Holbox, Q.R. — The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) clarified that “no portion of the Isla Grande de Holbox is unprotected ” despite a court ruling in favor of hotel developer Península Maya Development for a strip of beach located in the Área de Protección of Flora and Fauna Yum Balam.
In a press release, Semarnat said that this virgin portion of the island is under the protection of la Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (Conanp), which is governed by a plan.
“The Conanp destination agreement remains firm in more than 95 percent of the federal land maritime zone of Holbox (53.8 hectares). Less than 5 percent of the area (2.5 hectares approx.) is under review for overlapping with private land,” they explained.
La Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) says that with the agreement published on January 2 in el Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), the environmental authority will comply with the determination of the judicial authority and will make new measurements through la Dirección General de Zona Federal Marítimo, Terrestre y Ambientes Costeros.
“The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Conanp, reiterates its commitment to the observance of applicable legal provisions and the conservation and protection of the environmental heritage of Mexico,” they added.