Environment Minister Marina Silva resigned from her position early this afternoon.  The Environment Ministry press corps confirmed the information without revealing the motives for her resignation.

Silva will reassume her seat in the Senate.  Her alternate since she became minister in 2003, Senator Sibá Machado (PT), also confirmed that she had submitted her resignation letter to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Pressure on Marina was particularly strong last year, when the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources (Ibama) delayed granting environmental licenses for Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) power plant projects on the Madeira River.