Amazon in flames: Forest fires reach alarming levels, surpassing previous emergencies

Forest fires ravaging the Amazon have reached devastating proportions, affecting 22 country regions according to the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN). It also indicates that Peru has lost 1,495.33 hectares of crops and another 1,100.86 hectares have been severely affected. In addition, more than 2,000 hectares of natural cover have been destroyed, and more than 1,500 hectares have been severely impacted. The loss of biodiversity is reflected in the death of countless wild animals, aggravating the situation for Amazonian communities that depend on the forest.
 
In Madre de Dios, 250 cattle ranching families that have changed their way of working to one that restores the forests, does not fell trees, and does not burn the forest are being severely affected. In a monitoring carried out in September of this year, 50 regenerative livestock plots were affected, of which 17 are in critical condition, which means a total loss of their pastures.
 
“The large-scale fires began in 2005, but this year has been especially devastating. We have had five and a half months without rain, everything is dry, and the fires are becoming uncontrollable. The effects on health, the economy, and the environment are obvious. My message is clear: the forest is our home, and we must take care of it before it is too late,” says Luciano Flores, an affected cattle rancher in the province of Tahuamanu.
 
According to MINAM, 98% of forest fires are caused by poor agricultural practices, such as tree felling and burning. Factors such as increased temperatures and reduced soil humidity make forest cover more prone to catch fire. As a result, the health of Amazonian city population is severely affected.
 
“Breathing smoke has been a common scenario since the forest fires started. The polluting particles in the air are generating breathing difficulties among the inhabitants of the area and the environmental devastation could have long-term repercussions on biodiversity and our ability to recover,” says Maritza Vargas, a cattle rancher from Madre de Dios.
 
WWF Peru calls for coordination between the State, the private sector, academia, international cooperation, civil society institutions, and communities to restore the ecological balance in the region. Preventive actions such as community brigades creation, early warning systems, and rapid action protocols in the event of forest fires are essential to prevent this environmental disaster from happening again. Conserving forests not only preserves biodiversity but is also critical to the survival of the communities that depend on them.
 
How to support?
 
Donate to #ForestFires: Let's join forces. Profonanpe, Conservation International Peru, WCS Peru, and WWF Peru, among others have joined together in this initiative that aims to contribute addressing the environmental emergency that our country is experiencing, by receiving donations through an articulated, safe, and transparent channel. Link: https://perupornaturaleza.com/es/campanas/incendiosforestales 

You can also use Yape or Plin for this initiave: 961853072

If you want to contribute to the Madre de Dios region, donate to Cáritas Madre de Dios through the Banco de Crédito del Perú to the current bank account in soles: 485-37236191-0-81. Interbank account number and CCI No. 00248513723619108115.