WHERE THERE'S A WILL...

Prince offers to help rainforest 'guardians'

- BY RUSSELL MYERS

PRINCE William heard directly from indigenous Brazilians about their plight to save their land and told them: "We deeply appreciate everything you do." On his final day in the country yesterday, the Prince of Wales, 43, spoke of the optimism of a better future for the planet in Belem, known as the gateway to the Amazon.

He heard the reality faced by indigenous groups who are campaigning to protect their land from deforestation.

Juma Xipaia, 33, told William that big business was ruining the environment, specifically in the form of the Belo Monte dam, the third largest in the world, and the Belo Sun mine.

Her fight to protect the Amazon rainforest was featured in the documentary film Yanuni, which she co-produced with Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.

Speaking via a translator after meeting the prince, Juma said: “I told him that it is getting worse because of violence.