Solar Project Near La Presumida Raises Deforestation Fears in José María Morelos

José María Morelos, Quintana Roo — Plans for the Los Girasoles photovoltaic project near the ejido of La Presumida are drawing concern over the environmental damage it could cause, including the removal of more than 57 hectares of vegetation and the displacement of wildlife into nearby land.

Venancio Abán Mejía, a town councilman and former ejido commissioner of La Presumida, said residents learned of the project through an invitation sent to the ejido commissary, but that the matter has not yet been put before the assembly for consideration.

He said that while a solar installation can bring benefits as a source of clean energy, its environmental consequences must also be weighed, along with the concrete advantages nearby communities would actually receive.

One of the main concerns is the deforestation the project would involve. Abán Mejía said it is essential to verify that the developers hold the required permits from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), particularly because the work would involve clearing forested land.

Wildlife and Fire-Damaged Land

The former commissioner warned that land around La Presumida could end up absorbing some of the wildlife pushed out by the clearing work. He noted that forest fires have struck the area in past seasons and that some surfaces are only beginning to recover, making it necessary to assess how a new intervention would affect the natural surroundings.

By contrast, he said ejido residents have taken part in reforestation efforts, including through the Sembrando Vida program, planting fruit trees such as mandarin, orange and lemon on productive land and in areas scarred by fire.

Abán Mejía insisted the project must be judged not only on its clean-energy output but also on the roughly 57 hectares slated for clearing, its environmental permits, and the consequences it could have for surrounding communities and biodiversity.