Background and Key Players
Holbox, a small island in Quintana Roo, Mexico, has been the site of a significant fire that ravaged 670 hectares of mangroves and fragmented the local ecosystem. Environmental organizations, including the Centro Mexicano de Derecho Ambiental (Cemda), Grupo Ecológico del Mayab, Grupo Tortuguero del Caribe, Amigos de Sian Ka’an, Centinelas del Agua, and Casa Wayuu, suspect real estate pressures may have instigated this fire that occurred in late August and took over ten days to extinguish.
The Impact of the Fire
The fire, which started on August 22 in the Punta Mosquito/La Ensenada area within the Yum Balam Area of Protection for Flora and Fauna (APFF), affected nearly 941 football fields or 143 city blocks. This area is crucial for protecting the coastline and controlling erosion, as mangroves dissipate wave energy and safeguard the coast. The blaze fragmented the ecosystem, displacing wildlife, destroying habitats, refuges, and feeding zones.
Environmental Organizations’ Demands
These organizations urge federal, state, municipal, and agrarian authorities to investigate and penalize the incident, as well as impose a 20-year moratorium on any development activities. They also demand that the affected polygon be reported to Semarnat, Conagua, Profepa, SEMA in Quintana Roo, the Lázaro Cárdenas municipality, and agrarian authorities to prevent any permits, licenses, concessions, or applications that contravene the moratorium and management plan for the protected natural area.
Historical Context
In late 2020, the Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA) and Cemda submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) arguing environmental law, human rights, and climate justice to protect the Yum Balam Area of Protection for Flora and Fauna in Quintana Roo. They anticipated that the Lázaro Cárdenas municipal government would eventually open the area for tourism and real estate development.
Plans for Holbox’s Development
The Area Natural Protegida (ANP) includes Holbox Island, where plans have existed for decades to construct thousands of hotel rooms by Peninsula Maya Developments, owners of the Bepensa bottling company. The Lázaro Cárdenas municipality even filed a Constitutional Controversy with the SCJN against the Yum Balam protected area creation decree and management program, aiming to facilitate urbanization and tourism development on the island.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Yum Balam Area of Protection for Flora and Fauna? It’s a protected area in Quintana Roo, Mexico, that includes Holbox Island and is threatened by potential real estate development.
- What organizations are concerned about the fire? Environmental groups like Cemda, Grupo Ecológico del Mayab, and others are raising concerns about possible real estate interests behind the fire.
- What is the extent of the damage caused by the fire? The blaze affected approximately 670 hectares, equivalent to 941 football fields or 143 city blocks, and destroyed mangroves vital for coastal protection.
- What are the organizations demanding from authorities? They’re calling for thorough investigations, penalties, and a 20-year moratorium on any development activities within the protected area.
- What are the historical plans for Holbox’s development? There have been long-standing plans to build thousands of hotel rooms on Holbox Island by Peninsula Maya Developments, despite the protected status of the surrounding area.
