The increase of irregular neighborhoods puts the ecosystem at risk.

In Quintana Roo there are many places, which the SEMA (Ministry of Environment) considers important for the conservation of the environment, due to the fragility of the ecosystem, however since a few years ago, some people have been invading different areas of these important sites. 

To be precise, these are seven irregular colonies located northwest of Chetumal: In the corridors, “Forestal La Península Santa-Elena”, as well as the “Corredor Turístico Calderitas” consisting of 16,698 and 11,987 hectares each, vital “for the recharge of the local aquifers”.

These people have invaded the area, settling in an irregular manner, creating damage to the local environment, since there are 4,129 inhabitants, distributed in four settlements, two of which are still unnamed, while the others are Tamalcab and Nuevo Progreso.

The ecological devastation amounts to 2,847 hectares of jungle, in the case of the Calderitas tourist corridor, the Palomos, Edén and Santa Fátima neighborhoods, while in the case of the forest corridor, located to the north of the Chetumal savannah, nearly 1,899 hectares of mangrove and vegetation have been lost.

An alarming situation, because although 60% of this area is destined for conservation, in recent years it has been completely divided by the construction of plots and private properties.

And the authorities’ response?

The environmental secretary has urged the Othón City Hall to take the necessary measures to avoid such damage to nature, but so far the municipal government has not been able to provide an answer to this serious problem, for which reason the environmental authorities estimate that before 2024 the invasions will have ended with 35% of this area.

With information from Novedades Quintana Roo.