The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) closed 18.4 hectares of land in the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, located in the municipality of San Felipe, due to damage to wetlands and destruction of mangrove vegetation. In total, ten closure seals were placed in six affected sites.
The operation, carried out on August 21, had the collaboration of the National Guard, the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) and the Ministry of the Interior (Segob).
Since 2018, 13 administrative procedures have been carried out related to clearing and opening gaps for irregular constructions in this nature reserve. The constructions were improperly authorized by the municipal authority in the form of lots, without considering the environmental impact.
Profepa received a recent citizen complaint about the same problem, which was admitted for investigation.
The Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, which extends along the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, is crucial for the conservation of species such as the hawksbill turtle and the white turtle. The mangrove forests in this area also play a vital role in protecting against floods and saline intrusion.
The Río Lagartos wetlands are delicate ecosystems that combine fresh and saltwater and serve as habitat for rich biodiversity. The destruction of mangroves negatively affects these ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
TYT Newsroom
