Agreement to improve forest fire response in Machu Picchu
The government of Peru is expanding disaster response and prevention measures for the country’s most emblematic protected natural areas.
According to the Ministry of the Environment’s agency Sernanp, the move follows an inter-institutional agreement with the District Municipality of San Jerónimo in the Cusco region.
The government said the agreement aims to protect the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and improve local capacity to respond to environmental emergencies.
Sernanp executive president José Carlos Nieto Navarrete said: “Sernanp has become the country’s best-prepared first-response force to combat forest fires.
“But we must also focus on prevention. Today, we are joining forces with the local government to protect lives, forests, and Peru’s natural heritage.”
The plan includes training community brigades, providing specialised equipment, and offering technical courses to improve readiness in an area identified as highly vulnerable due to biodiversity and terrain.
Training and equipment plans
The Peruvian government stated that one of the first measures will be a basic forestry backpack course.
This will be followed by a forest firefighter training course starting on 8 August, involving 30 people selected by the municipality.
The participants will receive personal protective equipment.
Sernanp said the training will be delivered directly by its instructors.
The government added that the programme is designed to build practical firefighting skills tailored to local environmental conditions.
Use of new firefighting technology
Nieto said that Sernanp personnel have recently received training in Brazil on new firefighting technologies.
He stated that this includes the use of blowers to enhance local teams’ effectiveness.
According to Sernanp, this technology will be deployed in the San Jerónimo region.
The government added that this will form part of the broader plan to strengthen regional firefighting capabilities.
It stated that the technology transfer is intended to give local brigades more effective tools for rapid intervention.
Local government collaboration
Nieto said: “We are keeping our promise. This alliance was born from direct dialogue with the mayor of San Jerónimo, and today it translates into real actions, trained teams, and strengthened communities to protect our protected natural areas.”
The Ministry of the Environment said the signing ceremony included representatives from the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary and Manu National Park.
Also present were council members, firefighters, technical staff, and local authorities.
The government stated that this participation reflects a coordinated approach between national and local agencies.
It said this approach is designed to align operational objectives for environmental protection.
Commitment to prevention network
Sernanp stated that this collaboration is part of a wider strategy to promote a national prevention network.
The organisation said the network prioritises human life and natural heritage.
It added that the effort supports climate change mitigation.
The Ministry of the Environment said this national network approach will encourage local governments to adopt similar agreements.
The government stated that the prevention network is intended to reduce the impact of environmental emergencies across Peru.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
This agreement provides an example of integrated national and municipal cooperation on disaster response.
It demonstrates the use of targeted training, technology transfer, and equipment provision for wildfire preparedness.
The plan highlights the importance of adapting training to regional risks and environmental conditions.
It also shows how international training exchanges can introduce new operational tools to local brigades.
Peru strengthens disaster response capacity in protected natural areas: Summary
The government of Peru has announced a plan to strengthen disaster response in protected natural areas.
The Ministry of the Environment’s agency Sernanp signed an agreement with the District Municipality of San Jerónimo in Cusco.
The agreement focuses on protecting the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and improving emergency response.
Sernanp executive president José Carlos Nieto Navarrete said the plan combines prevention with rapid response measures.
Initial actions include a basic forestry backpack course and a forest firefighter training programme.
The training will start on 8 August with 30 participants selected by the municipality.
Participants will receive personal protective equipment and instruction from Sernanp trainers.
Sernanp personnel recently trained in Brazil in new firefighting technologies, including the use of blowers.
The government said the new technology will be used in San Jerónimo.
Officials from national parks, local government, and emergency services attended the signing ceremony.
Sernanp said the project is part of a wider prevention network to protect human life and natural heritage.
The Ministry of the Environment stated that the prevention network supports climate change mitigation.