LatinNews Daily - 11 June 2026

*Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a package of decrees and promulgated new laws aimed at boosting environmental protection and sustainable development. Among the decrees were measures to streamline the mechanism for transferring funds to state and municipal authorities responsible for forest fire response actions, as well as updates to the rules and guidelines on sustainable tourism activities in natural conservation areas. Lula also promulgated a new law establishing a legal framework for the protection of the Caatinga biome and a law that officially recognises the work of babassu coconut breakers as national cultural heritage, which the government has described as a sustainable use of natural resources that protects the income and traditional culture of rural workers. In addition to these measures, the Lula government also announced more financing for its environmental protection initiatives, including R$370m (US$71m) in international donations for actions aimed at sustainable development in conservation zones, R$834m in further funding for reforestation efforts, and a new donation of R$270m from the UK government to Brazil’s Amazon Fund, a financing mechanism for rainforest protection and sustainable development projects.