SHUAR PROJECTS SHUAR
PROJECTS

The Shuar warrior nation occupy the Andean foothills, from the Pastaza river to the North, the Amazonian Highway to the West, and the Peruvian border to the East. Their territory bridges the Amazon and Andean cloud forests, and is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. The Shuar gain strength from and knowledge about the forest by taking hallucinogenic “teacher plants” – tobacco, ayahuasca and floripondio, at magic waterfalls.

They are famed for tenacity in resisting oil, mining and drove Spanish colonisers out after attempts to subdue the Shuar for mining work.  Sadly, in recent decades, logging, and incentives for livestock farming, have fragmented the Shuars´ forest territory and caused widespread deforestation around and within their territory.

YAKUM takes its name from Shuar language, and feels a strong synergy with the nation. We have been collaborating with the Shuar nation to regain lost forest cover through reforestation, since 2018.

THREATS IN THE AREA

The Shuar warrior nation occupy the Andean foothills, from the Pastaza river to the North, the Amazonian Highway to the West, and the Peruvian border to the East. Their territory bridges the Amazon and Andean cloud forests, and is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. The Shuar gain strength from and knowledge about the forest by taking hallucinogenic “teacher plants” – tobacco, ayahuasca and floripondio, at magic waterfalls.
They are famed for tenacity in resisting oil, mining and drove Spanish colonisers out after attempts to subdue the Shuar for mining work. Sadly, in recent decades, logging, and incentives for livestock farming, have fragmented the Shuars´ forest territory and caused widespread deforestation around and within their territory.
YAKUM takes its name from Shuar language, and feels a strong synergy with the nation. We have been collaborating with the Shuar nation to regain lost forest cover through reforestation, since 2018.
THREATS IN THE AREA

KURINUA REFORESTATION PROJECT

In the province of Pastaza, widespread cattle farming led to the loss of forest and degradation of the soil. In the Shuar community of Pitirishka, the Tunki family and YAKUM have been planting ancestral Amazonian fruit trees and fine timbers since 2018 and are reforesting 8 hectares of degraded pasture to regenerate forest biodiversity, produce food and important cultural knowledge.

In the province of Pastaza, widespread cattle farming led to the loss of forest and degradation of the soil. In the Shuar community of Pitirishka, the Tunki family and YAKUM have been planting ancestral Amazonian fruit trees and fine timbers since 2018 and are reforesting 8 hectares of degraded pasture to regenerate forest biodiversity, produce food and important cultural knowledge.

TARAMAK REFORESTATION PROJECT

The TARAMAK Association was formed to produce commercial compost for sale, and they became interested in reforestation in 2019. YAKUM will support 1 hectare reforestation of pasture for each 15 partners of this production cooperative. ¼ of each plot will include coffee, cacao and annatto cash crops for sale.

The TARAMAK Association was formed to produce commercial compost for sale, and they became interested in reforestation in 2019. YAKUM will support 1 hectare reforestation of pasture for each 15 partners of this production cooperative. ¼ of each plot will include coffee, cacao and annatto cash crops for sale.