RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (UPI) -- The destruction of the Brazilian rainforest is on the rise again, the country's new environment minister said Wednesday.
Environment Minister Carlos Minc said official statistics regarding increased deforestation in the Amazon will be available next week, O Globo TV reported.
Deforestation in Brazil was on the decline for three straight years, according to environmental officials, who blame illegal logging for most of the destruction in the world's largest rainforest.