Mexican Environmental Agency Halts Mangrove Destruction for Illegal Settlements in Yucatan

Chelem Puerto, Mexico — Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has temporarily shut down illegal clearing and burning of mangrove forest in the Yucatan Peninsula, where developers were preparing land for unauthorized housing settlements.

The agency imposed a total temporary closure on a property in Chelem Puerto, within the Progreso municipality, after inspectors discovered new irregularities during a second visit to the coastal wetland ecosystem.

During the inspection, officials documented the cutting, removal, clearing, and burning of mangrove vegetation, along with land subdivision intended for irregular human settlements. The affected area totals 18,596 square meters.

The action followed a complaint filed by the Chelem Puerto Ejidal Commission, which alerted authorities to the mangrove clearing and provided the location of the damaged area. Profepa personnel visited the site on January 23 to conduct an environmental impact verification.

Inspectors identified two sites within the same property that form a single physical unit. In the eastern site, covering 13,022 square meters, they found recent clearing, cutting, removal, and burning of mangrove, plus land demarcation for irregular settlement lots.

In the western site, spanning 5,574 square meters, authorities observed similar damage along with fixed and semi-fixed structures, some already inhabited. These constructions had access to public utilities including drinking water and electricity.

Profepa noted the activities occurred recently, with inspectors finding stumps, cut branches, and piled trees drying with evidence of fire use. They also discovered wooden posts and yellow tape marking lot boundaries.

Authorities have no record of environmental authorization from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) for these works. Profepa placed closure seals as a security measure to immediately halt activities and prevent further ecosystem damage.

The operation involved support from the Public Security Department, Progreso Municipal Police, and local ejidal and municipal commissioners. Profepa has opened an administrative file to pursue legal proceedings.