Las Palmas Residents Fight to Save Trees from Mall

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Residents of the Las Palmas subdivision have denounced the felling of trees and removal of vegetation on a plot of land where a new shopping center is under construction in the southern zone of the municipality. Neighbors assert that the work includes the demolition of mature trees both inside the developing lot and in common green areas.

Call for Intervention from Environmental Authorities and Work Stoppage Until Permits Are Verified

According to neighborhood reports, the construction site is located on Río La Victoria street, a space the community had previously proposed to conserve as a pedestrian corridor and green area, due to the presence of trees that provided shade, temperature regulation, and shelter for local birds and fauna.

"We are not against development, but we are against the uncontrolled destruction of the little urban tree cover that remains. These trees are part of the environmental balance of the subdivision," expressed one of the residents.

The residents have requested the immediate intervention of the Directorate of Urban Development of the Tulum City Council and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) to verify if the project has the required land use change permits and corresponding environmental authorizations. They have also demanded the temporary suspension of work while the documentation is reviewed.

If it is confirmed that the required permits do not exist, the removal of vegetation could lead to administrative and criminal penalties, in accordance with current environmental legislation.

The community reported that formal complaints have already been filed and that they are collecting photographs and videos as evidence of the environmental damage. Simultaneously, they have started a signature campaign on digital platforms to request the protection of the remaining vegetation and the preservation of the area's environmental function.

Furthermore, they have proposed that Río La Victoria street be declared a pedestrian corridor and that the existing trees be maintained as part of Tulum's urban plan.

The residents emphasized that the loss of green cover worsens the effects of disorderly urban growth and the lack of environmental planning in the municipality.

"The protection of these spaces is not a luxury, it is a necessity. The trees are part of our quality of life," emphasized the neighbors, who asked the authorities to make the project evaluation process transparent and to guarantee that economic development does not override environmental well-being.