Controversy in Bacalar: Residents Fight Against Protected Natural Area Proposal

Bacalar residents are expressing opposition to the persistent efforts by environmental groups to establish a Protected Natural Area in their region. Nicanor Piña Ugalde, coordinator of the Pueblos Mágicos program, views this as a political issue and is against the idea, fearing a repeat of the situation in Sian Ka’an. In Sian Ka’an, the area's benefits were primarily reaped by wealthy businessmen and politicians who had bought properties there.

Piña Ugalde highlights that these environmental groups have been campaigning for years for Bacalar to be declared a Protected Natural Area. He believes this could potentially discourage investments. He argues that these campaigners are either not residents of Bacalar or only live there seasonally. As such, they are not fully aware of the region's economic dynamics and have less at stake compared to the locals who drive the area's economy.

The proposal to establish a Protected Natural Area is seen as a political issue by the residents of Bacalar, and they continue to reject it. They believe it is unnecessary and fear a repeat of the Sian Ka’an situation, where the benefits were monopolized by wealthy businessmen and former politicians.

Piña Ugalde insists that Bacalar needs controlled growth. He points out that environmental mitigation measures have already been implemented around the lagoon to facilitate this. He calls on the environmentalists to join the community in caring for the lagoon, rather than proposing ideas that could potentially discourage investments. He emphasizes that while these campaigners have nothing to lose, the permanent residents of Bacalar do.