# Indigenous Communities in Peru Cut Wildfires by 81%

> In the Amazon rainforest of Peru, Indigenous communities are proving just how much local wisdom and teamwork, paired with the right technology , can do to keep

![Indigenous Communities in Peru Cut Wildfires by 81%](/media/2026/10/Positivity---2026-10-05T111847-429-1a4a4592.webp)

## In the Amazon rainforest of Peru, Indigenous communities are proving just how much local wisdom and teamwork, paired with the right technology, can do to keep wildfires at bay.

Along the Ene River, 45 Asháninka Indigenous communities managed to cut the area damaged by wildfires by an incredible 81% between 2023 and 2024. Fires themselves dropped too—down 64%, from 25 to only nine.

## What’s Behind the Change?

What’s behind this change?

It’s PAAMARI, a fire management program created by the Central Asháninka of the Ene River (CARE), with help from Cool Earth.

The program pulls from deep-rooted understanding of the forest, but also makes room for all the tech that lets people spot and tackle fires faster.

## Combining Indigenous Knowledge With Technology

Community members learn about:

- Fire prevention

- Safe ways to burn

- How to sound the alarm early

- How to spring into action when flames break out

Satellites and newer technology flag risks, then local fire crews—folks who already know every inch of the forest—move fast.

So far, over 270 people have gone through fire-management training, and 55 local firefighters are already on the job.

## The Results Are Hard to Ignore

The results? Easy to see.

In 2023, wildfires wiped out about 2,648 hectares in these communities.

A year later, that number dropped to just 492 hectares.

That’s a drastic reduction.

Even better—by 2025, not a single wildfire burned across the territory. People caught any fire threats early and shut them down before they could spread.

> All this shows something important: when the people who actually live in the forest lead the way, protection works.

## Local Teams, Faster Action

Instead of waiting on outside help, local teams spot problems early and know what to do.

Their experience, combined with new tools, means quicker, smarter action.

This isn’t just good news for these Asháninka communities.

It’s a model for the rest of Peru—and maybe even farther.

The Ministry of Environment is thinking about how to bring this approach to more regions.

## A Model for Protecting Forests

In the end, the takeaway’s pretty clear.

> Trust communities, give them support and tools, and forests stand a much better chance.

It’s real proof of what can happen when people are given the space to protect the land they call home.

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