Playa del Carmen Civil Association Seeks Decree to Protect Emblematic Trees

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A civil association in this popular tourist destination is pushing local authorities to issue a decree that would grant protected status to what it calls “emblematic trees,” aiming to preserve them as natural monuments.

Guadalupe de la Rosa, program coordinator for the civil association Moce Yax Cuxtal, said the group’s “living tree museum” project remains active with cultural and educational activities, particularly on Calle 38 where several of these species are concentrated. “The living museum is still very much alive, and we’ve held many cultural activities around these trees, especially on Calle 38,” she said.

De la Rosa noted recent work included environmental education programs with academic groups. “We continue with environmental education programs. Last month we worked with four groups from Riviera University,” she detailed.

The representative explained the association has submitted a new request to the City Council’s Ecology Commission, backed by technical studies, seeking a decree to protect trees considered monumental. “We made the request again to the Ecology Commission of this administration so the local government would champion this action, because it’s the government that must issue the decree for these trees,” she stated.

However, she said the commission has not yet responded. “We haven’t seen or received any response to our petitions,” she added.

According to the group, its inventory includes about 22 species, with seven trees identified as priorities due to their age, physical characteristics, and environmental value. These include specimens of ceiba, álamo, caracolillo, and capote trees, some located on Calle 38 and others at various points in the city.

The initiative aims to have these trees recognized as natural monuments and included in a national catalog, in coordination with municipal and state authorities.

“The project also aims to strengthen Playa del Carmen’s ecotourism profile by conserving its urban natural heritage,” De la Rosa concluded.