Here, the Mayans combine Catholic traditions with ancient rituals. The costumes indicate both community of origin and rank. A plume of smoke signals on-going destruction of the rainforest. Clearlng forests to plant corn and extracting mahogany and other hardwoods from the forest. 1-2 years of corn are grown before the soil is depleted and another area must be cleared.
More people means more land for agriculture and housing.
The jaguar's last refuge is the Peten jungle. The development of sustainable economic activities is crucial to the health and survival of the Country. Ecotourism is a major player in the sustainable development strategy. Ecotourism is building on the traditional archeological-base tourism. Ecolodges are small and have low environmental impact-reflecting the architecture and materials of the local culture.