For the fifth year of the MMAP project I was planning to travel to the Maya mountains of southern Belize conduct research. In 1995 five students from Cleveland State University and myself from Heidelberg College were selected to accompany the expedition team of archaeologists, biologists and geologists on the three-month tour. Led by Cleveland State archaeologist Peter Dunham, we departed in March to return in mid-june.
The research in '95 set it's sights on exploring a new region, called the Coxcomb Basin. It is the site of the world's only jaguar preserve. Each year the project grows larger and larger as we recognize the importance of the area, not only to the ancient Maya, but to modern Belize, and the issue of archaeological and biological preservation.
National Geographic provided funding to continue the project, and will have an added presence on the expedition. A photographer and videographer were to accompany our group in anticipation of a pair of articles the magazine plans to publish in coming years. But, as many things never to work out the photography, was taken off our project to head up north, to the artic. We were asssigned another photographer for the folloeing year.
The eventual goal is to set up protective plans for the Belizian rain forests essential to the survival of the Maya culture.
In the past, my professor from Heidelberg on the projct, Dr. Robert Murray, collected samples of snakes and amphibians for scientists at the Smithsonian Institute. During my trip, two of the scientists from the Smithsonian accompanied me in Belize to do the collecting.
I was the fourth Heidelberg College biology student to participate. Since then there have three lucky winners to head down to Belize. Winners I say because if they all come back in one piece they sure do deserve a medal or something!!! By the way, two are down in Belize right now as you read this. I hope all is well for them, including their health.
Thanks, Heather Moran
Back to Quetzals Homepage