El Niño’s Return and the Amazon’s Fire Risk
El Niño, a climate pattern marked by warm Pacific waters, has returned, intensifying wildfire risks across the Amazon. This year’s event, expected to strengthen, echoes the 2023–2024 fire crisis, which saw extreme drought and large-scale blazes. According to the FUTERRA project, the region’s vulnerability is compounded by climate change and deforestation, making fire management a critical priority.
Fire is rare in the Amazon’s humid forests, yet wildfires now threaten ecosystems, health, and livelihoods. Indigenous and local communities, however, have long used fire as part of their knowledge systems for agriculture, ceremony, and land management. Balancing these practices with modern governance remains a challenge.
Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Fire Management
The FUTERRA project, led by Landscape Alliance, highlights how integrating Indigenous fire practices with contemporary strategies can improve resilience. In Peru’s Ene River basin, Asháninka communities combine ancestral burning techniques with satellite monitoring through the PAAMARI initiative. This approach reduces fire risk while preserving cultural traditions.
In Bolivia, community fire management programs use participatory burning calendars and local brigades, supported by subnational governments. Brazil’s Indigenous brigades, backed by federal policy, demonstrate co-management models that prioritize prevention over emergency response. These examples show that fire governance must adapt to local realities.
Challenges in Fire Governance
Public policy in the Amazon has historically focused on suppressing fires, but this approach often fails without preventive measures. Integrated Fire Management (IFM) offers a broader framework, addressing fire as an ecological and social issue. However, restrictive legal frameworks and funding gaps hinder progress.
Communities face pressure to burn under extreme climate conditions, risking uncontrolled fires. Without institutional support or coordination, traditional practices can escalate into disasters. FUTERRA’s research emphasizes that effective prevention requires collaboration with those who know the land best.
Lessons from Three Countries
In Bolivia’s Chiquitano dry forest, community brigades and alert systems have improved local capacity to respond to fires. Brazil’s Indigenous brigades, with longer contract periods, now focus on year-round prevention. Peru’s PAAMARI strategy integrates ecological restoration with Indigenous surveillance, showcasing how hybrid approaches reduce risk.
Despite these successes, transboundary fire risks persist. While 2025 saw fewer fires than 2024, the Amazon’s underlying vulnerability remains high. Cross-border cooperation is essential to address shared challenges.
Four Priorities for a Resilient Amazon
FUTERRA identifies four key actions to strengthen fire governance: recognizing cultural fire use, empowering local management, investing in prevention, and fostering Pan-Amazonian collaboration. Policies must distinguish between wildfires, controlled burns, and traditional practices to avoid undermining community efforts.
Permanent funding for prevention and restoration, alongside technologies like satellite monitoring, can expand capacity in remote areas. Interoperable systems for data sharing and joint decision-making will be critical for managing fires across borders.
Did You Know?
The Asháninka community’s burning calendars, developed over generations, align with seasonal conditions to prevent large-scale fires. These practices are now paired with modern tools like satellite imagery to enhance their effectiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is El Niño and how does it affect the Amazon?
El Niño is a climate pattern causing warm Pacific waters, leading to disrupted weather. In the Amazon, it increases drought and fire risk, exacerbating existing environmental pressures.
How do Indigenous communities manage fire?
Indigenous groups use controlled burns to reduce dry biomass and maintain landscapes. These practices are tied to cultural traditions and seasonal knowledge, passed down through generations.
What is Integrated Fire Management (IFM)?
IFM addresses fire as part of ecological and social systems, combining prevention, controlled burns, and community engagement. It moves beyond emergency response to long-term risk reduction.
Pro Tips
Communities in the Amazon use wind and humidity observations to time burns safely. Local brigades, trained in both traditional and modern methods, are vital for rapid response.
As El Niño intensifies, the Amazon’s future hinges on balancing tradition with innovation. By prioritizing local knowledge and cross-border cooperation, the region can build resilience against an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Explore more: Climate Change and Amazon Conservation | The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Fire Management
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