Brazil Launches R$ 60 Million Initiative to Revitalize Caatinga and Expand Piauí’s National Parks
President Lula announces a R$ 60 million federal investment for Caatinga restoration and national park expansion in Piauí, alongside broader environmental initiatives.
- • R$ 60 million allocated for Caatinga biome revitalization under the National Policy for Recovery of the Caatinga.
- • Expansion of Serra das Confusões and Sete Cidades National Parks in Piauí confirmed.
- • Piauí invests R$ 156 million in Rio Parnaíba revitalization and leads in BNDES green investments.
- • Challenges from wildfires addressed with deployment of 2,000 firefighters and focus on renewable energy.
- • President Lula announces R$ 2 billion in environmental investments, including National Policy on Payment for Environmental Services regulation.
Key details
On June 10, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a significant federal investment of R$ 60 million dedicated to the revitalization of the Caatinga biome and the expansion of National Parks in the state of Piauí. The announcement was made during a federal ceremony in Brasília attended by Piauí Governor Rafael Fonteles, who emphasized the state's leadership in Brazil’s environmental agenda.
This initiative is a key part of the newly sanctioned National Policy for Recovery of the Caatinga, which aims to restore and conserve the unique dry forest biome. President Lula highlighted the launch of the Recaatingar program, supported by initial funding from BNDES and BNB, to foster recovery and sustainable development of the Caatinga region.
In addition to the Caatinga project, the government confirmed the expansion of Serra das Confusões and Sete Cidades National Parks in Piauí. The state is also investing R$ 156 million in revitalizing the Rio Parnaíba and has attracted the highest volume of BNDES investments across Brazil through the Floresta Viva program, also worth R$ 156 million.
Governor Fonteles discussed challenges posed by wildfires, noting that loss of native vegetation from fires exceeds that caused by deforestation. Piauí has mobilized around 2,000 firefighters to address this issue. The governor further highlighted Piauí’s remarkable achievement of generating 99.75% of its electricity from renewable sources and underscored the importance of advancing bioeconomy and energy transition for sustainable growth.
President Lula also announced further environmental measures, including the regulation of the National Policy on Payment for Environmental Services and additional investments totaling approximately R$ 2 billion for environmental actions nationwide.
The ceremony featured cultural reflections on the link between rural communities, nature preservation, and traditions, marked by a performance from singer Maria da Conceição.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
