Military Fills Bacalar Lagoon: Environmental Crisis Unchecked.

The Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) is continuing to fill the Bacalar Lagoon with rubble, causing outrage among locals and tourists. This act, which is causing irreversible environmental damage, is happening without any intervention from authorities. On a recent Tuesday, six heavy trucks were seen unloading fill material onto a SEDENA-owned property across from the historic Fort of Bacalar, all within a 30-minute period.

The destruction is visible and alarming. Bacalar is a nationally and internationally recognized tourist destination, known for the beauty of its seven-color lagoon. This fragile ecosystem requires protection, yet the silence and inaction of state and municipal authorities are allowing this damaging activity to persist. The public is left feeling frustrated and incredulous, as the fill material used could potentially end up in the lagoon. While locals strive to preserve their environment, the military forces, who should be safeguarding the country's welfare, are directly damaging nature.

The extent of the activity was revealed through a live broadcast on social media by journalist Alex Dorado. However, soldiers left the property to photograph the reporter in what could be seen as an intimidation tactic and a threat to press freedom. This behavior raises questions about the transparency and legality of the work being done. To date, no citizen has been able to confirm any permits for the activity, not even for extending a wooden dock.

So far, no official statement has been released by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), or the Quintana Roo government. This lack of response indicates a troubling disregard for the conservation of the state's natural resources. In the meantime, the Bacalar Lagoon continues to suffer from government indifference and actions that jeopardize, rather than protect, the natural heritage of Quintana Roo's inhabitants.