YAKUM

Founded in 2020, Yakum is a Food Planet Prize finalist British–Ecuadorian non-profit, working with Indigenous nations and governing councils in the Amazon to restore degraded land through Cultural Food Forest Landscapes that strengthen biodiversity, food sovereignty and local livelihoods. Over the last seven years, Yakum has collaborated primarily with Siekopai, Cofán and Kichwa communities to regenerate more than 500 hectares of forest and agroforestry systems centred with more than 400 species of fruit trees, palms and medicinal plants. Together, we have established native plant nurseries, seed exchange networks, restoration brigades and community food initiatives linked to cacao, oils, fruits, honey and other non-timber forest products. Yakum’s talented team includes indigenous, Ecuadorian and international women and men, IndigenousGoverning Council leaders,Fellows of the RGS and Linnean Societies of London. Two team members have received The Explorers Club´s "EC50" recognition.