Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) launched working groups in Mahahual on Friday, fulfilling a commitment made after a visit by Secretary Alicia Bárcena. The goal is to design a development model that balances investment, economic growth, and environmental protection for the Costa Maya region.
The meetings resume discussions held 20 days ago, when Bárcena met with Mahahual residents who voiced concerns about various investment projects and the future of the tourist destination.
Participants included Marina Robles, undersecretary of Biodiversity and Environmental Restoration; Ileana Villalobos, undersecretary of Environmental Regulation at SEMARNAT; and representatives from Quintana Roo’s Secretariat of Ecology and Environment (SEMA).
Authorities said the aim is to establish permanent dialogue tables to design an investment framework with ecological planning. Proposals must be shared with and endorsed by the community before implementation.
Marina Robles stated that the federal agency’s directive is to promote a development model based on well-being and shared prosperity, where investments generate real benefits for the population and address the concerns raised during the meeting with Bárcena.
She added that the agreements reached will be presented to the federal government to ensure future projects are sustainable and aligned with Mahahual’s environmental and social conditions.
“It is important to create an urban design and development that matches these conditions. The idea is to set a date soon to formally begin work and develop a comprehensive strategy along with a master plan for Mahahual,” Robles said.
Óscar Rébora, head of Quintana Roo’s SEMA, highlighted that one of the main challenges is balancing economic growth with the conservation of natural heritage. He reiterated the state government’s willingness to collaborate with federal authorities to build agreements that consolidate responsible, sustainable development benefiting the Costa Maya population.
