Country France Intercommunality Ouest Guyanais Population (2012) 151 | Overseas region and department French Guiana Area 4,475 km (1,728 sq mi) | |
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Arrondissement Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni | ||
Saül is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America.
It is very remote, surrounded by dense rainforest and, because there are no roads to the town, can only be reached by airplane.
The principal activities in the town are gold mining and trekking through the many rainforest trails. There is a tourist camp (Larozaly) and hotel (Les Eaux Claires) in the town.
Economy
Saül is situated in the Amazonian Forest and is not connected to any road system. Saül's economy is based on eco and scientific tourism. Tourists can reach the town by plane thanks to Air Guyane Express. In July 2008, the REXMA corporation made an application for a gold mining permit. Due to environmental concerns, the French Government postponed the decision in October 2008. On 26 October 2012, Arnaud Montebourg, the French Industry Minister, approved the permit. The Mayor and the council were shocked by this decision as they are promoting and living off eco tourism.
The inhabitants of Saül, the botanist Scott Mori, politicians such as Chantal Berthelot and José Gaillou, and many organizations like IUCN, Fédération Guyane Nature Environment and Rainforest Rescue protested against the decision to reward the permit. Opposition grew from the possibility that the mine would cause the partial destruction of the Guiana Amazonian Park and the decline of water quality.