Brazil environment minister quits

Brazil's environment minister and a green champion has resigned after losing key battles in her efforts to protect the Amazon rain forest.

MOREINFO: Marina Silva's resignation is likely to reinforce the view that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is more concerned with economic development than conservation as a commodities export boom fuels Brazil's growth. It could also be a setback for Brazil's ambitions to become a major voice in global environmental debates.

SCRIPT:

She is known by many as the environment's guardian angel but Marina Silva has given up her ministerial fight to protect Brazil's rainforests.

The champion of the green movement has quit her post as Environment Minister.

She says it's become too difficult to do her job.

Her decision has reinforced fears that Brazil's President is more interested in economic development than conservation.

He said he regretted her decision.

(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, SAYING:

"I'm obviously sad, because she was a friend who was one of the most qualified people on earth to speak about environmental issues."

The Amazon basin covers half of Brazil.

It holds a fifth of the world's fresh water and 15 per cent of the earth's plant and animal species.

But illegal logging and mining are rife and vast areas are also felled legally.

An area the size of the United States has disappeared in recent years.

And there's no end in sight.

Brazilian commodities such as soybeans are in demand around the world and farmers are keen to cash in.

They've welcomed Silva's resignation.

Two hydro-electric plants in the forest and a new road through it have also been given the go ahead.

The former rubber-tapper turned politician can't take any more.

Environmentalists say neither can the rain forest.

Sonia Legg, Reuters

basin - A region drained by a single river system: the Amazon basin.
logging - The work or business of felling and trimming trees and transporting the logs to a mill.
rife - widespread or common
fell - To cause to fall by striking
take - to stand up to or endure: I can't take this harassment any more