Cozumel, Quintana Roo — A battle over a mangrove ecosystem on this Caribbean island has erupted between residents and cruise giant Royal Caribbean, as the company pushes forward with its Royal Beach Club project.
Critics say the development would illegally clear a path through mangroves that serve as a natural barrier against hurricanes, a habitat for marine species, and a vital community resource. Residents have documented surveyors and machinery on the site, while a petition launched by Maria Gonzalez has gathered nearly 90,000 signatures opposing the project.
“The mangrove is not for sale,” Gonzalez said. “It is a collective right, not a tourist ornament.”
The conflict follows a similar controversy in Mahahual, where Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day” project was scrapped after environmental pressure, creating friction between federal and state authorities. Now Cozumel has become the latest flashpoint in a broader debate over who controls the territory — corporations or citizens.
Activists argue that each meter of mangrove destroyed increases social vulnerability, and each private pool built on the coast represents a lost public access point. They also criticize concessions granted without public consultation, calling them a blow to environmental democracy.
The Mexican Caribbean has seen a series of environmental disputes, including alleged ecocide in Xcaret and the Mahahual resistance. Cozumel’s struggle has become a symbol of the fight against privatization disguised as progress, residents say.
“We demand vigilance, evidence, and resistance,” Gonzalez added. “The only legitimate response to mass tourism machinery is social mobilization.”
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