The Federal Office of Environmental Protection (Profepa) reported that a real estate project was shut down within the Natural Protected Area (ANP) of “Yum Balam“, in Isla de Holbox, Quintana Roo.
It was said that more than 1,100 square meters have been set on fire for the removal of vegetation, including protected species such as mangrove, chit palm, sea grape and chacá tree.
A statement, it was said that in order to verify compliance with federal environmental legislation for works and activities developed within the referred NPA located, in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Profepa staff in Quintana Roo conducted an inspection of the property on which the project called “Apartments Grip Holbox” was supposed to be carried out.
During the inspection it was detected that an area of 1,128 square meters was dismantled, which involved the removal of vegetation characteristic to the coastal wetlands, with the presence of mangrove and jungle associated with mangrove, represented mainly by mangrove botoncillo (Conocarpus erectus), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), chit palm (Thrinax radiata), sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) and chacá tree (Bursera simaruba).
The deposit of filling material known as sascab (material used to prepare mixtures for construction) was also observed in the dismantled area, as well as evidence of the illegal removal of mangrove vegetation, as they tried to get rid of the mangrove residues by setting them on fire.
Profepa specified that, at the time of the inspection, the property did not have the authorization from environmental authorities, specifically the environmental impact study that needs to carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
So, in order to avoid continuing to generate a risk of serious damage to the natural resources in the area, it was determined to impose a temporary / partial closure of the works there.
Finally, Profepa pointed out that, the sanction for carrying out real estate developments in coastal ecosystems outside the framework of the environmental law, can reach a fine for the equivalent of 30,000 to 50,000 Units of Measurement and Updating, according to what is established in article 171, fraction I, of the General Law of Ecological Equilibrium and Environmental Protection (LGEEPA).
Source: yucatan.com.mx
