Mexican Environmental Agency Leads Major Operation Against Illegal Logging in Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — Federal environmental authorities conducted a major operation against illegal logging, land use changes, and illicit transport of forest products in Quintana Roo, sealing five properties in Playa del Carmen and Felipe Carrillo Puerto municipalities.

The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) led the operation from January 28-30 as part of simultaneous nationwide actions targeting critical forest zones in 28 states. The agency coordinated with 464 personnel from PROFEPA, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), municipal ecology departments, the Mexican Army, National Guard, Mexican Navy, Federal Prosecutor’s Office, and state and municipal police.

During the deployment, authorities established 25 transportation checkpoints, conducted 16 surveillance patrols, and performed 38 inspections at sawmills and properties with illegal land use changes.

The operation resulted in 25 closures, including 8 at Forest Raw Material Storage and Transformation Centers and 17 at properties with illegal land use changes on forest land. Authorities also seized 394.95 cubic meters of wood, 1,202.4 kilograms of charcoal, 2,800 kilograms of agave pineapples, 5 pieces of machinery, and 12 vehicles.

Mariana Boy Tamborrell, head of PROFEPA, stated that “this year we are strengthening our operations in critical forest zones. Protecting forests is a priority task, and to accomplish it we act in coordination with authorities at all three levels of government. Impunity for those who destroy our forest ecosystems is over.”

In Quintana Roo, authorities verified properties in Playa del Carmen and Felipe Carrillo Puerto, sealing 5 properties with illegal land use changes. In Playa Paraíso, inspectors found 21.6 square meters of medium subperennial rainforest vegetation affected. In Nuevo Durango–Cobá, they verified damage to two properties, one covering 1,050 square meters and another 460 square meters.

In the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Ejido, authorities observed damage to 2.9 hectares of medium subperennial rainforest, while in the X-Hazil Ejido they detected damage to 1.4 hectares of the same vegetation type.