Wildfires in Peru's Amazon Threaten Indigenous Communities and Their Livelihoods
Author: Maria Fe Mendoza
October 26, 2026
HRRC expresses concern over the devastating impact of wildfires on Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon. The destruction of homes, agricultural land, and natural resources threatens fundamental rights, including access to food, housing, and a healthy environment. The insufficient emergency response highlights the urgent need for stronger prevention measures, institutional coordination, and adequate resources. HRRC emphasizes the importance of supporting Indigenous-led initiatives such as PAAMARI and calls on the Peruvian state to prioritize the protection of affected communities and their territories.
![Impact of a wildfire in the Peruvian Amazon [Image credit: Johnattan Rupire/Wikimedia Commons]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f05ed1_2b9efe3fd0034756aa174821afd79c75~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_960,h_540,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/f05ed1_2b9efe3fd0034756aa174821afd79c75~mv2.jpg)
Since early October 2026, a series of wildfires has affected several regions of Peru, destroying forests, homes, and agricultural land while threatening the livelihoods of numerous communities. In the Peruvian Amazon, one of the most serious emergencies has unfolded in the district of Río Tambo, Satipo province, in the Junín region, where Asháninka Indigenous communities have been facing wildfires since October 4. According to RPP, initial reports from Civil Defense indicated that at least 50 families had been affected, ten homes destroyed, and 80 hectares of crops and 350 hectares of forest burned. Among the affected communities are Tsyapo, Pajonal, Cutivireni, and Tiboreni.
The consequences of these fires extend beyond environmental destruction. In Satipo, the flames have damaged cocoa and cassava crops, which are essential to the food security and local economies of these communities. The loss of productive land, homes, and forest resources directly threatens the food security and livelihoods of affected families. Nationwide, La República reported on October 11 that the fires had destroyed 1,138 hectares of agricultural land and affected 920 livestock animals, 88 of which had died. Although these figures cover different regions of the country and are not limited to the Amazon, they illustrate how wildfires can destroy resources essential to the economic survival of rural communities.
The scale of the emergency has also exposed limitations in the state's response. On October 14, Peru's Ombudsman's Office urged the Regional Government of Junín to strengthen coordination among authorities and expand efforts to control the fires in Río Tambo. According to the institution, despite the efforts of volunteer firefighters, local brigades, and residents, the measures taken were insufficient to stop the spread of the flames. The Ombudsman's Office also warned that, although approximately 1,000 hectares of crops were believed to have been affected, the area still lacked firefighters specialized in wildfire suppression.
In response to these challenges, Asháninka communities themselves have played a fundamental role in emergency efforts. Residents of the affected areas organized community brigades to prevent the flames from reaching additional homes and territories. Indigenous organizations such as the Central Asháninka del Río Ene (CARE) and the Federación Asháninka del Río Ene (FARE) also mobilized personnel to combat the fires. Although authorities deployed firefighters, military personnel, and humanitarian assistance, local governments continued to request specialized personnel, equipment, and additional resources. This situation raises questions about the state's capacity to provide timely protection to populations living in remote Amazonian territories.
Faced with the limitations of the state's response, Asháninka communities have also developed their own prevention strategies. CARE leads PAAMARI, an integrated fire management initiative that combines ancestral knowledge with monitoring tools, early warning systems, and training for community firefighting brigades. According to a statement published by CARE on October 21, 2026, the number of recorded wildfires within the initiative's area of operation decreased from 25 in 2023 to nine in 2024, with no wildfires reported in 2025. PAAMARI currently has 75 community firefighters involved in prevention and response efforts. Although the Ministry of the Environment and other public institutions have collaborated with the initiative, CARE warns that Peru needs a national integrated fire management policy that prioritizes prevention and recognizes the participation of Indigenous peoples. Their experience demonstrates that communities are not only victims of wildfires but also essential actors in protecting their territories.
The emergency is part of a broader crisis. By October 13, the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) had reported at least 51 wildfires across 13 regions of the country, according to INDECI. Meanwhile, the head of INDECI reported that ten people had died as a result of wildfires so far in 2026. Authorities indicated that many of these fires were linked to human activities, particularly vegetation burning that spreads out of control. However, preventing these practices and preparing for emergencies require effective public policies, institutional coordination, and sufficient resources.
Wildfires are not merely an environmental threat. For Indigenous and rural communities, the destruction of forests, crops, and homes jeopardizes fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, food, housing, and a healthy environment. It also threatens Indigenous peoples' relationship with their territories and the natural resources on which they depend. The state's response cannot be limited to intervening only after fires have already devastated entire communities. The situation in Río Tambo highlights the need to strengthen prevention efforts, ensure adequate resources and specialized personnel, and recognize the role of Indigenous communities in protecting their territories. Without a sustained and coordinated response, wildfires will continue to threaten both the Peruvian Amazon and the rights of those who call it home.
Glossary
Deforestation — the action or process of clearing of forests.
Food Security — The condition in which people are able to consistently access or afford adequate food.
Indigenous Peoples — peoples in independent countries who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations inhabited the country, or a geographical region to which the country belongs, at the time of conquest or colonisation or the establishment of present state boundaries and who, irrespective of their legal status, retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions.
Livelihood — means of support or subsistence.
Wildfire — a sweeping and destructive fire, especially in a wilderness or a rural area.
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