Guardian: Vast swathes of the western Amazon are to be opened up for oil and gas exploration, putting some of the planet’s most pristine and biodiverse forests at risk, conservationists have warned. A survey of land earmarked for exploration by energy companies revealed a steep rise in recent years, to about 180 zones, which together cover an area of 688 000 square kilometres, almost equivalent to the size of Texas. Detailed mapping of the region shows the majority of planned oil and gas …