The Quintana Roo Environmental Crisis: Destruction Looming?

The latest Environmental Gazette from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) has outlined 26 environmental impact assessment projects for Quintana Roo. Of these, 21 are proposed by the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena). The majority of these initiatives involve extracting stone materials from areas such as Bacalar, Playa del Carmen, Othón P. Blanco, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Benito Juárez, and Tulum. These projects are currently awaiting Semarnat's approval to commence operations, which are expected to last for a year. The extraction of stone materials is primarily for infrastructure work, including the construction and enhancement of communication routes in the region.

Aracely Domínguez Rodríguez, head of the Mayab Ecological Group (Gema), has raised concerns over the large-scale extraction of stone materials. She warns of the irreversible loss of jungles and biodiversity. She also notes that many extraction sites are not regulated by the state and lack environmental mitigation measures, leading to total habitat destruction. The extraction process involves deforestation and the removal of the topsoil layer, causing significant harm to local flora and fauna. Additionally, the noise and human activity associated with these operations can displace sensitive species such as jaguars, spider monkeys, and migratory birds. There are also concerns about potential contamination of Quintana Roo's underground rivers and cenotes. Limestone extraction could disrupt the water flow and damage the water table, threatening the region's ecological balance.

The environmental impact of stone material extraction is not a new issue in the region. In May 2022, Semarnat ordered the closure of operations at Calica properties, a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials, due to severe environmental damage. Despite this, by September 2024, Sedena had already opened 25 quarries in municipalities like Bacalar, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum, and Othón P. Blanco. These quarries were intended to supply materials for the construction of the Maya Train and the Tulum International Airport.

At present, the 21 projects proposed by Sedena are being evaluated by Semarnat. If approved, they could begin operations in the coming months. This situation presents a potential conflict between infrastructural development and ecological conservation in Quintana Roo, raising significant environmental concerns.