Yucatán faces mounting environmental challenges as its reputation for safety drives rapid development and population growth. That’s the message from Bloomberg News columnist Juan Pablo Spinetto, who notes that its remarkably low crime rates have attracted both domestic and international migrants to Mexico’s safest state. Yucatán’s homicide rate stands at approximately 2 per 100,000 residents,…
Feral dogs have been filmed attacking and killing flamingos in Sisal’s mangroves. Proyecto Santa Maria Sisal posted the flamingo attack on Facebook. The video shows several dogs jumping into the water and pursuing flamingoes in a coordinated hunt. Flamingo migration experts, including Teri Grendzinski from Pennsylvania State University, have warned that such attacks can potentially…
Beautiful tropical birds are constantly aflutter in Yucatán, especially during the rainy season. There are common species like social flycatchers, which sport bright yellow chests and black stripes across their eyes, and elegant pink flamingos that grace the coastline. Then there is the pandemonium of parrots (yes, that’s what they are called) who make themselves…
As the popularity of cruises continues to grow, so does the effort to minimize their environmental impact. Earlier this week, Princess Cruises’ Sun Princess was heralded for its innovative use of liquified natural gas as it docked in Cozumel for the first time. The Sun Princess is also the largest ship of its class ever…
Yucatán’s underground water supply has been contaminated and overexploited, putting residents at cancer risk, a Cinvestav researcher warns. According to Eduardo Batllori Sampedro, hazardous substances like mercury and arsenic have been found in the general population’s blood, putting residents at heightened risk for cervical and breast cancer. Yucatán Peninsula hydrological reserves, particularly in the cenote…
In the vibrant coastal town of Chelem, Mexico, a remarkable group of Maya women, Las Chelemeras, continues their nearly 15-year mission to restore and protect the vital mangrove forests along the Yucatán coastline. These women, ranging in age from 30 to 80, have become the unsung heroes of their community. The Chelemeras, led by Keila…
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, while inaugurating Jaguar Park and the Museum of the Eastern Coast in Tulum urged the public and authorities to protect the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. He emphasized the importance of preserving nature, citing experiences of watching turtles, including loggerheads, nesting on the beaches. He also stressed the need…
Uayma is an unassuming town of under 3,000 people best known for its ornate 17th-century church — but big changes are in the works. AR Desarolladora Peninsular has announced its plans to invest tens of millions of dollars in the tiny town of Uayma. The real estate developer has applied for a permit to cut…
The Yucatan peninsula is home to some of Mexico’s most beautiful and exuberants birds, 565 of them to be exact.
More than 200 baby hawksbill sea turtles were released Saturday afternoon from the port of Sisal as part of the Yucatan government’s efforts to protect and conserve local wildlife and the environment. The release’s goal is to reintegrate the turtles into their natural habitat. Upon reaching adulthood, the turtles will return to the Yucatán coast…
In response to illegal octopus fishing, local fishermen are organizing to address the issue, even resorting to burning their foes’ boats. Two nights ago, over 200 seamen met with Telchac Puerto Mayor Alfredo Marrufo Díaz to discuss the ongoing problem of illegal octopus fishing using unauthorized equipment. The mayor acknowledged his previous efforts with state…
On Thursday, 120 volunteers at Playa Aventuras’ beach cleaned over a mile of coastline, collecting 176 pounds of waste. The Eco-Bahía Ecological Foundation, through its SAK program, mobilized the community in a joint effort to preserve the Maya Riviera’s coasts and seabeds. Among the main waste collected were single-use plastics, personal hygiene products, packaging and…
Despite the early start to the 2024 hurricane season due to warm water temperatures, Mérida’s historical resilience is a reassuring factor. As an inland city in the northwest of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mérida is shielded from direct hurricane strikes. Tropical storms passing near the city are typically weakened because they travel over land. Though Mérida…
In just eight years, 3 billion cubic meters of water concessions have been granted in the Yucatán Peninsula. If this trend continues, available water resources will be overallocated within two years, potentially increasing human use and consumption costs, according to Alejandro López Tamayo, general director of Centinelas de Agua, or Water Sentinels in English. López…
Beryl wasn’t as damaging as advertised, but we’ll be ready for the next inevitable storm of hurricane season.
The Yucatán hurricane season is definitely on early. Depending on which computer model you believe, the Peninsula could be hit with the first of several hurricanes this weekend. While we keep an eye on Beryl, here’s a brief history to put this possibly rocky hurricane season in context. The Yucatán Peninsula has weathered its share…
Mérida has experienced a deluge of historic proportions. Meteorologist Juan Ernesto Vázquez Montalvo reported that Sunday’s rainfall was the second heaviest recorded in the city, surpassed only by Hurricane Isidoro in 2002. While not as prolonged, the rains were copious and lightning was frequent. According to Vázquez Montalvo, the northeast region of Mérida received 7.1…
The Yucatán Peninsula is experiencing a brutal heat wave that’s drawing attention to the region’s vulnerability to a changing climate.
Mexico’s environmental protection agency, PROFEPA, confirmed serious damage to five cenotes in the path of the Tren Maya.
If you have 68 million dollars burning a hole in your pocket, the Mexican government has a deal for you.
Though Durango is not known as a big tourism destination, the solar eclipse brought folks from all over the world to the capital city of the state of the same name.
The relatively early arrival of extreme heat to Yucatán has brought with it hundreds of fires, big and small.
According to the original plan, over 400 were to be released into the Bay of Campeche, where a federally enforced protection area has existed since 1994.
To speed up construction, engineers in charge of Route 5 of the Tren Maya resorted to pouring cement into several cenotes and caves, according to several reputable news sources, including El Financiero.
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