Brazil swears in Amazon rainforest defender as its environment minister

By Bala Chambers

BUENOS AIRES (AA) - Marina Silva was sworn in as Brazil's new environmental minister Wednesday, hitting out at the dismantling of environmental policies under the previous administration.

Silva, an Amazon rainforest activist, previously held the position from 2003-2008, when she resigned following a policy dispute with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

During her speech at the Planalto Palace in the capital Brasilia, she pledged to fight for zero deforestation and to uphold international climate and environmental commitments.

She also vowed to create a number of secretariats to safeguard Brazil's environment.

Silva began her speech by thanking Lula and voters, describing the situation she has inherited as "perhaps one of the most difficult moments in our history.”​​​​​​​

“The Brazilian people had the wisdom, courage and discernment to stop barbarism, to not allow Brazil to fall into the abyss.”

She also slammed the deforestation that she said has blighted the country, insisting "what we experienced in the years that passed was a complete disrespect for Brazil’s environmental heritage."

"Our conservation units were attacked by people who felt authorized by the highest levels of government," she said, describing the process as "a weakening of environmental bodies.”

Silva also paid tribute to Brazilian indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and journalist Dom Philips who were murdered in the Javari Valley in June last year.

On Dec. 30, Silva was named environmental minister alongside Sonia Guajajara, who became the country's first-ever minister for Indigenous peoples.