Lawmakers Propose One Tree Every 15 Meters in New Quintana Roo Developments

Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo — New housing subdivisions, urbanization projects and commercial zones across Quintana Roo could be required to include trees from the planning stage under a proposal that sets a guideline of one tree for every 15 meters along central medians, sidewalks and pedestrian areas.

The initiative was introduced by state legislators Luz Gabriela Mora Castillo and Ricardo Velazco, who propose amending the first paragraph of Article 58 of Quintana Roo’s Law for the Conservation, Maintenance, Protection and Development of Urban Trees.

Under the plan, developers would also be required to preserve trees already standing on land where real estate, commercial or urbanization work takes place, rather than limiting the measure to planting new specimens.

The proposal calls for species to be selected using technical criteria, with priority given to trees native to the region that are suited to urban conditions and to the characteristics of each project.

Mora Castillo said a separate reform could later be introduced to establish financial penalties for noncompliance. Officials are also weighing whether projects that fail to adequately account for trees could face difficulties in obtaining the necessary permits.