8 February 2013: A new study undertaken with support from scientists at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) links the migration of farmers from rural to urban areas as a reason for more frequent and powerful fires in the Peruvian Amazon over the past decade.

The study notes that, as farmers move away from rural areas, the uncultivated landscapes are drier and have fewer people to control fires. The study also acknowledges well known causes of fire, like drought, roads and timber extraction, but suggests that migration is acting as a new force. Noting that public policies to eliminate fires have been relatively unsuccessful, the report suggests that the development of policies and action that help regulate and manage fires are necessary steps to slow the advance. Activities to retain rural populations and develop warning systems are also highlighted.

The association between fires and climate variability was an element of the research, but remains poorly understood. The study is part of the research program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), of which CIFOR is a member. [CIFOR Press Release] [Publication: Depopulation of Rural Landscapes Exacerbates Fire Activity in the Western Amazon]