The largest freshwater wetlands in the world, which stretch across two Brazilian states, are to be given protected status as a World Heritage Site.

The announcement was made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO.

The Pantanal wetlands cover two-hundred thousand square kilometres - an area about the size of England and Scotland.

The Brazilian wetlands are home to hundreds of species of bird, mammal, fish and reptile and have become a popular destination for nature-watchers in recent years.

But they're coming under increasing threat from pollution, encroachment by farmers and over-fishing.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service