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| Brazil environment chief sworn in | Brazil environment chief sworn in |
| (1 day later) | |
| Brazil's new environment minister has been sworn in amid concern among environmentalists over whether he will be able to curb Amazon deforestation. | |
| Carlos Minc has taken 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. |
| He has said he wants to maintain the priorities of his predecessor. | He has said he wants to maintain the priorities of his predecessor. |
| But correspondents say he faces many competing interests, with pressure to provide economic opportunities for the Amazon region's 25m people. | But correspondents say he faces many competing interests, with pressure to provide economic opportunities for the Amazon region's 25m people. |
| BBC regional analyst James Painter says Mr Minc, a founder of Brazil's Green Party, has the right credentials. | BBC regional analyst James Painter says Mr Minc, a founder of Brazil's Green Party, has the right credentials. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| The Amazon rainforest plays a key role in absorbing carbon dioxideHe was also the environment secretary in the state of Rio de Janeiro. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "The Amazon has an owner and that owner is the Brazilian people," he said. |