Tourists could be required to apply for a permit before they are allowed into the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, it has been revealed.
However, the new rules are not aimed at
backpacking activities. Instead, the Brazilian government is keen to prevent the rainforest's resources from being pillaged by foreign companies.
But those foreign tourists that do not get permission could face a fine of up to $60,000 if congress passes the bill within the next few months.
National justice secretary, Romeu Tuma told the Associated Press: "We want the world to visit the region. But we want them to tell us when they're coming and what they're going to do."
He added that some companies posing as NGOs have been suspected of going to the Amazon for bioprospecting - the practice of seeking out indigenous plants and organisms that may have commercial use.
The permit is expected to apply to all activities from nature tours to city visits across a two million square mile region.
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