“Between July and October 2024, more than 240 wildfires were recorded in the Peruvian Amazon. The regions most affected included Amazonas, San Martín, and Ucayali. Of the 25 regions in the Peruvian Amazon, 22 were heavily impacted. Approximately 3,000 hectares of forest were destroyed, including protected areas. There were 16 fatalities and more than 134 injuries. Over 87 territories of indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon were directly affected, including the Shipibo-Conibo people.
Most of the wildfires were caused by human activities, particularly the burning of dry, deforested areas to expand agricultural land. These practices had severe consequences due to extreme drought, strong winds, climate change, and the El Niño phenomenon. Forest protection is of fundamental importance to us indigenous peoples. Without indigenous peoples, there is no climate justice.”
– Leslie Guimaraes Valera, Shipibo-Conibo from the Ucayali region in Peru (2025)
INCREASING SPREAD OF FIRES
In recent years, forest fires in Peru have increased significantly. According to an investigation by Ojo Público, the affected area grew by 62% between 2019 and 2023. Particularly drastic increases were recorded in the regions of Cajamarca, Loreto, Áncash, and San Martín. Forest fires are no longer merely a local or isolated problem, but are increasingly developing into a nationwide threat.¹
ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
The ecological and social impacts of wildfires are severe. Forests, which play a crucial role in global climate protection, can be destroyed in just days or weeks. Experts estimate that forests in Peru will need between 30 and 60 years to recover from the most recent fires. In particularly heavily affected areas, it could take up to 100 years for the original vegetation to return.²
The 2024 wildfires also affected Madre de Dios, where 250 families manage their pastures sustainably, without deforestation or burning. Nevertheless, 50 of their plots were damaged—17 of them completely destroyed.³
