Calica Ordered to Present Reforestation Plan in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A Mexican federal court has reaffirmed that Calica, the Mexican subsidiary of U.S. construction materials giant Vulcan Materials Company, must repair environmental damage caused by decades of limestone quarrying near Playa del Carmen, marking a major win for federal environmental authorities and conservation efforts.

On January 8, the First Specialized Chamber in Environmental and Regulatory Matters of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice (TFJA) in Mexico City rejected Calica’s attempts to suspend or overturn restoration obligations during an ongoing legal dispute. The ruling requires the company to submit a detailed reforestation and environmental compensation program outlining the actions needed to address the ecological harm from past mining operations.

The decision stems from a broader legal battle between Calica and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), which closed the company’s quarry operations in May 2022 over allegations of significant environmental harm. Calica sought to annul the restoration requirement, arguing it threatened its legal position and financial stability, including the jobs of nearly 400 workers. The court has repeatedly denied these challenges, and the obligations now stand.

The quarry site—located south of Playa del Carmen at Punta Venado—used to supply limestone for construction materials, much of it exported to the United States. Extraction activities over more than two decades affected an area of roughly 2,200 hectares, an expanse now incorporated into the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Flora and Fauna Protection Area, a federally protected natural reserve.

Environmental authorities and advocacy groups have described the restoration mandate as a critical step toward repairing ecosystems that suffered from large‑scale open‑pit mining. Historically, Calica’s operations have been linked to depletion of aquifers, disruption of water flows, and degradation of surrounding natural habitats—including cenotes and mangrove systems integral to the region’s ecological health.

Calica is also engaged in parallel international legal action under trade and investment treaties, challenging Mexico’s restrictions on its mining and port operations. The federal government has indicated it may pursue counterclaims, though those proceedings are still pending before an international arbitration tribunal.

This latest ruling underscores Mexico’s firm stance on environmental protection and natural resource management, emphasizing that corporations must comply with restoration and compensation standards when operations cause substantial ecological damage.