A Brazilian federal court suspended a decree from President Michel Temer that would opened up parts of the Renca National Preserve to commercial mining and other development.

The federal court in the capital Brasilia said in a statement it was suspending "possible administrative acts based on the decree".  President Temer wants to allow miners in as part of his plan to boost the economy.  The National Reserve of Copper and Associates (Renca), covers roughly 4.6 million hectares over Amapa and Para states, an area larger than Denmark.  It is believed to contain rich deposits of gold, iron, manganese and other minerals.

But opposition Senator Randolfe Rodrigues denounced the move as "the biggest attack on the Amazon in the last 50 years".  And the World Wildlife Fund last month said that opening the Renca would cause a "demographic explosion, deforestation, the destruction of water resources, the loss of biodiversity, and the creation of land conflict" that would threaten two indigenous reserves that are home to various ethnic communities living in relative isolation.