A concretion of autochthonous chemical group in the Amazon has proposed the formation of a preservation expanse in South America , stretching   200 million hectares ( 490 million acres ) from the Andes in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east . If program were to go onwards ,   it would be the largest protect arena in the world   – and amount to a landmass the size of it of Mexico .

leader of the alliance representing 500 indigenous cultures across nine countries presented the project to representatives at theUN Biodiversity Conference ,   hold in Egypt , on Wednesday . The plan : to build a large - scale sanctuary where people , wildlife , and biodiversity can be keep up and protect .

" We have arrive from the forest and we concern about what is happen , " explained Tuntiak Katan , vice - President of the United States of COICA ( Coordinator of the Indigenous Organisation of the Amazon River Basin),The Guardianreports .

" This space is the universe ’s last majuscule sanctuary for biodiversity . It is there because we are there . Other place have been destruct . "

This is not the first clip such a proposal has been made . With the backing of Ecuador , Columbia was flummox ready to present a alike plan at climate talks due to take berth in December . But while the project did let in plans to protect the   region ’s unique and diverse vegetation and fauna , these protection rights would not necessarily have extended to the indigenous people who last there . There are also concerns that these plan will be disdain following the election of   a right - wing democrat , Iván Duque , in June .

Similarly , in neighboring   Brazil , the election of a far - right populist , Jair Bolsonaro , in October has conservationist worried about the future of the Amazon . The country has reserve ministerial - storey debates on plan to produce a indicate protection zone . However , any follow - through on these programme could be lurk by the pro - industry Bolsonaro , who has been highly blunt about his intentions to spread out the Amazon to agriculturists and industrialists and has even suggestedexiting the Paris correspondence .

COICA may have its work cut off out to   put these plan into praxis but Katan remain positive , saying"We know the governments will attempt to go over our head … This is nothing Modern for us . We have face challenge for hundreds of yr . "

Unlike country - states Columbia and Brazil , the group does not recognize the international borders ground by colonialists and their descendants without consent from the indigenous universe . Their proposal of marriage includes not just tribute for wildlife and the environs , but protection for the territorial right of the indigenous masses who exist there .

The chemical group is also appeal for government - level representation at the UN Convention ,   The Guardian   report , where they hope to partner with NGOs and indigenous community in other countries .

[ H / T : The Guardian ]