Jaguar National Park Blocks Tulum Water Extraction Plan

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has denied construction permits for a new water extraction zone intended to supply potable water to the municipality of Tulum, citing potential harm to the federally protected Parque Nacional del Jaguar.

Federal Rejection Over Environmental Concerns

The project, proposed by the State Water and Sewer Commission (CAPA), sought to establish a water extraction site on a nine-hectare plot owned by the state government. However, due to its proximity to the core zone of the Parque Nacional del Jaguar, a federally designated Natural Protected Area (ANP), Semarnat rejected the authorization.

In its resolution (No. 31-25), the agency stated: "The applicant failed to consider the project's impact on the Jaguar ANP or conduct a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental consequences. The proposed site remains ecologically intact, and the suggested land-use change would result in significant vegetation loss and disruption of ecosystem services."

Project Details and Justification

CAPA submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) in September of last year, requesting permits to drill 24 water extraction wells at an estimated cost of over 542 million pesos. The project aimed to address increasing water demand in the region, driven by tourism-related infrastructure development and population growth.

The MIA noted: "Due to natural population growth and interstate and foreign migration to northern Quintana Roo as a result of tourism development, additional water infrastructure is necessary."

The proposed extraction site covered 70 hectares of state-owned land managed by the Agency for Strategic Projects (Agepro).

Visual Documentation

Photographs accompanying the report depicted the undisturbed landscape of the Parque Nacional del Jaguar, reinforcing concerns over potential ecological damage.

The decision underscores ongoing tensions between infrastructure development and environmental conservation in rapidly growing tourist destinations like Tulum.