FLAAR Mesoamerica Information

FLAAR Mesoamerica is a non-profit organization that does research and educational projects on plants and animals of Guatemala and nearby countries. Our primary interest in plants are utilitarian plants, especially edible plants (edible seeds, fruits, vegetables, pulp (around seeds), edible flowers, roots, tubers, leaves, stalks) of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. We have accomplished lots of successful research on flowers that appear in Maya paintings and sculpture. Plus have an improved list of all plants used for roof thatching (much more than pictured by Wauchope and other writers on domestic Maya house construction). Naturally we are also working to save endangered species and fragile eco-systems. For fauna, our interests and research includes: - Mammals: arboreal, terrestrial mammals, felines, two kinds of monkey - Birds: waterbirds, birds of prey, hummingbirds, birds that are featured in the Popol Vuh, birds that make impressive woven pendant nests (orioles, oropendolas, cacique), and any endangered species that needs extra help. - Reptiles: especially turtles and crocodilians (caiman and two crocodiles) - Amphibians: toads, frogs, and in between creatures (uo). - Insects: lightning bugs and other beetles, wasps, bees, termites, butterflies, moths Spider nest structure plus Arachnids and other crawly creatures. Te in the middle of a forest or wading through a swamp, or at high altitude on a mountain, or surrounded by cacti and other thorny plants in dry eco-systems.