Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Properties in the municipalities of José María Morelos and Othón P. Blanco have been shut down by Profepa. The federal agency said illegal cutting of over 400 hectares by Mennonites were the reason for the closures.
The properties in Quintana Roo were two of seven shut by Profepa (Federal Attorney’s Office for Environmental Protection) after two weeks of inspections. Fedeal personnel also visited the surrounding states of Campeche and Yucatan where they found another 2,200 hectares of destroyed jungle by the Mennonite population.
In a statement Monday, Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente) said from May 28 to June 14, Profepa inspectors carried out intensive operations on forest lands located in Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo.
The inspections resulted in the closure of seven properties due to the removal of vegetation and unauthorized land use changes on forested land, which are transforming these forests into agro-industrial monocultures.
The seven clearings affected total areas exceeding 2,608.9 hectares. Also seized were 108.5 m³ of round and square timber, three agricultural towers, one agricultural implement with a 36-disc harrow, one combine harvester and three farm tractors.
All the affected properties are located in areas where the Mennonite population’s activities have expanded.
In Quintana Roo, properties were visited in the municipalities of José María Morelos and Othón P. Blanco. Profepa personnel and members of the Mexican Army conducted an inspection visit to the Piedras Negras ejido (common land) in the municipality of José María Morelos and detected a change in land use on 10.6 hectares of forested land with native jungle vegetation.
A total of 1,057.33 m³ of native jungle species were removed without authorization at this site. These species included Thrinax radiata, Zumaia loddigesii and mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, listed in Appendix II of CITES and in NOM-59-SEMARNAT-2010.
In Othón P. Blanco in the Juan Sarabia ejido, an unauthorized land-use change was detected over an area of 437.5 hectares. Among the species cleared in this area are some listed in NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010: the jobillo species, Astronium graveolens, the kum guano palm, Cryosophila argéntea, the chit palm, Thrinax radiata and the zamia palm, Zamia polymorpha.
In Campeche, properties were inspected in the municipalities of Hopelchén and Calakmul. On June 12, with the support of National Guard, Defense, and state police from the municipality of Hopelchén, nine affected areas were identified. The activities observed included the establishment of agricultural crops, deforestation, and uprooting of forest vegetation, covering a total of 527 hectares of forest.
Due to the lack of a land-use change permit issued by Semarnat, a temporary total closure security measure was imposed; in addition, the precautionary seizure of machinery consisting of three agricultural tractors, a combine harvester, and a trailer was carried out.
They seized 108.5 m³ of wood and 8 tools and machinery, three agricultural towers and one agricultural implement with 36 discs.
In Yucatán, properties were visited in the municipality of Tekax. On June 13, Profepa inspectors and members of the National Guard, the Defense Force, and the state police patrolled the area of San Diego Buenavista, Tekax, Yucatán.
There, they confirmed that the natural vegetation had been replaced by leveled terrain, where the felling, demolition, sectioning, and elimination by fire of adult trees, young or sapling trees and herbaceous vegetation growing on the site were evident.
Machinery was used on the leveled terrain. Charred roots, trunks, and branches were observed on the natural ground to one side.
In one section of the property drains to drain rainwater and an access road dug with heavy machinery and covered with sascab were visible. Underground perforations were also found, along with the construction of a fixed concrete structure on the side, as well as a sprinkler irrigation system. The affected area covers 350 hectares.
In summary, six special operations were carried out, two in Calakmul and Hopelchén, Campeche, two in Tekax, Yucatán and two in José María Morelos and Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo.
In total, seven properties were closed. Profepa will maintain ongoing operational actions to halt and reverse environmental impacts on forest ecosystems in the jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula, with the goal of ensuring compliance with current environmental regulations and effectively seeking to repair damages in the affected areas.
