Biologist Edinson Sesquile, 37, walks past a field of flowering gorse (Ulex europaeus) on a hillside in Cogua, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmer Salomon Castro Gutierrez, 61, stands in front of a flowering gorse (Ulex europaeus) plant in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmers remove a gorse (Ulex europaeus) plant in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

A flowering gorse (Ulex europaeus) plant is pictured on a hillside in Cogua, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

A cut flowering gorse (Ulex europaeus) plant lies among exposed roots in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmer Albert Montano, 43, cuts gorse (Ulex europaeus) plants in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmers Salomon Castro Gutierrez (L), 61, and Albert Montano, 43, remove gorse (Ulex europaeus) plants in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)

Farmer Salomon Castro Gutierrez, 61, pulls up a gorse (Ulex europaeus) plant in Tausa, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia on October 9, 2026. The thorny gorse shrub (Ulex europaeus), introduced to Colombia from Europe in the mid-20th century, has spread from Bogota into Andean ecosystems and high-altitude paramos, unique tropical mountain wetlands known for their water-storage capacity. Highly flammable, the invasive plant fuels wildfires that have been exacerbated by the current El Niño climate phenomenon, described by meteorological agencies as one of the strongest on record. (Photo by Pablo VERA / AFP via Getty Images)