Bacalar, Q.R. — Intervention into the illegal felling of trees is anticipated from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor). The intervention is expected in Bacalar to reduce the environmental damage generated by the Mennonite settlements.
Román Castillo Carballo of the Comisión Nacional Forestal, said they have already had similar intervention scheme in Campeche to combat logging. An agreement was reached with the Mennonite settlements where they could improve their processes while limiting deforestation.
In the case of Bacalar, he said they are working on strategies to prevent two settlements next to the Bacalar Lagoon from continued logging, saying that they cannot promote the area as natural then allow indiscriminate logging next to it.
In 2020, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) sanctioned four representatives of the Bacalar Mennonite community as well as authorities from the ejidos of El Paraís and El Bajío.
Fines in excess of 10 million peso were issued between the three settlements for federal forestry violations after trees on 1,316 hectares were cut cleared.
