MEXICO CITY, Dec 18 (Tierramérica) - Raúl Contreras, municipal president of the Mexican city of Sonoyta, on the U.S. border, told Tierramérica that he would not grant a construction permit for a controversial toxic waste dump.

Mexico's federal authorities gave the green light to a dump that would hold 45,000 tons of industrial waste, located less than 100 km from the border with the U.S. state of Arizona, and along the border of an Indian reservation. But it is up to the municipal authorities to decide on a change in land-use rights, indispensable for finalizing the project.

"On May 30 the former municipal administration denied the permit for land use. And I (in office since September) am not thinking about opening the case. I see it as something already resolved," said Contreras.

"These projects that are dangerous because of their environmental or health effects should be subject to public opinion. They can't be done behind the community's back," he said.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 18 (Tierramérica) - A territory of the Kayapó Indians that covers 1.5 million hectares in the northern Brazilian state of Pará has become the world's largest area of certified tropical forest.

Indigenous leaders received the certification from the Brazilian Forest Management Council on Dec. 13 in Sao Paulo, along with the organic seal for oil produced from the Amazonian nut Bertholletia excelsa, or Brazil nut.

The oil is used in cosmetics, and the Brazilian association for personal health, perfumes and cosmetics is promoting its environmentally friendly production.

"The Kayapó produce five to 10 tons of oil annually, depending on the yield of nuts," Luiz Villares, of the sustainable business campaign of Friends of the Earth-Brazilian Amazon, told Tierramérica.

Now efforts are focused on certification for Mekragnoti, the neighboring area -- also of the Kayapó -- of 4.3 million hectares, he announced.

BOGOTA, Dec 18 (Tierramérica) - In January a ban begins on shrimp fishing in surface and deep waters of the Pacific Ocean off the Colombian coast.

The measure, which was to enter into force on Dec. 1, was postponed by the Colombian Institute of Rural Development, INCODER, at the request of artisanal fisherfolk, who asked for support in replacing their fishing equipment.

María Rodríguez, ecologist with the National University, told Tierramérica the ban was established in October 1993 to protect and control the exploitation of the country's shrimp resources.

Under the ban, it is prohibited to sell shrimp in any of the towns along Colombia's Pacific coast, including hotels, restaurants, and similar outlets, she added.