New Ecological Reserves Proposed to Offset Mayan Train Impact

In an effort to counteract the environmental damage caused by the southern Section 5 of the Mayan Train, running from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, the 'Save me from the Train' movement has proposed the establishment of two new ecological reserves.

The first proposed reserve would be a unique subterranean area, designed to safeguard caves, rivers, and cenotes. The second proposed reserve would essentially expand the existing protected natural area known as "Felipe Carrillo Puerto". This area was officially declared a Flora and Fauna Protection Area on September 23, 2024, and spans approximately 53,000 hectares across the municipalities of Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Tulum.

Guillermo de Christy, a member of both the 'Save me from the Train' movement and the Citizen Science project 'Urban Cenotes', explained that another major aim of these proposed reserves is to curb the real estate and hotel developments that have been spurred by the Mayan Train. The goal is to prevent these developments from exacerbating the environmental impact already caused by the construction of this large-scale project.