Ecuador Launches $28 Million Forest‑Fire Prevention Campaign Amid El Niño Risks

The Ecuadorian government activated a national forest‑fire prevention campaign on 11 a.m. today, covering the high‑risk period from July to September. The initiative, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Energy together with the ministries of Health, Education, Agriculture, and the National Risk Management Secretariat, aims to curb the more than 90 % of wildfires that originate from human activity.

The campaign will involve community education, training, early‑reporting mechanisms through ECU 911, and cooperation with local authorities and the fire brigade. Vice‑minister of Environment Alicia Jaramillo announced an investment of USD 28 million through 2029 to strengthen emergency operation committees, monitor illegal burns, and improve coordination with municipalities. Officials warned that a possible El Niño event could raise temperatures, dry vegetation and increase fire spread, prompting the preventive actions.

The effort follows a recent year with 2,157 forest fires across 22 provinces, underscoring the need for proactive measures as climate conditions become more favorable for fire propagation.