The move, creating a megapark including the world's largest protected patch of tropical rain forest and covering 70 percent of the state, is seen as a huge victory for green groups who feared the area could fall under the logger's axe.

"Amapa has raised the bar in terms of its conservation commitment and has set a new standard for the Amazonia and the world," said Russell Mittermeier, the president of Conservation International.

Amapa, at Brazil's northern tip, is one of the planet's last great wild frontiers, and researchers estimate that 96 percent of its original vegetation remains intact - far higher than other parts of the Amazon basin. The total park system will cover about 70 percent of Amapa state's territory.

Tropical rain forests are considered to be the planet's biological jewels and are home to the greatest diversity of plant and animal life on Earth.

The new corridor is home to nine primate species and more than 500 bird species as well as predators like jaguars.

The corridor adds over two million hectares to the 7.8 million hectares of land already protected in the state.

Scientists say corridors are a vital tool in any long-term strategy to preserve species, as they link fragmented ecosystems.

Many scientists hold that a single, large reserve can contain and protect a greater variety of species than several smaller ones which are not connected.

"Corridors enable large predators to move through big areas unhindered," said Mittermeier. They also allow migratory animals to follow ancient, seasonal routes which may otherwise have been disturbed by human activities.