A petition has been launched in a bid to halt the planned resumption of phosphate mining on French Polynesia's Makatea atoll.
The mines were abandoned in 1966 but an Australian company Avenir Makatea wants to revive them.
Two associations, Fatu Fenua no Makatea and Rupe no Makatea, want the French environment minister Segolene Royal to intervene to save the island from exploitation.
A member of the associations Sabrina Birk told Walter Zweifel that the latest exploration was done without the consent of the landowners who now fear expropriation.
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Two associations, Fatu Fenua no Makatea and Rupe no Makatea, petition against phosphate mining Photo: change.org website