MINING: Brazilian judge blocks decree to mine in reserve

RIO DE JANEIRO – It seems the plan to open up a 42,000-km² area of the Amazon Basin to exploration and mining has stumbled into a roadblock. Wednesday a federal judge signed an order preventing the plan. The court suspended any possible administrative acts based on the decree. It further determined that only the country’s congress has the right to abolish the protected status of the Renca reserve. President Michel Temer signed an administrative act earlier this week to open up a portion of the Renca reserve, a move that was roundly criticized. Despite an attempt to spell out remaining protections for plants, animals and land, the government cannot move forward.