Quintana Roo to Strengthen 10 State Protected Areas, No New Designations This Year

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas of Quintana Roo (Ibanqroo) announced it will not designate any new state-level natural protected areas (ANP) for the remainder of the year, focusing instead on strengthening the 10 existing ones.

Javier Carballar Osorio, director general of Ibanqroo, said the agency will work to reinforce the current protected areas rather than create new ones.

“We have 10 state protected areas, and currently we do not have any new state protected area in sight. The ones that were planned under the previous administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador were transferred to federal projects,” Carballar said.

Instead, the state government has secured international, federal, and state funding to bolster conservation efforts in these areas, working alongside the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp).

Carballar detailed that resources have been allocated for several ANPs across the state, including Laguna Chacmuchuch in the north, Xcacel-Xcacelito in the central region, and Chetumal Bay in the south.

“Work is being done in all areas. This one is particularly important because it is the largest in all of Chetumal Bay. Each protected area has a sub-council that includes different stakeholders — ejido members, business owners, NGOs, academia, etc. We are updating these meetings with all protected areas that must have their councils,” he added.

Last week, the first ordinary session of the Bacalar ANP sub-council was held, where upcoming actions for the site will be defined. Carballar noted that all protected areas have councils involving citizens, authorities, and other sectors to preserve these biologically significant zones for Quintana Roo.