Puerto Morelos Strengthens Environmental Policy With Reforestation, Recycling, and Turtle Protection

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — Sustainability and environmental protection are central to the Puerto Morelos government’s agenda, said Sergio Chale Gómez, director of environmental management and natural resources, highlighting the creation of a new Secretariat of Environment, Animal Welfare, and Sustainable Mobility under the current administration.

“By instruction of Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz, the environment is no longer a secondary issue but a cross-cutting public policy. That’s why we created this secretariat, through which we have reinforced concrete actions that are already yielding results,” Chale Gómez said.

The new department has intensified work in strategic areas for the municipality, considered one of the green lungs of Quintana Roo and the gateway to the Mesoamerican Reef.

In the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (ZOFEMAT), surveillance and beach cleaning have been strengthened, along with the regulation of concessions to ensure sustainable use of the coastline. Puerto Morelos maintains clean beach certifications such as Blue Flag at Ventana al Mar.

Through the “Adopt a Tree” program, native species have been planted on medians, in parks, and in public areas with participation from schools and neighborhood committees, aiming to restore vegetation cover and mitigate heat islands.

A permanent program for collecting recyclable materials takes place on the last Saturday of each month, gathering PET, aluminum, cardboard, electronics, and used vegetable oil to prevent them from reaching landfills or mangroves.

In coordination with turtle camps, volunteers, and the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), nests of loggerhead, hawksbill, and green sea turtles are protected along the municipality’s 17.5 kilometers of coastline. In 2024, more than 80,000 hatchlings were released.

The secretariat also addresses animal abuse complaints, conducts free sterilization campaigns, and promotes responsible adoption, recognizing that environmental protection includes all species.

“We are promoting bicycle use and working on road reorganization that prioritizes pedestrians, to reduce emissions in the urban area,” Chale Gómez concluded.