Hero of the Day:

Para Governor Simao Jatene, I salute you...

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Rainforest gets protected status

Monday, 4 December 2006, 12:17 GMT

Vast tracts of rainforest in Brazil are to get a new protected status.

The segments of land in the northern Para state together cover 15 million hectares (57,915 sq miles), an area of land that is bigger than England.

Campaigners say the decision made by Para Governor Simao Jatene is one of the most important conservation initiatives of recent years.

Endangered species in the new protected areas include the giant otter and northern bearded saki monkey; and "flagship" species such as the jaguar, giant anteater and black spider monkey.

While this is rather excellent, the article does go on to say, rather depressingly...

Since 1970, more than 600,000 sq kilometres (230,000 sq miles) of Amazon rainforest - an area larger than France - is said to have been destroyed.