Maya Jungle Battle for Survival: Greenpeace Screens Documentary at Tajamar

On April 4, 2025, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, environmental organizations including Grupo Ecologista del Mayab (Gema), Sélvame del Tren, DMAS, Cenotes Urbanos, and Greenpeace Mexico hosted an outdoor screening of the documentary "Voices of the Maya Jungle: A Battle for Life" at the Tajamar boardwalk. The documentary features testimonies from local communities, land defenders, and environmental specialists, discussing the impacts of development on the Yucatan Peninsula. It highlights the threats to the Maya Jungle and surrounding ecosystems, including the Tajamar mangrove, through striking visuals and authentic narratives.

Several activists who appeared in the documentary attended the event. These included Mayan poet Wilma Esquivel Pat, Araceli Domínguez, and José Urbina "Pepe Tiburón". They shared their experiences and emphasized the importance of ongoing environmental activism in the region, particularly for the Tajamar mangrove.

Wilma Esquivel Pat, a Mayan poet and biologist, said, "Everyone's life is tied to the land. Without a healthy land, there can be no happiness or health. If there's a silver lining to our struggles, it's that we've connected with many people across the Peninsula and the southeast. Many are farmers, and communities are realizing that the current situation isn't right. We move forward with hope, and that hope lies in the people who organize and take action."

The screening was intended to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting the Maya Jungle and key ecosystems like Tajamar. It aimed to encourage citizen action demanding urgent environmental protection measures and to highlight the voices of local communities defending their land and culture against destructive projects.

Carlos Samayoa, campaign coordinator of Mexico to the cry of Jungle! In Greenpeace Mexico, said, "This campaign is about bringing the voices of the jungle to other parts of the country. We need people to know and talk about what's happening here, where Mexico's green lung begins. It's a crucial time for all of Mexico to speak up for its protection."

Tajamar is a significant site and a symbol of environmental activism in the Mexican Caribbean. Its defense has inspired citizen movements aiming to halt the expansion of real estate and tourist projects threatening its biodiversity. Screening the documentary at this location reinforces the message of resistance and the urgent need to protect coastal ecosystems. Araceli Domínguez, leader of the Gema group, remembered, "We saw the destruction of mangroves and the live burial of hundreds of animals on January 16, 2016. Over 70 government trucks loaded with sand and rocks entered, guarded by anti-riot soldiers. They couldn't stop the devastation, but in the end, we won. We won Tajamar for Cancun residents, we won a small refuge for nature, which is why today we can gather here surrounded by the lagoon and mangroves."