Morning mists rise from Pacific coastal rain forest revealing understory cleared by colonists. Ecuador

Hillside where rain forest has been reduced to ashes heralds the arrival of colonists near Muisne Ecuador

Woman climbs crude ladder to door of her bamboo hut amid charred stumps of a homestead; Atacames. Ecuador

Pack horses bogged down by mud & mountain of eqpt struggle along soggy logging road to base camp. Ecuador

Man lugs water up muddy road in motor oil jug to kitchen site of RAP-study base camp. Ecuador

Ted Parker stands under umbrella, binocs in hand, looking for birds to add to RAP inventory. Ecuador

Robin Foster lies in tent studying map for hike in rain forest to identify plant communities. Ecuador

Framed by foliage, Robin Foster searches rain forest for plants to add to RAP-study inventory. Ecuador

Robin Foster examines red spadix of Anthurium epiphyte on hike in rain forest for RAP inventory Ecuador

Soaked & dirty, Al Gentry battles w/ clipper pole to cut orchid from tree on his transect line. Ecuador

Close-up of Al Gentry's muddy shoes and climbing irons as he scales tree to snatch specimen. Ecuador

Al Gentry grabs orange Gasteranthus flower as he processes specimens beneath tarp in forest Ecuador

Al Gentry works under glow of propane lamp at nite folding plants into newspapers for RAP study. Ecuador

Al Gentry examines leaves of vine in order to identify it in deciduous forest near Esmeraldas Ecuador

Three rainforest epiphytes (flower=Melastomotaceae,buds=Ericaceae fruit=anthurium) form a collage. Ecuador

Mammalogist Louise Emmons hikes at rain forest's edge holding worn umbrella over her head. Ecuador

Orphaned by hunter's gun, baby opossums huddle in hand of woman raising them on forest preserve. Ecuador

Toucan barbet perches in cage, last habitat for one of coastal rain forest's rarest birds. Ecuador

Lizard of Polychrus genus from dry forest of Machalilla NP walks on herpetologist Ana Almendauz. Ecuador

Tiny Oxybilis brevirostris snake rests head on dirty finger of scientist in rain forest; Bilsa. Ecuador

Heart, arteries and organs of glass-like frog are clearly seen as it sits in plastic specimen bag. Ecuador

Frog eggs create abstract pattern as they float in muddy puddle during rainy season in rainforst Ecuador

Like David and Goliath, bulldozer that felled giant strangler vine is dwarfed by mat of roots. Ecuador

Two colonists pose atop fallen log w/ corn and lemon seedlings they planted along logging road. Ecuador