The new Environment minister of Brazil pledged Monday, May 19, to aggressively fight illegal logging and deforestation in the Amazon rain forest. Former Rio de Janeiro state Environment Secretary, Carlos Minc, is expected to take the post on May 27.

Minc replaces renowned rain forest defender Marina Silva, who resigned last week in apparent despair over the obstacles she faced in policing the illegal lumber industry, among other things.

Minc insisted that anti-logging measures "will be maintained and reinforced." He announced plans to use soldiers to protect the environment and vowed to implement a "zero deforestation" program. He gave no further details.

Former minister Silva who was very much respected by environmentalist groups, had criticized Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration failure to provide sustainable alternatives to illegal logging. Her resignation left many environmentalists worried that illegal loggers might more often be left to do as they please.

Minc said on Sunday that he would propose President Lula da Silva making Brazil's armed forces play a more active role in protecting national parks, Indian reserves and the Amazon rain forest.

He promised that the Amazon "will not be converted into charcoal" and promised to continue with the "same policies that the former minister Marina Silva had insisted. We will also do many other things that she was unable to accomplish and that we now have the conditions to fulfill."

The appointed minister is co-founder of the Green Party in Brazil and currently Rio de Janeiro state's Environment secretary.

The Amazon rain forest which borders with several South American neighbors and is home to 27 million people out of Brazil's total population of 185 million, has been facing with limited success the risks of excessive deforestation as loggers and farmers keep advancing.

Mercopress

Comments (8)

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Ricardo Amaral
written by João da Silva, May 20, 2008

Hi Ricardo,

This is an interesting turn of events and I am not sure if you are keeping track of them!

It is worth reading about this gentleman in the following link:

http://veja.abril.com.br/blogs/reinaldo/

btw, I already replied to your question in the other thread.

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if he goes the corse
written by forrest allen brown, May 21, 2008

it will only take 35 years to clear cut the whole forest.

as under the squid more forest has been cut than any other time in the recent history

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...
written by João da Silva, May 21, 2008

if he goes the corse

The new minister has a great sense of humor and thus is highly entertaining to the public at large!

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...
written by .., May 21, 2008

The new minister has a great sense of humor and thus is highly entertaining to the public at large!

Ele tbm é tão querido. O nosso Presidente sabe como escolher um bom ministro. O Carlos vai fazer um grande trabalho no minstério.

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Lets face it.....
written by ch.c., May 22, 2008

Pure propaganda.
Simple verbal promise....Brazilian style we are accustomed to.
Pure lie.

NOTHING MOE THAN THAT !!!!!!

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Ch.C
written by João da Silva, May 22, 2008

Simple verbal promise....Brazilian style we are accustomed to.

BUT, Ch.c, Carlos Linc Baumfeld , the brand new minister, did his doctoral degree in Sorbonne, when he was self exiled during our military government. You don't dare say that a French trained(and that too at Sorbonne) person lies too

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Joao ! so what ?
written by ch.c., May 22, 2008

Many of your actual and previous government members under the Lula reign, were self exiled during your military government.

Dont confuse the education and what Brazilian have in their genes !

Sad...very sad truth !

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Ch.c
written by João da Silva, May 22, 2008

Many of your actual and previous government members under the Lula reign, were self exiled during your military government.

Talking seriously, I don't think that this guy is going to last for a long time-If at all he takes charge as scheduled on May 27th (he may desist before then!).

btw, do you understand written Portuguese?

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