Peru implements contingency plan to protect wildlife from El Niño effects

The Ministry of Environment in Peru has launched a contingency plan to protect natural resources and protected areas from the impacts of the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Minister Vladimiro Huaroc stated that protected areas cover nearly 25 percent of the national territory, including the Mar Tropical de Grau Natural Reserve. The ministry is currently storing dry food in silos in the high Andean regions of central and southern Peru.

Officials began this process months ago to ensure that vicuñas, which are raised by local people, have access to nutrition during the expected lack of rainfall. The plan aims to provide food for approximately 200 vicuñas. To address forest fires caused by rising temperatures and dry conditions, the ministry and the National Service of State Natural Areas Protected (Sernanp) are using new technologies. These include a Brazilian motor that uses wind to extinguish fires in their early stages.

Sernanp has also trained 900 forest guardians to perform these tasks.