Brazil accuses Amazon scientists of theft
- Brazil
- 02/01/2008
Brazil’s Intelligence Agency claims that environmentalists are committing biopiracy by selling indigenous knowledge to pharmaceutical firms, while one religious group is said to be endangering the ethnic identity of Indians. The intelligence service has accused non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in the Amazon rainforest of biopiracy – the theft of yet-to-be catalogued species for commercial profit. The Agency monitored 25 NGOs during the last six months of 2007 and said it had found evidence that they had transferred indigenous people’s knowledge of plants and animals to pharmaceutical companies. It also said there was evidence of groups affiliated to NGOs being involved in the illegal extraction of diamonds on indigenous land, and it accused religious groups of activities that endanger the ethnic identity of Indian communities. Brazil has long been concerned about protecting intellectual property rights over the Amazon forest.
