Mangrove Destruction in Playa Paraíso Goes Unchecked for Months

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has been accused of negligence for failing to inspect a property near Playa Paraíso, where a developer has been clearing mangrove forests since late May. The deforestation was formally reported to Profepa at the time, but no action has been taken.

Authorities Ignore Ecocide Allegations

The affected area is part of the Paradise Residence project, located on Rancho El Gallero Veracruz near Paseo Tulum and Xaman-Ha streets, close to the Iberostar Hotel. Residents first raised alarms on social media after witnessing workers cutting down mangroves, prompting the civil association Defendiendo el Derecho a un Medio Ambiente Sano (DMAS) to file a formal complaint with Profepa.

Irma Morales Cruz, a lawyer with DMAS, confirmed that while the complaint was acknowledged a week after submission, no inspectors have visited the site to verify the alleged environmental destruction. The absence of an inspection report or closure seals from Profepa’s Cancún office further underscores the lack of enforcement.

4.4 Hectares at Risk

The threatened area spans 4.4 hectares of wetlands and jungle, with additional concerns over cenotes that could be filled or destroyed. Activists discovered that the developer had submitted an environmental impact assessment and a request for forest land-use change—but only after deforestation had already begun. The developer later withdrew the application, despite continuing construction.

Morales Cruz criticized the Quintana Roo government for issuing construction permits without proper federal environmental approvals, a violation of local regulations. “It’s common here for developers to secure municipal permits first and only seek federal environmental authorization if Profepa intervenes,” she said. “This is illegal and contradicts environmental laws.”

Weak Enforcement Follows

Profepa’s lack of follow-up on violations has been a recurring issue, according to activists. Even when closures are issued, developers often resume work without consequences. A similar case in Tulum’s Bahía Solimán required a court order to halt construction after Profepa’s initial closure was ignored.

“Profepa has become more active in issuing closures, but enforcement remains inadequate,” Morales Cruz added.