Environmental Agency Stops Damaging Construction in Ría Lagartos 🌿

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) has halted construction activities across 18.4 hectares of land within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, located in the San Felipe municipality. This action was taken due to significant damage caused to the wetlands and the destruction of mangrove vegetation. In total, ten closure seals were placed on six impacted areas during the operation on August 21, which was a joint effort with the National Guard, the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), the Secretary of the Navy (Semar), the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), the Secretary of Public Security (SSP), and the Secretary of the Interior (Segob).

Since 2018, 13 administrative actions have been taken to address the unauthorized clearing of land and the development of illegal construction projects within the reserve. These constructions were wrongly approved by the local authority as plots, without any consideration of their environmental impact.

Recently, Profepa responded to a public complaint about the ongoing issue and has launched an investigation. The Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, which stretches along the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula, is a vital conservation area for species such as the hawksbill and white turtles. The mangrove forests in the reserve also play a crucial role in flood protection and preventing saltwater intrusion.

The wetlands of Ría Lagartos are fragile ecosystems where freshwater and saltwater converge, supporting a rich biodiversity. The destruction of the mangroves has a detrimental effect on these ecosystems and the species that rely on them. Profepa is committed to continuing its administrative oversight and working to mitigate the damage and preserve the integrity of this protected natural area.