12 Colombia's Bold Bamboo Builder by Timothy Pratt
Using a native variety of this strong, flexible plant, Simón Vélez creates structures that defy traditional architectural codes.     

---

22 Last of the Cuban Crocodile  by Mark Alexander    
With shrinking habitat and threatened by hunting and crossbreading, this ancient reptile faces possible extinction.     

---

30 A Bug of Reds & Riches   by Louis Werner    
Since pre-Colombian times, an insect harvested in the Americas has provided the world with a highly valued dye.

---

40 Ebbs and Flows on Vieques by Larry Luxner
Locals on this Caribbean island have strived to balance a fast-growing tourism industry with the preservation of natural resources      

---

46 Survivor: Show of Real Ironies by Celeste Mackenzie
During the filming of this popular show in Guatemala's Petén, a journalist explores the reactions of the local community and the show's impact on the region.

---

52 A Chaco Wordsmith Rises to Risks   by Caleb Bach
From his birthplace in this Argentine province, Mempo Giardinelli continues to produce socially conscious  works and promote literacy among the underserved.