Illegal Mangrove Destruction in Chac Estuary Sparks Outrage

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The unchecked destruction of mangroves and wetlands in Chac Estuary has alarmed residents and environmental defenders in southern Quintana Roo. Reports shared via social media and firsthand testimonies reveal that the area is being filled with rocky material and altered for an alleged tourism project, despite lacking permits from Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).

Accusations Point to Former Ejidal Commissioner

The allegations center on Ernesto Haro Gutiérrez, former ejidal commissioner of Juan Sarabia, who is accused of orchestrating the illegal construction. According to locals, inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) recently visited the site—located behind the old SCT camp near the first curve of Huay Pix toward Bacalar—but concluded their inspection at Haro’s ranch without taking visible action. This has raised suspicions of collusion and impunity.

The unauthorized work includes the indiscriminate clearing of protected vegetation, filling of wetlands, and the construction of at least four palapas, one of them notably large. Witnesses claim the goal is to develop the area for tourism, capitalizing on its proximity to the Xul-Há lagoon and the natural beauty of Chac Estuary’s ecosystem.

Ecological and Community Risks

Residents warn that the project is blocking water flow between Bacalar Lagoon and the Río Hondo, which could trigger severe flooding in Chetumal, Bacalar, Huay Pix, and nearby communities. “This could have catastrophic ecological consequences,” one local stated.

Haro has faced multiple controversies in the past, including accusations of seizing ecologically and economically valuable land through alleged dispossession, threats, and abuse of authority—particularly targeting elderly landowners. Reports suggest these properties were later transferred to relatives and associates with the help of allied ejidal commissioners.

Calls for Immediate Intervention

Environmental advocates are urgently appealing to Quintana Roo’s Secretary of Ecology and Environment, Oscar Rebora, and PROFEPA’s regional delegate to investigate and halt the illegal activities threatening one of the region’s most fragile ecosystems.

Chac Estuary connects Bacalar to the Río Hondo, playing a critical role in hydrological regulation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Its unauthorized destruction, without management plans or official approval, jeopardizes both the environment and the rights of communities that have coexisted with these natural resources for generations.