Jungle Of The Maya

"This enchanted land, steeped in history and sheathed in forest, is so exquisitely photographed and engagingly described in Jungle of the Maya you can almost hear the bellow of howler monkeys above and the rustle of army ants below as you turn the pages. Great book." -- Pete Dunne, nature writer and Director for Natural History Information, New Jersey Audubon "This beautiful and informative book provides a wealth of information and inspiration for any traveler to Belize, Guatemala, or the Yucatan. The land, which once supported a vast civilization, is now the most critical stronghold of the region's spectacular wildlife. Jungle of the Maya underscores all the reasons why this precious tropical forest must be saved." -- Gerard Bertrand, noted conservationist and honorary president of the World Land Trust

The Selva Maya (Jungle of the Maya) is one of the world's most magical yet least appreciated places-- an enormous tropical forest that encompasses much of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. At 9,000,000 acres, it is the largest contiguous tropical forest north of the Amazon in the Western Hemisphere. Within its borders, the Selva Maya provides habitat for an astonishing diversity of plants and animals-- more than 500 species of birds alone. The forest also contains the fascinating ruins of ancient Maya cities, which attract visitors and researchers from all over the globe.

Jungle of the Maya presents a stunning photographic portrait of this irreplaceable natural treasure. Nature photographers Douglas Goodell and Jerry Barrack capture the living wonders of the jungle-- jaguars and other cats; spider and howler monkeys; hummingbirds andbutterflies; and snakes, amphibians, and insects-- as well as the region's hallmark Maya sites, including Tikal, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and Tulum. Environmental writer Jim Wright invitingly describes the Selva Maya's natural and human history, helping visitors and residents appreciate the riches to be found in the forest and the need to protect and preserve them for generations to come.

Because human activities are encroaching more and more on the Mayan forest, Jungle of the Maya is a beautiful book with a timely message. As renowned naturalist Archie Carr III sums it up in his foreword, "Today, the Selva Maya is at risk again. As modern beings, can we manage the forest better than we believe the ancient Maya did? We should. We have the archaeological record to draw from. We have modern science. And we still have inspiration whispered to us by spirits in the great plazas of Tikal and beyond. Turn the pages, and witness."