Brazil´s Vice President asks for regulation for indigenous land mining

Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao defended mining in indigenous reservations on Monday. He said the constitution allows this, though regulations are needed to ensure miners pay taxes to the government and royalties to the tribes. Mourao said in a radio interview with Grupo Estado that Brazil should map the resources of the Amazon rainforest by allowing exploration to attract private investment. But he said regulation was needed to set environmental rules. The vice president said government measures to monitor and control fires in the Amazon rainforest would be extended until the end of 2022. Brazil is facing international criticism for the worst fires in a decade in the Amazon and other parts of Brazil, such as the Pantanal wetlands, where many wildlife have been killed. Last month's fires burned down both recently deforested areas and virgin forest, a worrying trend that suggests the rainforest is becoming drier and more prone to fire. Fires are used by ranchers to clear land for new grazing land. In response to a question, Mourao said he was unaware of discussions about merging the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and dismissed criticism of the farm lobby. He said the agribusiness is most interested in environmental protection.