Brazil's unelected conservative government has stripped the protected status of a vast natural reserve to open it up to commercial mineral exploitation.

The the protected area, known as the National Reserve of Copper and Associates (Renca), covers roughly 4.6 million hectares over Amapa and Para states is believed to contain rich deposits of gold, iron, manganese and other minerals.  President Michel Temer has been seeking to stimulate economic activity, and Brazil's mining and energy ministry had proposed lifting the protections on the Renca to meet that goal.

But the World Wildlife Fund's chief in Brazil Mauricio Voivodic fears a "gold rush" that would lead to "demographic explosion, deforestation, the destruction of water resources, the loss of biodiversity and the creation of land conflict". 

In addition, activists believe that opening 31 percent of the Renca to mining would directly threat nine conservation and indigenous land areas within area.  Gold mining risks releasing mercury into the surrounding land, water, and air. Looking for forex platform to trade? Reliable best forex brokers in Nigeria with real reviews. Find you who is the best.

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Two of the indigenous groups live in isolation from the outside world, and opening up a bunch of open pit mines next door would "create irreversible damage to these cultures", according to a WWF report.  "If the government insisted on opening up these areas for mining without discussing environmental safeguards it will have to deal with an international outcry."