Under the immense canopy of the Amazon jungle, Brazilian Indians and officials called on U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to garner international support in protecting the world's largest rainforest. Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva emphasized the need for concrete mechanisms that would benefit the Amazon's residents during a meeting with Ban at a Samauma tree near Belem, the largest city in the Amazon. Ban, who had just completed a tour of South America focusing on the potential effects of global warming and visited Antarctica, was urged by Amazon Indian Marcos Apurina to help create economic opportunities for forest dwellers. Ban, who explored a jungle trail on Combu island, vowed the support of the United Nations in this endeavor. This is a resource that belongs to all people on Earth." Previously, Ban interacted with a three-toed sloth and planted two indigenous trees at a botanical garden in Belem. Ban is getting ready for a UN climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, later this year, which will initiate discussions on reducing carbon emissions once the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Brazil is responsible for the world's fourth-highest amount of carbon emissions primarily due to the Amazon rainforest's destruction, as per global environmental organizations. Ban did not address Brazil's decision to not set goals for decreasing deforestation and carbon emissions. Instead, he praised Brazil for its efforts to reduce forest destruction by 50 percent in two years, despite the fact that the rate has increased again since August. The Amazon emits carbon dioxide when trees are burned or decompose, contributing to global warming. Farmers and loggers clear large portions of the forest every year, depending on the prices of grain, beef, or timber. Silva, a former rubber tapper and activist, asked Ban to help overcome resistance from some Western countries to a proposal in the international Convention on Biodiversity that would require pharmaceutical companies to pay for drugs made from Amazon plants. Silva said Ban listened and promised to consider the proposal after a meeting on Monday. Scientists warn that global warming may transform a portion of the Amazon into semi-arid savanna in the coming decades. Severe weather events have led to both droughts and floods in various areas. Secretary-General Ban's scheduled trip along an Amazon tributary near Santarem had to be cancelled due to low water levels. While commending Brazil for its work on low-emission biofuels, Ban emphasized the importance of further international research on the potential impact of large-scale production on food supplies. Over the weekend, he visited a plant in Sao Paulo state that contributes to Brazil's status as one of the largest and most cost-effective ethanol producers. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration has heightened the frequency of police operations against illegal loggers and enlarged designated conservation areas. However, there are concerns among conservationists that the construction of roads and hydroelectric plants under this government could potentially lead to an increase in deforestation over time.