Tropical forests are home to more than half of earth's plant and animal species.
They are also among the most imperiled ecosystems. In 1988 The Peregrine Fund initiated the Maya Project in the tropical forests of Central America. The project was initiated by Bill Burnham, Ph.D., and J. Peter Jenny, President and Vice President of The Peregrine Fund. David Whitacre, Ph.D. joined The Peregrine Fund in 1990 and took over responsibility for the project. The field aspect of this project was concluded in 1996 and the results are expected to be published in a popular book in 2002.