feat: next release from main branch is 2.17.0 (googleapis#1659)

enable releases

Author: blakeli0

.github/release-please.yml

@@ -16,3 +16,7 @@ branches:
     bumpMinorPreMajor: true
     handleGHRelease: true
     branch: 2.6.x
+  - releaseType: java-backport
+    bumpMinorPreMajor: true
+    handleGHRelease: true
+    branch: 2.16.x

.github/sync-repo-settings.yaml

@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ branchProtectionRules:
       - units (8)
       - units (11)
       - cla/google
+  - pattern: 2.16.x
+    isAdminEnforced: true
+    requiredApprovingReviewCount: 1
+    requiresCodeOwnerReviews: true
+    requiresStrictStatusChecks: true
+    requiredStatusCheckContexts:
+      - bazel
+      - units (8)
+      - units (11)
+      - cla/google
 permissionRules:
   - team: yoshi-admins
     permission: admin