Indigenous Communities Form Fire Brigades to Protect Peruvian Amazon

• Indigenous communities in Cutivireni and Oviri, Peru, have formed local fire brigades to protect their homes and the rainforest from increasing wildfire risks.
• The initiative, supported by the organization Cool Earth, focuses on prevention and early intervention to safeguard a critical global carbon store.

Operational Strategies

• Implementing satellite fire weather alert monitoring to anticipate hazardous conditions.
• Establishing a flag-based system to regulate when traditional fire practices can be performed safely.
• Conducting practical firefighting training based on the proven Paamari programme to contain blazes before they escalate.

Impact and Challenges

• Local crews, such as the 'Chullachaqui' fire brigade, have successfully collaborated to extinguish fires in Tsyapo and Pajonal.
• Brigades work in coordination with local authorities to assess and address threats during the initial stages.
• Despite these efforts, significant fires remain a threat; an August 2026 fire in Cutivireni destroyed 50 hectares of land, equivalent to 70 football pitches.

Role in Climate Mitigation

• Rainforests are vital for climate stability, providing 23 percent of necessary climate mitigation according to the World Resources Institute.
• Preventing wildfires is essential to keep carbon stored in the ecosystem rather than released back into the atmosphere.
• Cool Earth intends to expand financing and training to meet the growing need for organized fire management across the Peruvian Amazon.