This small, and largely unheard of bird, loves the relatively low temperatures and humidity offered by the Central American highlands. The Quetzal species has had a massive impact on the Central American people and government. This tiny colorful bird has been thriving in Central America since the times of the ancient Mayans. Here are a few ways this lightweight bird has influenced heavy changes in Central America. The species can also be found in Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The small fowl has been battling poachers and natural selection for thousands of years, but the advanced means that are used by man today can’t be matched by the Quetzal’s “live free or die” way of life.

The Namesake

The name Quetzal originally comes from the Aztec term in Nahuatl, meaning “large brilliant tail feathers,” which the Resplendent is famous for. The Nahuatl word “quetz” means, literally, “stand up.” This word would often be used in reference of a large plume of standing feathers. In the beginning of the bird’s long history, only the Resplendent was given the name Quetzal, but with time it was discovered that there are 5 other Quetzal species, none of which are doing much better than the Quetzal in terms of numbers.

The whale shark is the biggest fish in the world. It has a massive body that can reach up to 18 meter (60 feet). Its coloration is gray or dark blue on its back, with circular spots and light colored white or yellowish horizontal and vertical lines and a white belly. In Mexico these patterns give the whale shark its local name: "domino."

Named after the shark’s nickname Domino: The Mexican Atlantic Whale Shark Project was created in Mexico in 2003. The project was established for whale shark conservation and allows whale shark tour operations to run Whale Shark excursions for visitors that would like to swim with the animals. 

Ecologists emphasize that the Laguna del Tigre National Park, in the Petén department of Guatemala, contains 70 to 80 percent of forest, a great biodiversity and important freshwater reservoirs, which makes it a strategic area to be preserved. Conservationist feel the need to emphasize the ecological importance of the National Park as institutions interested to exploit the area for petroleum have led to believe there is nothing to protect.

Slash and burn consists of cutting and burning of forests to create fields for agriculture or pasture for livestock. Today the term is mainly associated with tropical rain forests where the technique is said to be doing mayor damage as it exhausts the soil rapidly. It is important however to clarify that slash and burn can be a sustainable method when practiced well and at a much smaller scale. In former days, nomad tribes using this method would slash and burn only small patches within large parts of jungle. This is a fantastic method when population is low, nature is in ecologic balance and the people move about, like nomads do.