Hawks are often seen floating on air currents along the moutainsides. T he lake is large and very deep so it can absorb a lot. Nor is the ecological environment as delicate as, say the tundra or a tropical rainforest. Perhaps what the lake has most in its favor is a growing awareness in Guatemala of the value of what the country has. M ost of the region has been declared a national park and the Guatemalan equivalent of the Environmental Protection Agency has an office here that is relatively well funded.
T here is more than just altruism behind the government's efforts.
Tourism, especially international tourism engenders ecological responsibility. There is nothing like the bottom dollar to focus action in the right direction. With education the locals will come to understand that there is more money to be made saving the squirrels for the tourist to see. T he ecological situation here is not as it should be, but by no means is all lost. I applaud their efforts to save the region before irreversible damage is done.