Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Municipal authorities are seeking harsher penalties for illegal logging in Playa del Carmen. The Ecology Commission says they are reviewing current laws to avoid a repeat of the recent events that killed an established popular tree.
Fernando Muñoz Calero, Chairman of the PDC Ecology, Environment and Animal Protection Committee, says city regulations are being reviewed to avoid a repeat. He reported that municipal regulations are currently being reviewed to strengthen environmental protection measures.
While there are people who care for the environment, there are also people who do not respect the regulations, he said, adding it has become necessary to apply more severe sanctions.
He said part of their reviews include fines for people who enter closed construction sites, which was the recent case involving a popular tree. The tree was cut on private property by a construction crew, but without permits.
The site was closed and the city was in the process of finding the tree a new home for relocation, however, the crew entered the closed property over a weekend and cut the tree into pieces.
Muñoz Calero indicated that in these cases the goal is to legally protect the closed sites so that authorities can intervene and apply stronger sanctions against those who violate closure seals.
He hopes that stronger sanctions will also create greater respect for environmental regulations and prevent damage to the municipality’s natural heritage.
The company that cut the tree on Saturday morning was being held responsible for its relocation and planting as well as paying the city fine. However, when officials arrived at the site Monday, the tree had been cut up and killed.
