Background on the Issue
The Riviera Maya and Holbox are popular tourist destinations in Mexico, known for their stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity. These areas are protected by the Mexican government to preserve their unique ecosystems and cultural heritage. However, unauthorized real estate developments have become a significant concern in these protected regions.
The Role of Juan Carlos Romero Gil
Juan Carlos Romero Gil is the director of the Peninsula de Yucatán y Mar Caribe region for the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) in Mexico. His organization is responsible for overseeing and protecting the country’s natural reserves, including those in the Riviera Maya and Holbox.
Illegal Developments in Protected Areas
According to Romero Gil, there are at least 25 reported cases of illegal real estate developments within protected natural areas in the Peninsula de Yucatán between 2024 and 2025. Most of these cases are located in the Riviera Maya, while others are found in Holbox.
These unauthorized developments have been brought to the attention of the Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Profepa), and some cases have also been referred to the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s office.
Additional Concerns
Besides unauthorized developments, there are also projects that have been submitted for environmental evaluation within these protected areas. However, Romero Gil stated that “the vast majority” of these projects have not been rejected.
Government Efforts to Address the Issue
The proliferation of unauthorized real estate developments in protected areas has become a major headache for the Quintana Roo government. In response, they have created an online database to list all developments being marketed without proper permits or located in restricted construction zones, such as protected natural areas.
The Secretaría de Desarrollo Territorial, Urbano, Sustentable (Sedetus) has identified over 500 irregular developments, including subdivisions and invasions, suspected of not having the necessary permits.
In June, the Quintana Roo government announced that it is not only issuing closure orders for irregular subdivisions but has also referred at least 12 cases to the State Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution against those selling real estate without proper authorization.
Alonso Fernández Lemmen Meyer’s Statement
Alonso Fernández Lemmen Meyer, the head of the Procuraduría de Protección al Ambiente en Quintana Roo, emphasized the importance of addressing these illegal activities:
“With the southern state’s security table, we conducted operations alongside Sedetus; during these operations, the Procuraduría imposed 22 closure orders. At least 12 of these cases have been referred to the State Attorney General through a denunciation. We will denounce all of these cases because it is not right to take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge, selling lands that cannot be regularized.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? Unauthorized real estate developments in protected natural areas of the Riviera Maya and Holbox.
- Who is responsible for addressing this issue? The Mexican government, specifically the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), Procuraduría Federal de Protección al Ambiente (Profepa), and the Secretaría de Desarrollo Territorial, Urbano, Sustentable (Sedetus).
- How many illegal developments have been reported? At least 25 cases have been reported between 2024 and 2025.
- What actions have been taken against these developments? Closure orders have been issued, and some cases have been referred to the State Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution.
- How many irregular developments have been identified? Over 500 irregular developments, including subdivisions and invasions, have been identified across Quintana Roo.
