Federal Government secures BRL 137 million to fight Pantanal wildfires

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva edited a Provisional Measure, published in Brazil’s Official Gazette this Friday (12), to secure extraordinary credits totaling BRL 137.6 million (approximately USD 25.2 million) in favor of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Defense.

Measure 1,241/2024 provides emergency funds to combat the increasing number of fire outbreaks and the size of the burning areas in the Pantanal region, as well as the critical water shortage affecting the biome. Resources are earmarked for the Federal Police Department, the Public Security National Fund and wildfire control actions undertaken by IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) and ICMBIO (the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation), with the support of the Armed Forces. The new credit is in addition to the BRL 100 million (approximately USD 18.36 million) already appropriated for this issue through an ordinance of the Ministry of Planning and Budget dated June 28. This totals over BRL 237 million (approximately USD 43.56 million) already earmarked for countering the crisis in Pantanal.

Of the BRL 137 million described in the Provisional Measure, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change will receive BRL 72.3 million (approximately USD 133.27 million). The volume will be apportioned to wildfire control operations carried out by IBAMA (BRL 38.1 million) and ICMBIO (BRL 34.1 million) and include hiring firefighters, purchasing individual protection gear and payment of per diems, tickets and air and land transportation rentals. It also includes support to Conservation Units and their immediate surroundings, particularly in the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and the Taiamã Ecological Station, areas directly affected by the current crisis.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security will receive BRL 5.7 million (approximately USD 1.05 million), apportioned between the Federal Police Department (BRL 3.5 million) and the Public Security National Fund (BRL 2 million). The funds will be allocated to activities such as refueling of vehicles and aircraft, maintenance of vehicles, provision of electric power generators, helicopters and airplanes, communication instruments, as well as covering expenses for per diems and airfare.

The Ministry of Defense will receive BRL 59.7 million (approximately USD 10.96 million) to support Armed Forces activities such as the acquisition of consumer and investment goods, hiring services and covering expenses related to command and control and logistics operations in the region.