Connecting Ecosystems

The invisible connection

The local breathes globally.

The relationship between Mataró and the Amazon is an alliance of reciprocity. We are connected by flying rivers: immense flows of water vapor produced by the evapotranspiration of billions of Amazonian trees.

They act as a biotic pump that lifts into the atmosphere a volume of water even greater than the Amazon River itself pours into the sea. Carried by air currents, they distribute humidity and latent heat at continental scale, influencing rainfall cycles and the planet's thermal balance.

Without healthy forest, this water cycle weakens: desertification increases and extreme climate events intensify. That is why we restore in the Amazon and close the cycle in Mataró by recovering living soil, designing food forests and turning depleted land into fertile ground able to retain water, produce food and sustain community.

Documentary

Documentary: link between Mataró and the Amazon

Full 46-minute piece to understand the connection between water, forest, soil and community.

Two territories, one network

Restoration also means rebuilding relationships.

Balance of the three thirds

Mataró

A city of around 22.5 km², historically organized between one third forest, one third farmland and one third urban fabric. The challenge is to restore the sponge function of agricultural and urban soil in the face of extreme heat and torrential rain.

Forest third: the Serralada Litoral and the Forest Park as a green lung and thermal regulator.
Agricultural third: Les Cinc Sènies as a key farming area for fresh local food.
Urban third: consolidated city, social life and economic activity.
Tropical Maresme: depleted soils, extreme heat and torrential rainfall.

Amazon biosphere reserve

Manu / Chontachaka

The Manu Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO-recognized sanctuary protecting almost 2 million hectares, from the Andes at 4,000 meters down to the Amazon plain at around 300 meters.

Core zone: National Park, biodiversity and restricted research access.
Buffer zone: ecological restoration to slow deforestation.
Cultural zone: communities and sustainable economic activities.
Guardians of the forest: Matsigenka, Harakbut and isolated peoples such as the Mashco Piro.

About us

Yaku is a bridge for cooperation and ecosystem regeneration.

Yaku means water in Quechua. The association was born in Mataró to support social, educational and ecological projects in Peru, and to bring that learning back to the local territory through food forests, environmental education and community action.

The Chontachaka Ecological Reserve works as a center for restoration and biodiversity stewardship: it protects primary forest and activates ecological processes needed for climate stability.

In Mataró

Food forests and the recovery of living soil. The project received Mataró City Council's Fem Mataró 2025 Award.

Fem Mataró 2025 Award

In Peru

Alliance with the Musuq Illary association, manager of the Chontachaka Ecological Reserve in Manu's buffer zone.

Who we are in Peru

As a bridge

Yaku connects international cooperation, environmental education and ecosystem regeneration through a relationship of reciprocity.

Fem Mataró Award

Recognition for the community food forest.

The project received the Fem Mataró Award for its contribution to a healthier, more ecological city connected to soil recovery.

Ara l'estem creant, no és espontani, però a la llarga volem aconseguir que no necessiti el rec i que vagi creixent com qualsevol bosc, però que es pugui recollir aliments tant dels arbres com dels arbustos. El bosc està a Cala Llimona, un espai de 6.400 metres, a l'entrada de les Cinc Sénies. La idea també seria que si funciona, i és un bon projecte pilot, podríem aplicar-lo a escala municipal, a les rotondes o alguns espais públics.

Maria Estargués, vice-president of Associació Yaku

Fem Mataró Award placed in the community food forest.

Entrega del Premio Fem Mataró al proyecto de bosque comestible.

Maria Estargués en el contexto del Premio Fem Mataró.

Captura de comunicación pública sobre el Premio Fem Mataró.

Captura complementaria sobre el Premio Fem Mataró.

Captura de difusión del Premio Fem Mataró.

Project voices

The website is grounded in testimonies, not slogans.

Yaku means water. The association was born in Mataró to support social, educational and ecological projects in Peru and connect that work with local food forests.

Magdalena Ruiz President of Yaku

What happens in the Amazon has consequences for the rest of the world. The connection also lives in the currents of water, air and humidity.

Mariana von Finger Restoration biologist in Chontachaka

The forest is not just a resource: it is memory, food, spirituality and community. Restoration begins by listening to those who live in the territory.

Kelly Patia Chivise Harakbut Indigenous leader

Testimonies

Testimony in English

Short English version to strengthen the project's voices section.

Food forests

Education, food and living soil.

A food forest is a polyculture of perennial species that imitates the structure of a young natural forest. It organizes plants in vertical layers to optimize space, light and water.

Its strength lies in soil restoration: organic matter, symbiotic relationships and plant mulch turn degraded land into natural water sponges, with less irrigation, less maintenance and greater resilience.

Ecological restorationFood forestsFlying riversHealthy soilAgroforestryIndigenous worldviews

CanopyLow trees and fruit treesShrubsHerbsGround coverRhizosphereClimbers

Ca l'Allimona

Food Forest 2026

Magdalena Ruiz's testimony on care, soil, repair and community in the food forest.

Ca l'Allimona

A community food forest in Les Cinc Sènies.

"Care for, restore, protect and heal the land, while caring for, restoring, protecting and healing yourself."

A 6,000 m² site in Les Cinc Sènies, next to the Rocafonda neighborhood, with an established 800 m² community food forest.
A consolidated project supported by Mataró City Council.
An ecofeminist approach to repair the parallel between the historical treatment of land and women.
Work and meditation sessions for women's groups to activate mutual repair.
Sana Llimona with natural clay and plant baths, in collaboration with Sanamolls.
Educational collaboration with Rocafonda School to promote food sovereignty.

Ca l'Allimona

Community group sessions

Video from the May 23 session with the Servei Prelaboral of Fundació CFP Maresme and La Kiosca workers.

Food forest

March 11, 2026 session

Gathering at Ca l'Allimona documented with visual material from the project.

Environmental education

Rocafonda School at Ca l'Allimona

Visit by CEIP Rocafonda pupils to discover the food forest, taste herbs, pick lemons and enjoy strawberries.

Food forest

Cicle Natura reading club

Session led by Marc Caellas, theatre director, writer and curator of projects between literature, stage and contemporary art.

Food forest

Food forest and pond visit

Visit to the food forest and pond at the Sènia Viva site.

Sana Llimona

A healing place with natural clay and plant baths, body care and land repair.

Chontachaka Ecological Reserve

Stopping invasive bamboo by recovering shade, diversity and a local future.

The REC safeguards 190 hectares in the Kosñipata valley, Cusco, within Manu's buffer zone. Its work combines ecological diagnosis, experimentation with native species and support for sustainable initiatives from the local community.

Zone 1

Area affected by invasive Guadua spp. bamboo after selective logging processes.

Zone 2

Impacted forest where restoration accelerates shade, diversity and structure.

Zone 3

Virgin cloud and premontane forest under biodiversity stewardship.

01

Read the territory

Understand primary forest, former agricultural areas, selective logging and bamboo expansion.

02

Experiment with native species

Test combinations of Cecropia, palms and other species to create shade, displace bamboo and recover biodiversity.

03

Listen to local people

Design projects from real needs: agriculture, crafts, responsible tourism and dignified livelihoods.

The local breathes globally.

Documentary: link between Mataró and the Amazon

Restoration also means rebuilding relationships.

Mataró

Manu / Chontachaka

Yaku is a bridge for cooperation and ecosystem regeneration.

In Mataró

In Peru

As a bridge

Recognition for the community food forest.