30 

 subdivided by oil exploration roads that were constructed by Pemex about 1980-1982 (D. Ake Ayala, 



pers. comm.). The Pemex roads greatly facilitated travel in the eastern part of the ejido, especially to 

 logging and chicle tapping sites. Paths, trails, logging roads, and old horse trails 

 between villages and camps also penetrated the area and frequently were followed by hunters. In 

 summary, probably no part of the ejido was more than 4-5 km from a trail or road. 



Forest Successional Stages 



Barrera de Jorgenson (1993) surveyed the trees at Ejido X-Hazil y .\nexos and compared the 

 population structure and tree species diversity for areas categorized as Late Secondary Forest versus 

 Early Secondary Forest. In Late Secondary Forest, a total of 98 species from 33 families were 

 recorded (n = 2850 trees ^ 2 cm dbh). The most abundant species in Late Secondary Forest were 



false lignum vitae (Gynuianthes liicida, n = 392 trees, dbh range = 2-31 cm, x dbh = 8.6 cm), chac 



ya (Nectandra coreacea, n = 244, dbh range = 2-47 cm, x dbh = 10.04 cm), and sapodilla 



(Manilkara zapota, n = 171, dbh range = 2-83 cm, x dbh = 19.73 cm). In Early Secondary Forest, 

 a total of 60 species from 26 families were recorded (n = 808 trees > 2 cm dbh). The most abundant 

 species in Early Secondary Forest were nees {Gymnanthes lucida, n = 94 trees, dbh range = 2-10 cm, x 



dbh = 5.3 cm), wild grape {Coccoloba cozumenlensis, n = 59, dbh range = 2-5 cm, x dbh = 5.11 



cm), and white gombolimbo (Dendropanax arboreus, n = 55, dbh range = 2-16 cm, x dbh = 4.95 

 cm). 



Cultural and Socioeconomic Environments 

 The Maya of X-Hazil Sur are a highly acculturated people, having changed much over the past 

 two-three generations, but they maintain many traditional customs. For example, most residents of this 

 village speak Spanish in addition to Maya, wear Western clothing, own a radio or television, and 



