Wildfires Ravage 16,000 Hectares in Quintana Roo

In 2024, wildfires have swept across approximately 16,000 hectares in Quintana Roo, with 7,000 hectares still ablaze. The National Forestry Commission's latest report reveals that 36 fires have been put out, impacting 9,665 hectares, primarily in the municipalities of Bacalar, Lázaro Cárdenas, and José María Morelos.

In Bacalar, 16 separate fires have destroyed 5,841 hectares. Lázaro Cárdenas and José María Morelos have seen 1,520 and 1,270 hectares ruined, respectively. Other affected areas include Benito Juárez (720 hectares), Othón P. Blanco (72), Solidaridad (60), Tulum (57), Felipe Carrillo Puerto (50), Isla Mujeres (47), and Puerto Morelos (30).

As of June 4th, 10 active fires have further damaged 6,535 hectares. In the central and southern regions, community lands are fearing significant losses of vegetation due to severe drought and the ongoing wildfires.

The Ejido Kilómetro 50 community in José María Morelos has reported the loss of 200 hectares of medium forest. The community's leader, Juan Bautista Moen Cano, stated that they have also lost dozens of apiaries, severely impacting local beekeeping.

"We are in a critical situation, urgently working to clear the plots and prevent the flames from reaching other green areas," said Moen Cano. The community has sought assistance from the National Forestry Commission and other communal lands. "Most of us have seen up to a third of our lands affected by the fires. We strongly suspect that these fires were started intentionally," he added.

The community leader revealed they have found tools suggesting the fires were deliberately set. It is suspected that hunters, whose activity has increased in the region over the past few years due to stricter surveillance in their usual hunting zones, may be responsible.

Moen Cano called for immediate investigations to end these wildfires, identify, and punish the culprits. "We urgently need to stop these wildfires and bring those responsible to justice," he declared.