Plan to Protect 1,800 km of Underground Rivers

Playa del Carmen — The civil association "Cenotes Urbanos" has formally submitted a proposal to the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) to create two new protected zones, one of which would be a Grandes Ríos Subterráneos (Great Underground Rivers) Biosphere Reserve.

The proposal was delivered during an event organized to mark the first anniversary of the decree establishing the "Felipe Carrillo Puerto" Natural Protected Area. Roberto Rojo, a member of "Cenotes Urbanos," presented the plan to create the first reserve specifically designed for the protection of underground rivers. Rojo stated that the proposal has already been worked on with authorities and could soon become a reality.

If realized, this natural protected area would safeguard more than 1,800 kilometers of flooded caves, he detailed.

The second proposal delivered is for a natural protected area called "Xaman Ha," located to the north of the "Felipe Carrillo Puerto" area. This zone would serve as a biological corridor connecting with the "Yum Balam" Flora and Fauna Protection Area.

The activist viewed the protection of Playa del Carmen's jungles through the creation of the "Felipe Carrillo Puerto" Natural Protected Area as positive. However, he emphasized the importance of expanding the zone towards jungle that is still healthy, thereby maintaining a corridor stretching from Yum Balam to Sian Ka'an.

Cenotes Are Not Swimming Pools

Separately, Roberto Rojo commented that they are also working on updating the cenote regulations for Playa del Carmen. The goal is not only to tailor their protection to local circumstances but also to ensure that established rules are verified and enforced.

The activist emphasized that a cenote is not a swimming pool or a public bath. Although people can bathe in them, he stressed that they must not lose sight of the fact that cenotes are important ecosystems that should not be disturbed.

"I have seen a collection of damages to cenotes: they break them, leave them without substrate or vegetation, pour chlorine into them… a whole museum of tortures for cenotes, and that cannot continue like this," he stated.