Peru’s wildfire crisis reaches critical point

Peru is devastated by forest fires which have claimed the lives of at least 15 people. Despite this, the central government does not want to declare a state of environmental emergency

Indeed, the situation of the wildfire emergency has reached alarming levels in Peru, with more than 8,150 acres of natural and productive lands reduced to ashes in the last weeks. Driven principally by human actions and favored by climate change, the crisis has already seriously affected 22 out of 24 regions-including active firepoints in key territories like the Amazon and the Andean region.

Cusco hardest hit

Cusco remains the most affected region, with at least 31 active fires. Continuous strong winds and adverse weather have worsened firefighting operations and complicated aerial means.

Equally unfavorable is the human factor: there have been at least 15 deaths from the fires, of which 10 occurred during the last few weeks alone, a majority of them elderly. The fires have razed over 1,800 people, have burned fragile ecosystems and disrupted livelihoods in equal measure, with potential dangers to the unique biodiversity of the country. The Andean bear is one of the animals in peril that is thought to be one of the symbolic animals of Peru, whose habitat has suffered important destruction because of the flames.

Government rejects environmental emergency declaration

So far, the Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, has pointed out that most of the fires have been provoked by human beings due to unsustainable agriculture and laws that favor, in most cases, the extension of farming at the expense of the environment. The seriousness of the situation is underlined by a request by several Peruvian regions – the Amazonas, Cusco, and Ucayali – to declare an environmental emergency. However, the central government has so far hesitated because it says conditions are not critical enough to officially declare it as such.

The reaction from local governments and civic groups, which also include the Ombudsman’s Office and the College of Anthropologists of Peru, demands more effective action by the government because each passing day results in more and more damage to the ecosystem in the wild and to human populations alike. The Peruvian Amazon is the green lung of the planet and is under incessant fires that could destroy its rare species and natural treasures.

Thanks to the actions taken by Civil Defense and local communities despite obstructions, 60% of these fires were brought under control. In their absence or with a less rapid response and effective coordination, the destruction could have continued to spread, irreparably compromising the ecological and human future of the country.