The American bison has returned to the landscapes of Coahuila, Mexico, after an absence of approximately 160 years. This historic comeback centers on the “El Santuario” ecological reserve. This nearly 4,000-hectare protected area is in the Sierra de Menchaca, just 10 kilometers from the “Pueblo Mágico” of Cuatro Ciénegas. The effort, spearheaded by the Fundación…
Mexico’s National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries established four new fishing refuge zones this fall, two of which are located along Yucatán’s northern coast. The temporary protected areas aim to rebuild populations of commercially valuable species while allowing limited traditional fishing. The refuges in Telchac Puerto and Chuburná will protect octopus, lobster, red grouper, sea…
The birth of Yazu, the baby jaguar born at the Yagul Sanctuary in Oaxaca, will lift the spirits of anyone concerned about the species’ long-term survival in Mexico. According to the latest National Jaguar Conservation Alliance census, 5,300 jaguars were counted in 2025 in the corridor stretching from Sonora and Nuevo León to the Yucatán…
Heavy rains across Yucatán left a wildlife sanctuary underwater, but the birds remained safe due to recently built elevated facilities. Proyecto Santa María, a parrot conservation refuge near Hunucmá, found itself under about 50 centimeters (20 inches) of water after intense storms battered the region. The flooding turned the entire facility into what director Pierre…
Conservation organizations are demanding the immediate halt of a program by Yucatán’s state government that distributes nets to cattle ranchers for the mass capture and killing of bats, calling the initiative both illegal and scientifically unfounded. The Yucatán Rural Development Secretary (Seder) launched what it terms a “bat sweep” as a preventative measure against screwworm,…
Roberto Rojo was 30 meters underground when the drilling started. Stalactites that had formed over millennia began tumbling around him as a massive industrial drill punched through the limestone ceiling above. The biologist ducked for cover, phone in hand, recording what would become some of the most dramatic footage of environmental destruction in Mexico’s recent…
After planting 100 new trees in the Mulsay neighborhood, Mérida reached an environmental milestone this week when the city designated a ceiba tree with “Cultural and Patrimonial Value” status. The century-old sacred specimen represents the intersection of Mexico’s most ambitious urban forestry initiatives and one of the world’s most enduring spiritual traditions. The milestone reflects…
As Mexico prepares for its Second National Earthquake Drill on September 19, 2025, a familiar question resurfaces: Will there be an earthquake on this historically significant date? According to researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Seismological Service (SSN), the answer is rooted in science, not superstition. ( Sept. 19…
Stargazers in Yucatán will enjoy a month-long astronomical spectacle beginning September 1 featuring meteor showers and planetary alignments.
Mexico’s environmental protection agency has temporarily shuttered a 363-acre property in Tekax after allegedly discovering the illegal clearing of native forest intended for use as a Mennonite farm. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) conducted an inspection on August 13 in a Tekax ejido called Mesatunich. Investigators found that 147 hectares (363 acres) of…
For over a decade, the idyllic coastlines of the Caribbean have been under siege. What was once a sporadic nuisance has become a perennial crisis: vast, floating mats of sargassum seaweed that choke world-famous beaches and decompose into a toxic, eggy-smelling sludge. To make things worse, sargassum on Caribbean beaches is no longer an anomaly;…
The Mexican military is building a major tourist complex in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve without required environmental permits, drawing fierce opposition from local communities and environmental advocates who fear the project threatens one of the world’s most important protected wetlands. The “Puerta al Mar” (Gateway to the Sea) project represents part of a broader…
A new National Geographic report has documented extensive damage to cenotes across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula caused by construction of the Maya Train, highlighting deep divisions among scientists and activists over the $30 billion infrastructure project. The investigation, published this week in the magazine’s September issue, chronicles the installation of more than 15,000 steel pillars across…
Three nations joined forces Friday to establish what will become the second-largest nature reserve in Latin America. Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize announced the creation of a massive tri-national protected area spanning 14 million acres (5.7 million hectares) across the heart of the ancient Maya forest. The announcement came during a summit in Calakmul, where Mexican…
Erosion has washed away much of the beach on the eastern end of Progreso’s malecon (boardwalk) and beyond. At a handful of spots, including directly in front of the famous Casa del Pastel restaurant, sand is completely absent, replaced by barriers that experts say only exacerbate the problem. Progreso Mayor Erik José Rihani González acknowledged…
A massive red tide threatening Yucatán’s western coastline has reached critical levels. Scientists have documented a 336-fold increase in harmful algae that’s pushing dissolved oxygen to near-fatal levels for marine species. Dead fish and live octopuses have been washing ashore at Progreso since late July, raising questions about seafood safety. Dr. Jorge Herrera Silveira, who…
Mexico’s federal environmental agency, PROFEPA, is reporting a surge in the illegal sale and exploitation of wild, often endangered, animals and is asking the public for help to end wildlife trafficking. While this campaign is focused on small exotic animals such as birds and reptiles, it also includes exotic animals used for commercial purposes at…
Environmental crews removed 102 kilograms (225 pounds) of trash from the Tekit cenote X’Pakay this week. The cleanup was part of Yucatán’s Strategy for the Conservation of Karst Systems targeting Yucatán cenotes across the state. Specialized divers extracted 38 kilograms (84 pounds) of waste from the Tekit cenote’s depths. Community members and municipal workers cleared…
Ask locals which is the most iconic of the native birds of the Yucatán peninsula; there is little doubt that the answer for most would be, “pues claro que el pajaro toh.”
Mexico’s environmental protection agency is pursuing criminal charges against Mennonites accused of illegally clearing more than 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres) of forest across the Yucatán Peninsula. The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) announced it has filed two criminal complaints and plans to file five more against the religious communities. The charges stem from inspections…
Jorge Carrillo Sáenz, the president of Yucatán’s Tourism Business Council, knows the routine by now. Families from the north pack their cars for Mexican Caribbean beach vacations at Playa del Carmen or Tulum. Then they see the photos online. Piles of brown seaweed. Dead fish floating in cloudy water. The smell of rotting algae. They…
Thirteen community groups from across the Yucatán Peninsula gathered in Río Lagartos to form an innovative network of community weather stations designed specifically for fishermen, beekeepers, farmers, and tourism operators. The project represents an unprecedented effort to transform weather data into practical tools for local livelihoods. Fishermen can now plan safer trips by predicting wind…
While Caribbean resort towns, like Cancún, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, grapple with persistent sargassum invasions, Yucatán’s coastline remains almost entirely clear. The state’s western shores, particularly in Sisal and Celestún, have gained attention for their pristine conditions, rich biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable tourism. Compared with the Riviera Maya, these destinations offer a cleaner,…
Record amounts of ugly, unsightly sargassum seaweed are washing ashore across the Caribbean, hitting 37.5 million metric tons (41.3 million short tons) in May 2025. The thick brown algae mats are overwhelming beaches from Puerto Rico to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, threatening the tourist economy and public health. Along the Mexican Caribbean coast in Quintana Roo…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now