The “Latuvi Conservation Project” initiative will create materials identifying and documenting flora, fauna and archeological sites in a unique and pristine area of Mexico. Final documents produced will include maps of geographical features such as trails, forest and farmland, as well as historical and cultural names and uses of places, plants and animals. This initiative serves to promote conservation, community benefit/decision making, and ecotourism efforts . It will seek to update all knowledge to date and document new information and species via an upcoming 5-day intensive field investigation. The cost for this initiative is $6,000 (six thousand US dollars), and any donations beyond this amount will be used to increase the scope of this initiative.

The field investigation will occur in the Zapotec community of Santa Martha Latuvi and surrounding communities, in the beautiful Sierra Norte of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. This is a high elevation, mountainous site located approximately 2 hours driving distance from the city of Oaxaca. The area has many endemic and rare plants and animals, epiphytes (plants rooted on other plants instead of in soil) such as orchids, bromeliads and cacti growing on oak trees and other tree species, and evidence of ancient Zapotec sites. The area is gaining popularity with tourists seeking unique experiences, but lacks a full species inventory or conservation plan. Click on links for additional info and tourist services in this area: https://www.facebook.com/LatuviOaxaca/?locale=es_LA, https://sierranorte.org.mx/#/centro/2