Cenotes Vanished: Limestone Company’s Destruction in Quintana Roo

Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of the Environment, has reported that 13 cenotes in Quintana Roo have been destroyed due to limestone extraction activities. The company responsible, SacTun (formerly known as Calica), has completely eradicated three of these cenotes.

During a recent press conference at the National Palace, Bárcena discussed the ongoing conflict with SacTun, a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials. She noted that the company has been misleading in its allegations against Mexico under the now-defunct Free Trade Agreement. Bárcena clarified that during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's administration, there was no expropriation of SacTun's property. Instead, a significant portion of the area was designated as a protected nature reserve.

While the land still belongs to SacTun, the company is no longer permitted to extract limestone as it has in the past. Instead, they must use the land for activities that align with the protected nature of the area.

Bárcena highlighted the ecological disaster caused by SacTun's limestone extraction, which was carried out under two permits granted in 1986 and 2000. The limestone, which was extracted for road export, caused significant environmental damage and ecological imbalance, with over 1,200 hectares exploited.

Bárcena also criticized SacTun for providing false statements in their complaint, particularly their claim of having all necessary permits. She stated that SacTun's activities exceeded the scope of the permits granted to them in 1986 and 2000. These permits were valid for 20 years but have not been renewed since.

SacTun has sued Mexico for $1.5 billion, not under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Bárcena confirmed that Mexico has already prohibited SacTun's activities and has closed underground extraction in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. The environmental agency, Semarnat, has verified the impact on the underground hydrological system, noting that SacTun exploited 20 times more than the authorized volume.

On September 23, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador declared the area a protected nature reserve for flora and fauna. The decree was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation following a public consultation period. This significant move not only affects SacTun's property but also covers more than 50,000 hectares.