Quintana Roo Beaches Lose Up to 14 Meters of Sand a Year as Restoration Plan Advances

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Coastal erosion is steadily eating away at Quintana Roo’s beaches, with some stretches losing as much as 14 meters of sand a year, the state’s top environmental official warned.

Óscar Rébora Aguilera, head of the state Environment and Ecology Department (SEMA), said the problem affects the entire Yucatan Peninsula and is driven by a combination of factors that are accelerating the wear on the shoreline.

In response, the agency is pushing containment measures and restoration projects aimed at rebuilding beaches and strengthening the coast’s natural defenses.

Chetumal Funds Emergency Containment Work

In the southern part of the state, officials in Chetumal filed for an environmental impact statement (known in Mexico as a MIA) through the emergency channel.

The initial investment is projected at 1.5 million pesos to hold back the advancing sea.

At the same time, SEMA is developing a coastal planning and zoning framework. The goal is to design interventions based on the geology and sand composition of each area rather than applying a single fix along the whole coastline.

33.5 Kilometers of Coast Cleared for Restoration

The largest initiative — a project to restore 33.5 kilometers of coastline in four municipalities in northern Quintana Roo — has already received federal authorization. The work is broken down as follows:

• Cancún: 12.85 kilometers
• Playa del Carmen: 12 kilometers
• Puerto Morelos: 6 kilometers
• Cozumel: 1.52 kilometers

The project is currently in the phase of meeting the environmental conditions set out in its environmental impact statement, a step required before construction can begin.

Dunes and Native Vegetation to Be Rehabilitated

Rébora Aguilera said the work will include rehabilitating coastal dunes and restoring native vegetation. Both help shield beaches from wave action and reduce the coastline’s vulnerability.

Once the technical and environmental requirements are satisfied, officials will convene the Beach Recovery Committee to define financing mechanisms and move toward the start of construction.

According to the restoration plan, the challenge is to address sand loss with solutions tailored to conditions in each area, while also supporting the recovery of coastal ecosystems and strengthening the natural protection of Quintana Roo’s beaches.