Sao paulo [Brazil], June 24 (ANI): Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles resigned Wednesday, weeks after being targeted by federal police as part of an investigation into alleged illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) replaces Salles, who has been widely criticized by environmental activists around the world for increased deforestation under surveillance, with Joaquin Alvaro Pereira Late, who was previously responsible for Amazon surveillance. I reported.

The retiring minister led an effort to convince the United States to pay US $ 1 billion to South American countries to help the United States fight deforestation and fund sustainable development in the region. did.

Last month, federal police attacked real estate related to Saleth as part of an extensive investigation into alleged illegal logging of trees for export. The Brazilian Supreme Court has also turned the criminal investigation into a green light. Saleth argued that the accusation against him was unfounded.

“Ricardo Salles’s departure is a victory for society, but it is still a partial victory. We know that he was the operator of Bolsonaro’s vicious and anti-environmental policies. Will continue to fight, “said former Brazilian Marina Silva. According to the WSJ, about 224 square miles of trees in the world’s largest rainforest, presidential candidate and environmental activist, were lost in April. This is the highest level since Impe, a Brazilian space research institute, created the Terra Brasilis platform to track data in 2015.

Meanwhile, environmental activists have raised concerns that the appointment of Late will rarely change the direction of President Jair Bolsonaro’s government. Illegal ranchers and soybean farmers are usually blamed for much of the Amazon’s deforestation.

Since Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, his government has been criticized by European governments and activists for his loud support for development in the Amazon and for policies that have reduced funding for environmental protection. I have come. (ANI)