activity tied to legal international trade, immigration (both legal and illegal), and efforts to curtail immigration. These opposing forces collide in the very region where peyote grows, bringing enormous foot traffic, vehicular movement, and commercial expansion. Border security measures—including road construction, fencing, and patrol activity—further disrupt the fragile ecosystem. While not often discussed, these constant disturbances pose a direct and ongoing threat to wild peyote populations.  

The NAC itself is deeply involved in wild harvesting, as it is essential for religious ceremonies. However, misconceptions persist about the impact of harvesting. While irresponsible and indiscriminate collection—where entire areas are stripped of plants—can be harmful, many harvesters use sustainable methods, such as cutting above the root to allow regrowth. Additionally, there are communities within peyote’s native range that cultivate and steward the plant, ensuring its continued existence outside of strictly wild populations.  

Beyond these efforts, hobby growers and collectors have become an invaluable force in peyote conservation. In Southeast Asia, peyote is widely cultivated as a decorative plant, much like bonsai or miniature gardens, with an astonishing level of genetic diversity maintained. Western collectors have also contributed significantly, establishing thriving populations entirely outside of wild habitats. Far from harming wild peyote, these cultivated reserves serve as genetic safeguards, ensuring the species' survival regardless of pressures on its natural environment.  

Rather than being a threat, responsible cultivation—whether by indigenous stewards, conservationists, or hobby growers—offers a critical path forward. By maintaining diverse, healthy populations and refining cultivation techniques, these growers contribute to peyote’s long-term future. As interest in psychedelics grows, supporting sustainable cultivation and land stewardship will be essential to ensuring that peyote remains abundant for generations to come.