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Amazon agenda for Brazil minister Brazil environment chief sworn in
(about 11 hours later)
Brazil's new environment minister is being sworn in amid concern among environmentalists over whether he will be able to curb Amazon deforestation. Brazil's new environment minister has being sworn in amid concern among environmentalists over whether he will be able to curb Amazon deforestation.
Carlos Minc takes over from Marina Silva, who resigned in frustration at the government's environment policies. Carlos Minc has taken over from Marina Silva, who resigned in frustration at the government's environment policies.
Mr Minc, a founder of Brazil's Green Party, has the right credentials. He has said he wants to maintain the priorities of his predecessor.
But he admits he is not an expert on the Amazon, at a time when attention is focusing on the region and the critical role it plays in the world's climate. But correspondents say he faces many competing interests, with pressure to provide economic opportunities for the Amazon region's 25m people.
Mr Minc is a professor of geography and a winner of a United Nations prize in 1989 for being one of the world's 500 notable green campaigners. BBC regional analyst James Painter says Mr Minc, a founder of Brazil's Green Party, has the right credentials.
He was also the environment secretary in the state of Rio de Janeiro. But, he points out, the incoming minister admits he is not an expert on the Amazon at a time when international attention is focusing on the region and the critical role it plays in the world's climate.
Mr Minc has already angered Brazil's soya farmers by saying the deforestation of the Amazon is on the rise again, after three years of decline. The farmers dispute the figures. Mr Minc is a professor of geography and a won a United Nations prize in 1989 for being one of the world's 500 notable green campaigners.
Environmental activists hope Mr Minc will be able to ensure the conservation of the rainforest is given due consideration just when the Brazilian government is following an ambitious economic agenda, based in part on a boom in commodity exports. The Amazon rainforest plays a key role in absorbing carbon dioxideHe was also the environment secretary in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Mr Minc has already angered Brazil's soya farmers by saying new figures show a rise in deforestation in the region of Mato Grosso. The farmers dispute the figures.
He is under pressure from environmentalists to ensure the conservation of the rainforest is given due consideration at a time when the Brazilian government is following an ambitious economic agenda, based in part on a boom in commodity exports.
Mr Minc says he wants a bigger budget and the ability to use the army to protect Brazil's national reserves.Mr Minc says he wants a bigger budget and the ability to use the army to protect Brazil's national reserves.
But this has already been ruled out by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.But this has already been ruled out by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Critics fear that, as in many developing countries, the Brazilian environment ministry will lose out in power struggles with the more important ministries which prioritise economic growth over environmental protection.Critics fear that, as in many developing countries, the Brazilian environment ministry will lose out in power struggles with the more important ministries which prioritise economic growth over environmental protection.
Mr Minc's appointment also coincides with irritation in Brazil over comments suggesting the protection of the Amazon rainforest is too important to be left only to the Brazilian authorities.
Brazil's President Lula stressed earlier this week that there could be no question about his country's sovereignty over the region.
"The Amazon has an owner and that owner is the Brazilian people," he said.