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TENTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP - GUATEMALA FEBRUARY 9 – 19, 2007

Guatemala possesses a wide range of natural and cultural assets. Sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it offers natureloving visitors opportunities to experience lowland tropical rainforests, volcanoes reaching nearly 14,000 feet, coastal mangroves and beaches, dry pine-oak forests and thornscrub. Nearly half of the residents are current-day Mayans, living in and around intact forests containing some of the best-preserved ancient temples and ruins in the world. During our workshop we will visit ten protected areas that use diverse conservation strategies, and meet with conservation colleagues to discuss their programs, successes and challenges. We will contribute to local conservation by sharing our own knowledge with our hosts, offering support

to the organizations we visit, and developing long-lasting conservation alliances. Active participation and dialogue will be encouraged among trip participants. Highlights of the workshop include visits to/ discussion on: Motagua River Valley thornscrub Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Refuge Sierra de las Minas cloud forest Three Mayan archaeological sites, including Tikal National Park/World Heritage Site El Paraiso hot springs Ixobel Farm pine forest and limestone caves Lake Atitlan and San Pedro Volcano Park Our Guatemalan trip leader is Jorge Cardona, Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy. Jorge works with a variety of local organizations to establish and manage protected areas in Guatemala. Cost of the 11-day trip, not including international airfare: $2,075. To sign up, or for more information, please visit our website: www.naturalarea.org (under “Events”), or contact trip coordinator Abi Rome at abirome@earthlink.net.