"A goldmine of information on this fascinating area. Anyone interested in this slender and severely endangered connection to South America, or in the tropics in general, should have this book". -- Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University

As a bridge between North and South America, Central America has a fascinating natural history and a singular geographic and geopolitical position. It separates two immense and totally different continental faunas and two vast tropical oceans. It has also linked two remarkably contrasting groups of pre-Columbian cultures and witnessed the mingling of the American and European civilizations after Spanish colonization, developments that have led to a remarkable array of political and social patterns among the seven nations in the region. This richly illustrated book is the first popular yet thorough investigation of both the natural and human history of Central America.

The book is one outcome of the Paseo Pantera project, an international conservation effort dedicated to fostering a system of interconnected and protected natural corridors throughout the Central American isthmus. Written by eminent authorities in the field, it discusses the geological origins of the isthmus; the mosaic of landscapes that make it such a diverse and complex region; the differences that contrast the Pacific and Caribbean; the importance of Central American corridors and barriers forterrestrial organisms (including humans) and marine life; native peoples and cultures during pre-Columbian and colonial times; colonization; the postcolonial period and independence; the current status of the native Indian peoples and their lands; and regional conservation issues for the twenty-first century.