Chicharito’s Coach Clears Jungle for Meditation Retreat

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has issued a permit to Diego Dreyfus, the coach of soccer player Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, to clear land north of Playa del Carmen and displace local wildlife. The authorization, reported by the national weekly Proceso, allows the clearing of 3.1 hectares of jungle and the use of noise-based methods to drive away endemic fauna.

Controversial Methods for Wildlife Removal

The project, named “Casa D,” is planned as a real estate development featuring 12 cabins dedicated to meditation, reflection, and relaxation retreats. According to the environmental impact resolution (file number 04/SGA/1115/2024), issued by Semarnat, the approved method for displacing wildlife involves:

“A team will conduct patrols in a hunting-style sweep across the terrain, generating noise to scare away the present fauna and encourage them to relocate to undisturbed areas. Noise may be produced through vocal shouts or by striking wooden sticks against the trunks of mature trees.”

The resolution also permits the capture of animals under the explicit condition of their subsequent release.

Delays and Lack of Local Government Input

The permit application was filed in October 2023 but faced a year-long delay due to an administrative error that incorrectly listed the location as Cancún instead of Playa del Carmen. During this period, Semarnat requested additional information from the Playa del Carmen and Quintana Roo governments. However, according to Proceso, neither entity submitted an assessment.

Despite the lack of input from local authorities, Semarnat reviewed the submitted data and reportedly conducted its own environmental impact analysis before approving the project.

Transparency Concerns

The federal agency issued the permit in November of last year but failed to publish the approval in the Gaceta Ecológica, as legally required. This omission has raised questions about transparency in the permitting process.