“Paradise Lost: Devastation in Puerto Morelos”

In the nine years since its establishment, the municipality of Puerto Morelos has seen it all: from corrupt mayors to failed policies, and the relentless pursuit of real estate companies. The latest chapter in this saga involves the extensive destruction of a significant protected natural area for the construction of the “GL Dreams Residential Estates” project. This enticing name promises a seaside dream home, but for some, this dream is a nightmare, particularly for the mangroves and reefs that border this natural treasure.

The company behind the project, Terrenos y Construcciones del Puerto, S.A. de C.V., plans to build 308 homes on a 5.2-hectare plot, close to the coastal line of the old town, with an investment of 438 million pesos. The development conveniently overlooks the fact that it borders two protected natural areas and a priority hydrological region.

The ambitious plan includes 29 houses and 270 apartments, distributed across seven three-story buildings, complete with a beach club and sports courts. The developers have pledged to implement preventive and mitigation measures, but these assurances do little to alleviate concerns about the impact on the local environment.

According to the Environmental Impact Manifestation application, only 42% of the site will be occupied, in line with the density allowed by the Urban Development Program. This means that just under half of the site will be destroyed, with the remainder left to witness the devastation of the neighboring ecosystem.

The property directly borders 170 meters of mangroves, is 11 meters from another mangrove, 221 meters from the Ramsar Site of the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos, and less than 200 meters from a water system and the coastal line. Despite these concerning facts, the focus remains on the luxury homes that will be built, ready for those who can afford to overlook the environmental cost.

The plot, valued at over 61 million pesos, was purchased from the now-defunct Real Estate Heritage Institute of the Public Administration of the State of Quintana Roo. This is a testament to the opportunistic nature of real estate developers.

With a population of just over 26,000 according to the 2020 census, Puerto Morelos is set to receive an influx of 308 new housing units. This will increase the demand for drinking water by 3.28 liters per second, further straining the area's water resources.

In essence, the "GL Dreams Residential Estate" project exemplifies the real estate industry's relentless pursuit to exploit the protected natural areas of the Mexican Caribbean. While construction advances, civil organizations and ecological groups continue to raise the alarm. In this story, the true protectors of paradise are those who fight to preserve what remains of it.