In brief
A judge in Brazil has prevented the development of a zipline linking Rio's iconic Sugarloaf Mountain to Morro da Urca. The project aimed to provide high-speed descents but faced opposition from environmentalists and locals concerned about the potential damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Activists hailed the decision as a victory for conservation. The project's developer plans to appeal the ruling.
A judge in Brazil has blocked a project to build a zipline connecting the famous Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro to a nearby hill, Morro da Urca.
The attraction's developer said it would allow visitors to descend from Sugarloaf Mountain at speeds of almost 100km/h (62mph) via four ziplines covering a distance of 755m (0.47 miles).
The project, which started four years ago, had triggered protests from locals and environmentalists, who argued that the construction work was causing irreparable damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The developer is expected to appeal against the decision.
Gricel Osorio Hor-Meyll, one of the activists who had led the campaign against the zipline, told AFP news agency that the ruling was a huge victory.
Those opposed to the attraction argued that in order to build the platforms needed to access the zipline, the rock on top of Sugarloaf Mountain would have to be excavated.
The company which manages the site has stated that excavation would be kept to a minimum by using areas with existing construction.
The project had the approval of both Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN).
As part of Tuesday's ruling, the judge ordered that IPHAN and the project's developer pay 30m reals ($5.77m, £4.35m) in damages, emphasizing the inestimable value of Sugarloaf Mountain, not only for Brazilians but for people worldwide.
The project has been at the center of legal battles for years, with construction halted on various occasions. In January, work resumed after a high court ruling favored completion, stating that halting construction would cause more harm than finishing the project.
However, this decision has now been overturned by Tuesday's ruling, with the likelihood of a continued legal saga as the company plans to lodge an appeal.
