Citizen Census Launched to Document Caves and Cenotes Affected by Urban Growth in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The environmental group Cenotes Urbanos has launched a citizen census to document caves, caverns, and cenotes that may have been filled, covered, or damaged by urban growth and real estate development in Playa del Carmen.

In a social media post, the organization invited residents, workers, business owners, and the general public to share information about such cases, regardless of when they occurred.

The group set up the digital platform reporte.cenotesurbanos.org, where citizens can submit anonymous reports. The goal is to create a citizen-driven census that identifies and documents damage to the region’s underground cave and cenote system over time, increasing knowledge about the network that characterizes the Yucatan Peninsula.

“Have you heard or seen any person, company, developer, etc., cover a cave or cenote during your time in Playa?” the organization asked in its message, also urging people to share the information with family and local communities.

Cenotes Urbanos said the data collection aims to provide useful information for scientific research and strengthen conservation of the peninsula’s aquifer, considered one of the most important underground hydrological systems in the world.

The initiative comes amid growing concern over the impact of urban and real estate growth on cenotes, caves, and underground rivers — key ecosystems for freshwater recharge in Quintana Roo.

According to the group, each report will help build a database of historical damage to the municipality’s underground natural heritage, contributing to future research and environmental protection strategies.

“Science and Playa will thank you!” the environmental group concluded.