Mexico & Greenpeace Unite for Selva Maya

Mexico City — Following a protest by environmental activists, the Mexican government's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has held a meeting with Greenpeace to address concerns about environmental impacts and land management in the Yucatan Peninsula. The meeting presented the actions being carried out in favor of the Selva Maya.

The meeting took place after a group of environmentalists carried out a peaceful protest to denounce the deforestation of the jungle, which involved scaling the 104-meter-high Estela de Luz monument on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. There, they unfurled a 27-meter-long banner that read: "Selva Maya screams, Semarnat save it."

Actions Undertaken for the Selva Maya

In a statement, Semarnat detailed that the meeting presented a project from the Global Environment Facility, which is in the process of being implemented and seeks to protect the coexistence of three emblematic species, especially the jaguar, in the peninsula.

For its part, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) emphasized that it maintains constant inspections in the region. Among the results are 64 closures of illegal developments – 31 in Yucatan, two in Campeche, and 31 in Quintana Roo – 25 closed properties, and 13 criminal complaints, as well as the creation of an Interinstitutional Table Against Illegal Logging in Quintana Roo to curb deforestation caused by agro-industrial expansion.

Information was also provided on the definitive closure of the Granja Porcícola Pecuaria Peninsular, inspections of pig farms in 20 municipalities, and eight legal cases against such animal establishments.

Furthermore, work is underway on a comprehensive strategy to address the socio-environmental problems derived from pig farming activity, and permanent work is being carried out to prevent illegal occupations and changes in land use in forest areas.

During the meeting, Semarnat presented progress on the updating of territorial planning in Tulum, as well as in Bacalar, Benito Juárez, Isla Mujeres, and Puerto Morelos. They emphasized the importance of coordination with the states to identify irregular settlements and the increase in supervision of authorizations with a preventive focus.

Disposition Admitted

In response, Greenpeace acknowledged the institutional openness and proposed thematic working groups involving authorities from all three levels of government, academia, communities, and social organizations, not just as consultants, but as active participants in the implementation of solutions.

A second meeting is planned for the first week of November to consolidate concrete agreements.

Participants included officials from the Secretary's office, the Undersecretary of Environmental Regulation, the Undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration, the Unit for Priority Projects, Social Linkage and Human Rights, as well as representatives from Profepa, INECC, Conanp, Conafor, and Conagua.