The Maya Tropical Forest

The Maya Tropical Forest, which occupies the lowlands of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, is the closest rainforest to the United States and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Western Hemisphere. It has been home to the Maya people for nearly four millennia, starting around 1800 BC. Ancient cities in the rainforest such as Palenque, Yaxchilan, Tikal, and Caracol draw thousands of tourists and scholars seeking to learn more about the prehistoric Maya. Their contemporary descendants, the modern Maya, utilize the forest's natural resources in village life and international trade, while striving to protect their homeland from deforestation and environmental degradation. Writing for both visitors and conservationists, James Nations tells the fascinating story of how ancient and modern Maya people have used and guarded the rich natural resources of the Maya Tropical Forest. He opens with a natural history that profiles the forest's significant animals and plants. Nations then describes the Maya people, biological preserves, and major archaeological sites in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. Drawing on more than twenty-five years of conservation work in the Maya Tropical Forest, Nations tells first-hand stories of the creation of national parks and other protected areas to safeguard the region's natural resources and archaeological heritage. He concludes with an expert assessment of the forest's future in which he calls for expanded archaeological tourism to create an ecologically sustainable economic base for the region.

ISBN 0292713185   Pages 352 ISBN13 9780292713185 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher University of Texas Press   Weight (grammes) 494 Imprint University of Texas Press   Published in Austin, TX Format Paperback   Height (mm) 228 Publication date 22 Aug 2006   Width (mm) 154 Library of Congress F1435.3.E7   Spine width (mm) 24 DEWEY 306.4   Academic level Professional / Scholarly DEWEY edition DC22

		Epochs of civilization in the Maya tropical forest
1		Introduction to the Maya tropical forest		3
2		History of the Maya tropical forest		18
3		Natural history of the Maya tropical forest		46
4		Mexico		113
5		Guatemala		172
6		Belize		225
7		The future of the Selva Maya		259

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