Profepa’s Crackdown on Illegal Deforestation
The Mexican federal agency responsible for environmental protection, the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Medio Ambiente (Profepa), has uncovered and addressed the illegal destruction of over 2,608.9 hectares of forest in Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.
Timeline of Operations
From May 28 to June 14, Profepa inspectors conducted intensive operations in forested areas across Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. These operations led to the closure of seven properties due to unauthorized removal of vegetation and changes in land use, transforming these forests into monoculture agroindustrial sites.
Extent of the Damage
The deforestation affected 2,608.9 hectares of forest, with the seizure of 108.5 cubic meters of rolled and squared timber, three agricultural towers, an agricultural implement with 36 disks, a harvester, and three agricultural tractors.
Location of Affected Properties
All affected properties are situated in areas experiencing the expansion of Mennonite community activities.
Case-by-case Analysis
Yucatán
On June 13, an operation was carried out in San Diego Buenavista, Tekax, Yucatán, where inspectors found that the vegetation had been replaced by leveled land, with evidence of adult tree cutting, uprooting, sectioning, and burning, as well as the destruction of young trees and herbaceous vegetation.
Campeche
The operation in Campeche took place on June 12, revealing nine affected areas.
Quintana Roo
Operations in Quintana Roo targeted properties in two municipalities.
Summary of Operations
Six special operations were executed: two in Calakmul and Hopelchén, Campeche; two in Tekax, Yucatán; and two in José María Morelos and Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo.
- Seven properties were closed: two in Campeche, two in Yucatán, and three in Quintana Roo.
- The affected areas sum up to 2,608.9 hectares of forest, distributed as follows: Campeche (702 ha), Yucatán (606.4 ha), and Quintana Roo (1,300.5 ha).
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Profepa? The Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Medio Ambiente (Profepa) is the Mexican federal agency responsible for environmental protection and combating illegal activities that harm the country’s natural resources.
- Why are Mennonite communities mentioned? The Mennonite communities are relevant because the illegal deforestation operations primarily affected areas where these communities have expanded their activities.
- What is the significance of these deforestation operations? These operations aim to protect Mexico’s forests and ensure that land use changes comply with environmental regulations, preventing the conversion of forests into monoculture agroindustrial sites.
- How do these actions impact local ecosystems and communities? The destruction of forests threatens biodiversity, disrupts local ecosystems, and can negatively impact the livelihoods of communities that depend on these forests for resources and ecosystem services.
