Progreso’s city council has replaced its construction rulebook for the first time in 33 years, responding to a wave of real estate development along the port’s stretch of coastline — though it’s not yet clear whether the new rules include height limits or are meant to slow the pace of construction. The Ayuntamiento approved three…
Before Las Dunas could be shut down, it first had to be approved — and that approval came only after Mexico’s environment ministry had already rejected it once. Semarnat, the federal environment secretariat, turned down the Las Dunas tourist complex in 2023, when Progreso’s urban development plan classified the Chuburná Puerto site as highly vulnerable….
Construction at the contested “Las Dunas” real estate project in Chuburná Puerto came to a halt Thursday after Mexico’s environmental enforcement agency posted closure seals at the site, according to activists and local media who visited the property. Members of the collective Salvemos Las Dunas said a banner reading “Clausurado,” bearing the logos of the…
Heavy machinery has been clearing dune vegetation on a stretch of coastline here, and the work has triggered one of the largest environmental petitions the Yucatán coast has seen in years. More than 43,000 people have signed an online petition demanding a halt to “Las Dunas,” a real estate project planned near El Playón de…
Two massive solar farm projects planned for the jungle of southern Yucatán have been permanently canceled following a seven-year legal battle waged by Maya communities who argued the developments would devastate their land, water supply, and way of life. The projects — known as Ticul A and Ticul B — were designed to cover more…
Heavy machinery rolling through a protected ecological reserve south of Mérida has triggered a federal enforcement action, the latest in an ongoing struggle to preserve one of the city’s most vital green spaces. Mexico’s federal environmental enforcement agency, Profepa, closed down a property in the ejido of Dzununcán after inspectors confirmed that roughly 1 hectare…
Ocelots are experiencing population declines throughout much of their natural range, which stretches from Texas in the United States all the way to Uruguay. In the U.S., they are classified as an endangered species. Ironically, however, on the island of Cozumel, they are viewed not as a species in need of protection, but as an…
The artificial reef is designed to attract marine species — particularly grouper, octopus, and spiny lobster — by mimicking natural reef conditions.
Driven by global demand, the rapid industrial-scale expansion of chicken and pork production is imposing severe environmental costs on Yucatán’s unique ecosystems and its rural communities. While this growth promises economic development, a troubling pattern has emerged: legal injunctions intended to halt operations are frequently ignored. Yucatán’s geography makes it particularly vulnerable. The peninsula is…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Mexico’s environmental ministry has authorized clearing 47 hectares (116 acres) of forest in Yucatán to build a major Maya Train / Tren Maya freight depot. The authorization came with strict conditions and environmental safeguards, but critics say it’s another blow to the region’s fragile ecosystems. Massive Forest Impact The Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural…
Federal and state authorities descended on San Felipe today for the second time in 11 months for the same reason. They found illegal logging, clearing, and human settlements on more than 20 hectares (nearly 50 acres) of mangroves in Yucatán, considered protected habitat areas within the state’s ecosystems, on the eastern side of the Mexican…
Mérida’s accelerated growth has brought more noise and traffic than ever. But among the chaos of this urban jungle, several species of birds linger that still bring color and joy to those who know how and where to look. Among the most beloved are several varieties of parrots in Mérida. According to a recent citizen…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now