Peru has imposed a state of emergency in seven areas of the country due to an outbreak of forest fires. Endangered and rare species, including the spectacled bear and jaguars, are now at risk. “The sky turned black, we lost our crops to the flames and the fire spread to the forest in the mountains. The fires have been raging since last week, with more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) burned so far. However, fires are spreading as the country suffers from arguably the worst drought in over a decade. Ecologists warn that such droughts are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, possibly due to climate change, and have called for the creation of a rapid response contingency plan.
Peru has imposed a state of emergency in seven areas of the country due to an outbreak of forest fires. Endangered and rare species, including the spectacled bear and jaguars, are now at risk. The fires have been raging since last week, with more than 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) burned so far. However, fires are spreading as the country suffers from arguably the worst drought in over a decade. Ecologists warn that such droughts are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, possibly due to climate change, and have called for the creation of a rapid response contingency plan.