The plan would link South America’s economies through new transportation, energy and telecommunications projects, said Tim Killeen of the Washington-based organization. But he said a rain forest disaster could be avoided if steps are taken to reconcile the legitimate desires for development with the globally important need to conserve the Amazon ecosystem.

He said his 98-page study offers pragmatic approaches for resolving the enduring paradox between economic development and environmental protection.

"Failure to foresee the full impact of (the projects), particularly in the context of climate change and global markets, could lead to a perfect storm of environmental destruction," Killeen said. "At stake (is) the greatest tropical wilderness area on the planet and the multiple benefits it provides."

Killeen's study is available at http://web.conservation.org/ImageCache/CIWEB/content/downloads/perfect_5fstorm_5fenglish_2epdf/v1/perfect_5fstorm_5fenglish.pdf