In brief
A judge has blocked the construction of a controversial zipline project in Brazil that was to link Sugarloaf Mountain to Morro da Urca. Opponents argued it would damage the UNESCO World Heritage Site, leading to legal action. The developer plans to appeal the decision. Environmentalists view the ruling as a major victory.
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 claimed that excavation would be kept to a minimum by using areas with existing construction.
The project had the approval of both the Rio City Council and the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN).
As part of Tuesday's ruling, the judge ordered IPHAN and the project's developer to 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 centre of a legal battle for years and construction had been halted on various occasions as the company argued its case in court. In January, construction work restarted after a high court ruling stated that stopping would cause more damage than finishing the project at this advanced stage, noting that it was 95% completed. However, this decision has now been overturned by Tuesday's ruling.
Despite the halt, the legal saga appears set to continue as the company behind the project is expected to lodge an appeal.
