The 1990 CLAG Yearbook includes a range of articles representing diverse thematic content and varied geoographic contexts. Biosphere reserves in Paraguay, mannufacturing in Argentina, urbanization in the Brazilian Amazon, the encomienda in Guatemala, and water control and settlement in the Bajío region of Mexico are all examined in research papers focusing on specific regional contexts. Papers dealing with Latin America in a broader sense include an examination of Spanish as a language for geographical expression, national parks in the tropics, and agricultural terraces. While geographers are the principal disciplinary contributors to the volume, they are joined by an anthropologist, historians, and regional planners. Contributors represent academic and research institutions in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Guatemala, and Jamaica. No manuscripts in Spanish are published in this volume, but all manuscripts include abstracts in Spanish and/or Portuguese as well as English.

A total of 27 manuscripts were submitted for review and possible publication in this issue of the Yearbook. Using the double-blind system of review, each manuscript was sent to peer reviewers for evaluation and each manuscript was read by the editor. Most papers were evaluated by two or three external reviewers. The final decision on each paper's suitability for publication was made by the editor. A total of eight manuscripts were accepted for publication, representing an acceptance rate of about 30 percent. One research note was solicited for publication by the editor.

The careful and conscientious help of peer reviewers, including geographers and other scholars, in evaluating manuscripts submitted for publication is essential to maintain the scholarly integrity and quality of the Yearbook. Their help is gratefully acknowledged. The following individuals served as reviewers- Daniel D. Arreola, Florence Babb, David Barkin, Eric S. Belsky, William B. Beyers, Surinder M. Bhardwaj, William G. Bronner, Stephen Brush, Paul R. Butler, Cesar Caviedes, David L. Clawson, Alan K. Craig, William Crowley, Shelton R. Davis, Kerry Dawson, William M. Denevan, J.P. Dickenson, William Doolittle, Ronald A. Foresta, Daniel Gade, Linda Greenow, Howard Gregor, Robert N. Gwynne, Carolyn Hall, Carol P. Harden, Vern R. Harnapp, Peter H. Herlihy, Lawrence Herzog, Stephen Jett, Agueda Jiménez-Pelayo, Terry G. Jordan, Gregory W. Knapp, Victoria A. Lawwson, Eugene Maio, Kent Mathewson, James E. McConnell, Klaus J. Meyer-Arendt, Linda Newson, Richhard L. Nostrand, James P. Parsons, Susan E. Place, David A. Preston, Sarah A. Radcliffe, David J. Robinson, Refugio I. Rochin, Dennis Rondinelli, Thomas K. Rudel, Alfred H. Siemens, William I. Smole, Rolf Sternberg, Norman R. Stewart, Roger W. Stump, Michael M. Swann, William Taylor, Philip L. Wagner, Gerald R. Webster, Rolf Wesche, John J. Winberry, Martha Works, and Wilbur Zelinsky.

I would like to acknowledge the assistance I received from the Department of Geography at the University of Akron in preparing this Yearbook. Dr. Allen G. Noble, head of the department, provided support in a variety of ways. Hilda Kendron and the departmental office staff assisted in the typing of the manuscripts. Several of the maps were drafted for publication by the Laboratory for Cartographic and Spatial Analysis and thanks are due to Joe Stoll and John Mikstay for their work.

Institutional support was also provided by the Evergreen State College where I was resident as a visiting scholar during the time this volume was edited. Ralph Murphy, Director of the Master of Environmental Sciience Program, provided office space and logistical suppport. The college's Computer Center helped with the electronic translation and reformatting of the manuuscripts which were received from the authors in various word-processing formats.

Maria Elena Kent assisted with the review and editing of the Spanish language materials.

Finally, I would like to thank the authors of the papers published in this volume for their good humor and willingness to work with me in revising and editing their manuscripts.