Main field of interest: Exploring, learning about, and teaching about the Lacandon Rain Forest and working with its people.

Education: 1969-1974- B.A. in Marketing and the University of San Francisco, California, USA

Languages: Spanish and English

Background: Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 1949, Fernando first thought of being a business person, acquiring his degree in Marketing from the US., and then spending the early part of his adult life -- from 1976 to 1990 -- as an impresario dealing with horticultural operations, particularly citrus, in the Mexican state of Colima, on the Pacific coast.

In 1991 he changed gears in his life, came to Chiapas, and began working on conservation programs, ecotourism projects, and helping the area's inhabitants. Success was experienced, but in 1994 operations had to be suspended in the Laguna de Miramar area because of the Zapotista uprising. Now he dedicated himself to humanitarian services, particularly concerned with indigenous children. In 1995, the ecotourism program was reinitiated. In 1996 he initiated a project educating the public about organic agriculture, and in 1998 his efforts were aided when a US organization provided funds for developing organic culture of cacao, the native Mexican tree from which chocolate is derived.

In recent years Fernando has published articles in the Los Angeles Times and in various ecotour magazines. The US magazine Conde Nast Traveler, in the July, 1998 issue, presented him with their annual Ecotourism Award.

Fernando says that one thing he likes about hosting tours is that his clients, by and large, are "socially and ecologically responsible," and he simply likes being with folks like that. Since around 1983 he's been a vegetarian. He likes to communicate with people via e-mail, and his letters are always interesting and informative.

Fernando conducts our Laguna de Miramar in the Lacandón Rain Forest tour.