Michel Temer eyes parts of the Amazon for mining, enraging environmentalists
Rio de Janeiro — When most of the world talks about the riches of the Amazon they mean the unique rainforest and so-called lungs of the planet. But Brazilian President Michel Temer has given the nod to a more literal sense of riches — mineral extraction — leaving environmentalists and activists including Gisele Bundchen up in arms. Temer’s decision issued on Wednesday scrapped a national reserve in the northern Para and Amapa states that had protected a 46,000km² area since 1984, when Brazil was still run by a military dictatorship. The Reserva Nacional del Cobre y Asociados is bigger than Denmark and home to virgin forest, as well as indigenous territories of the Aparai, Wayana and Wajapi tribes. But it also contains important reserves of gold, manganese, iron and copper — and Temer believes cash-strapped Brazil should start digging. Until now, state-owned companies had a right to exploit the resources, but rarely did. Temer’s measure will open the door to private business. Temer’s...
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