the first hike

Our introduction to La Sepultura started with a great hike.

Got as far as we could with the truck at "La Envidia" ranch and then started walking. Just a few minutes into the hike and coffee fields were all around us. Fortunately, coffee plants were looking good despite past damage caused by coffee rust (later we learned that some producers were applying preventive fungicides and planting resistant varieties).

We were looking into the canopy when we noticed that many Heliocarpus trees had their leaves quite perforated. These guys appear to be the culprits:

Zats

Huge gregarious caterpillars from a moth species (Sarturniidae ?). In some parts of Chiapas they call them 'zats' (in the indigenous Tzotzil language) and they say they're delicious :) Culinary curiosities aside, it would be interesting to find out how their frass (droppings) contributes to soil fertility, because there was lots of it on the ground, and many of these infested trees grow in coffee fields. Zats flavoured coffee is what I'm thinking.

Another thing that I found amazing is that farmers that had cleared their coffee fields (from understory plants and weeds) had spared Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) individuals. This group of cycads is endangered, and so it's encouraging to see these conscious practices in the field. I'm interested to find out how this came to be.

Ceratozamia leaf

Soon enough we entered the forest and hiked our way up to around 1,650 meters a.s.l. Nature abundance! Trees, plants, butterflies, fungi...

fig tree and a Luis hand

Parasitic plant Helosis mexicana

The way down was a bit slower than the way up, we had to cross some abandoned fields with thick vegetation. Our guide made good use of his machete and everyone was in good spirits.

The ECOSUR-Forefront team

the only way through (is striking a pose)

finally out of the forest

What a wonderful introduction to our research site! and dinner at Doña Chonita's was just as great.