Law No.8.964 establishing the State Programme for Payment for Environmental Services (PEPSA) and regulating article 8 of Law No. 6.140 of 6 December 2011 on the State Policy on Climate Change and Combating Poverty.

This Law establishes the State Programme for Payment for Environmental Services (PEPSA) in the State of Piauí and implements a mechanism for rewarding individuals, communities and organisations that conserve, restore or improve ecosystems and environmental services. The law seeks to integrate environmental protection with climate change mitigation, water resources management, environmental education and sustainable development policies. Its principal objectives are to promote biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, forest protection, climate regulation, reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and the maintenance of ecological balance, while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for environmental service providers and contributing to poverty reduction and social inclusion. The law creates a comprehensive governance and financing framework for environmental service payments through dedicated subprogrammes focused on forests, private nature reserves, water resources and carbon sequestration. It prioritises support for traditional communities, family farmers and landholders undertaking conservation, watershed protection, ecosystem restoration and greenhouse gas mitigation activities. In addition, the legislation establishes monitoring, registration and funding mechanisms, including the State Register for Payment for Environmental Services (CEPSA), and provides financial incentives through direct payments, technical support, environmental restoration inputs and community benefits.