Posted October 8, 2021
Parque Nacional Yaxha, Nakum and Naranjo (PNYNN) is best known for the nicely protected monumental Classic Maya architecture of Yaxha, Nakum, Naranjo and Topoxte Island. This national park is also known for the sun setting over Lake Yaxha.
Our focus in the August 2018-July 2019 project in PNYNN was flora, fauna, and interesting ecosystems that had not often been published: pital areas (hundreds of Aechmea magdalenae terrestrial bromeliads surrounding a natural aguada); cibal areas (sawgrass savannas); and traditional open grassland savannas with their iconic tasiste palms, nance fruit trees, and jicara calabash trees.
Based on the results of that project we were asked to return to undertake a 5-year project of cooperation and coordination with CONAP for PNYNN and adjacent areas plus the rest of the Reserva de la Biosfera Maya (RBM). We are now in our 9th month of this new research project. Our focus is on wetlands since we have learned a lot about swamps, marshes, riverside and lakeside habitats from our separate 15-month flora-fauna-ecosystems research project in the Municipio de Livingston (east part of Izabal).
I am especially interested in studying savannas since they are well studied in adjacent Belize. But other than the pine savannas of Poptun karst area of southern Peten and the karst savannas of La Libertad area of Peten (all south, outside the RBM), the savannas of PNYNN within the RBM have not previously been published. The Savanna East of Nakum was known but not published with photographs; the savanna to the west of Naranjo has been studied but its flora and fauna were not yet published. Our goal in 2021 is to accomplish improved digital photographic documentation starting with the Savanna of 3 Fern Species. This is so remote that it has not previously been published (that we know of).
One reason these savannas are not previously studied is because there is no base camp adjacent to them. To reach them is comparable to an Olympic long distance trek. We overcome the difficulties of climbing steep hills and sliding down the other side with inspiration, dedication, combined with initiative. This facilitates hiking up to 18 kilometers in a single day (about 10 miles).
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Our five year project in RBM is inspired to dedicate our experience with digital photography, with biodiverse ecosystems, and with documentation of flora and fauna. Our reports are intended to assist scientists plus students plus the interested public to have more information about the remarkable national parks and nature reserves of the RBM area of Peten, Guatemala, Central America.
The 200 page report at the left is mostly full page photographs to show the remarkable Neotropical flowers, trees, howler monkeys and bio-diverse ecosystems of Parque Nacional Yaxha, Nakum and Naranjo (which is part of the RBM). This first edition lists the equipment needed for the coming four years (2022-2025).