Contact:
Jeff Morgan, GHF
press@globalheritagefund.org
(650) 325 7520

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GHF Leader in Conservation Dr. Richard Hansen Awarded National Order of the Cultural Patrimony of Guatemala

President Oscar Berger of Guatemala honors Dr. Hansen for Mirador Basin Conservation Effort to Save Guatemala’s Cultural Patrimony

Above: National Order Awardee Dr. Richard Hansen with President Oscar Berger.

Above from Left to Right: Dr. Richard Hansen; the Director of the Patrimonio Cultural y Natural de Guatemala, Arquitecto Arturo Paz; the Vice Minister of Culture, Enrique Mateu; the Second Vice Minister of Culture of Guatemala, Lic. Jose Alberto Gandara; President Oscar Berger; Minister of Culture and Sports, Manuel de Jesus Salazar Tetazguic.

Above: Award presentation audience at the National Palace of Guatemala. Below: The FARES Guatemala team and friends working to save Mirador Basin.

PALO ALTO, CALIF. (December 17, 2005) – Dr. Richard Hansen, President of the Foundation for Anthropological Studies and Environmental Science (FARES) and the leader of archaeological conservation in Guatemala backed by the Global Heritage Fund (GHF), was today awarded Guatemala’s highest honor bestowed on a civilian for his work to save the cultural patrimony of the Republic of Guatemala, one of the richest and earliest civilizations in the world.

Dr. Hansen has dedicated his life to the exploration, conservation and permanent protection of the Mirador Basin, believed by most experts to be the Cradle of Maya Civilization featured on Discovery, ABC 20/20, CNN and National Geographic ‘Dawn of the Maya’. Mirador Basin’s 600,000 acres contains five distinct forests, abundant wildlife and the oldest and most monumental examples of the earliest Maya cities from 300-800BC. Within the Mirador Basin, Dr. Hansen has discovered one of the world’s largest pyramids in the world- La Danta - and five ancient Maya cities – Tintal, Wakna, Xuhnal, Nakbe and El Mirador - larger than Tikal, a nearby national park generating over $200 million a year in tourism revenues for Guatemala.

“Global Heritage Fund congratulates Dr. Hansen for this exceptional recognition by the President and people of Guatemala. His years of scientific and conservation work gives that country hope that Guatemala could be the next Egypt for exploration, science, conservation and planned, sustainable development of the world’s earliest cities and monuments,” said Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of Global Heritage Fund.

“GHF is extremely proud of its role in the funding and support of Dr. Hansen’s critical research, exploration and conservation to save what is left of the Maya Biosphere which has lost over 70% of its native forests in the past ten years. Dr. Hansen’s dedication is unprecedented in enabling the local communities to benefit economically and helping the people of Guatemala to save their own heritage and protect it for future generations.” The National Order of the Cultural Patrimony of Guatemala is given to those that have made exceptional contributions to Guatemala’s rich and ancient culture and history, especially in the fields of indigenous cultures, living cultures, archaeology and anthropology, conservation and science. The National Order of the Cultural Patrimony of Guatemala recognizes the significant impact on the cultural life of the nation accomplished through their efforts.

"All who receive the National Order can know that they have a special place in the life of our country, and have earned the respect and affection of the Guatemalan people," said President Oscar Berger as he presented the award at the National Palace on the Plaza of the Constitution in Guatemalan City on December 15, 2005.

"Dr. Richard Hansen has been at the forefront of research, exploration, conservation and protection of the priceless history and cultural of Guatemala found in the Mirador Basin and the earliest Mayan cities," read the citation for the medal.

About Dr. Richard Hansen and FARES
Dr. Richard D. Hansen is a specialist on the early Maya and is the Director of the Mirador Basin Project in northern Guatemala. He was an Assistant Research Scientist (Level IV) with the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at UCLA until Dec. 2003. He is the founder and president of the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES), a non-profit scientific research institution, now based in Washington, D.C. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Archaeology from UCLA in January 1992.

He previously held a double major B.S. degree in Spanish and Archaeology from Brigham Young University in 1978, and a M.S. degree in Anthropology in 1984. He has published 69 papers and book chapters in scientific and popular publications and has presented more than 145 professional papers in scientific symposia throughout the world. He is now faculty of Idaho State University.

The Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES) is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to the scientific study of humanity and environment through conservation, education, and responsible development. FARES conducts scientific archaeological research and environmental studies in the Mirador Basin area of northern Guatemala and the preservation of the tropical rainforest in northern Guatemala and the Mesoamerican Lowlands. The forest in this region is highly threatened, but can provide new economic benefits for communities and the republic of Guatemala through the establishment of world class archaeological parks and natural preserves. FARES work includes educational and career development programs for communities surrounding the Mirador Basin dealing with health, ecology, agricultural techniques, eco-tourism, financial management, health, first aid, reforestation, literacy, tourist services, artisan products, wilderness and national monument management and sustainable development. See www.miradorbasin.com.

About Global Heritage Fund
Global Heritage Fund is the leading international conservancy preserving endangered world heritage sites in developing countries. Our mission is to enable successful, long-term preservation of humankind's most important archaeological sites and ancient townscapes, creating new opportunities for economic growth. Global Heritage Fund uses its Preservation by Design methodology to develop comprehensive Master Conservation Plans, provide early matching grants and training, build local institutions and promote sustainable tourism development to further permanent protection for global cultural treasures. Global Heritage Fund is a registered non-profit international conservancy based in Palo Alto, California.

At the very heart of GHF's conservation efforts is the Global Heritage Network (GHN) of experts and conservation technology backed by GHF’s Leaders in Conservation, Senior Advisory Board, and Trustees for Global Heritage, a distinguished network of philanthropists and foundations committed to preserving and protecting these endangered one-of-a-kind archaeological and world heritage sites. www.globalheritagefund.org/where/mirador.html.

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