Save Playa del Carmen: Environmental Group Fights Coastal Degradation

The environmental group, Moce Yax Cuxtal, has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the need for beach sanitation as part of their "Save Playa del Carmen" initiative. José Gómez Burgos, secretary of the Caribbean Sea Tourist Cooperative, emphasized the need for coastal clean-up in order to restore the sand that has been lost.

"Is this what paradise looks like? Do you like it? It wasn't always like this, it was more beautiful. Excessive unplanned development has ruined our paradise, we need to clean it up to restore the lost sand and get back on track," stated Gómez Burgos. He is one of the most outspoken advocates in Playa del Carmen for addressing the degradation of the beaches, particularly El Recodo, which has suffered significant erosion for several years.

In the latter part of last year, Moce Yax Cuxtal, along with other environmentalists, launched the "Save Playa del Carmen" program. The goal of this initiative is to draw attention to the coastal degradation in the city center and initiate environmental mitigation activities. Since its launch, the group has announced a series of activities aimed at finding environmental and legal solutions to the crisis that has been affecting the coastal dunes for years.

Last year, the group approached local authorities and submitted a letter requesting a comprehensive analysis of the coastal situation. Since 2001, the organization has been working to strengthen local capabilities for integrated coastal zone management and beach management.

Guadalupe de la Rosa Villalba, founder of Moce Yax Cuxtal, noted that despite the coastal degradation, there have been instances where tourists have commented on the state of Playa del Carmen's coast. The campaign continues, with the goal of implementing a comprehensive recovery of the coastal area in the near future.