Brazil to Foreigners: We Own the Amazon

International NGOs and other foreign organizations in Brazil's Amazon rainforest will soon be controlled by the Brazilian military. A new law, currently being drafted, will assert Brazil's sovereignty over the region, which is treated by some as a sort of free zone. Foreign individuals and groups will have to register with regional military command and seek permission for their activities.

The Justice Minister Tarso Genro said the new law would crack down on the large number of Amazon NGOs acting as fronts for illegal activities like bio-piracy,  according to a Reuters story.

As the Amazon Basin is home to one-third of the earth's species and a number of vulnerable native tribes, it certainly needs protection. But it's unclear exactly how this bill will affect the numerous human rights groups working in the region, like Greenpeace.

--Emily Matchar