The Minister of the Environment of Brazil, Izabella Teixeira, signed a decree, published in Thursday’s Edition (May 24) of the Diário Oficial da União (Official Government Press), creating the Environmental Education Program and Family Agriculture. The initiative is grounded in the principles of National Policy on Environmental Education (PNEA), from the National Program of Environmental Education(ProNEA) and in the National Strategy of Communication and Environmental Education (ENCEA).

The Program aims to contribute to sustainable rural development; support the environmental regularization of rural properties in the country, within the framework of family agriculture; foster criticaleducational and participative processes that promote training, capacitation, communication and social mobilization. The Program also promotes agroecology practicestowards sustainable production.

The PEAAF will support a working group formed by the secretariats and entities linked to the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) to discuss and support decisions on its implementation. In addition, will take on responsibility to formulate, refine and develop strategies and mechanisms for embedding the principles of agroecology and sustainable forest management and production, community and family in environmental public policies.