Budget Cuts Threaten Mexico’s Protected Natural Areas

Cancún — The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) is facing a critical situation that puts the conservation of key ecosystems across the country at risk. With a projected budget cut of 128 million pesos and constant growth in the land area under its guardianship, the organization is on the brink of an operational and environmental crisis, warned Juan Carlos Romero Gil, the regional director for the Yucatán Peninsula and Caribbean Sea.

A Complicated Outlook

Romero Gil explained that the 2026 Draft Budget of Expenditures contemplates a decrease in operational spending compared to the previous year, which will seriously complicate surveillance, conservation, and support efforts for local communities. "We do have major challenges; the budget is not growing at the same rate as the expansion of the natural protected areas," he acknowledged.

Currently, CONANP operates with just 300 employees to manage 39 natural protected areas in the Yucatán Peninsula, while the surface area under its care has increased by approximately 8%, creating an unprecedented operational and financial gap.

Efforts at Protection Would Be Affected

The official warned that this situation could weaken protection efforts in critical biodiversity zones, open the door to increased risks of illegal logging, hunting, and fishing, and limit the capacity to respond to environmental emergencies.

Despite the adverse outlook, Romero Gil highlighted that the institution seeks to reinforce its work through alliances with civil society, the private sector, and international organizations. However, he underscored that without sufficient resources, the conservation of the country's most valuable ecosystems could be seriously compromised.