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State senator presents beach and coral reef protection program for Quintana Roo

Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A state senator has presented a motion for the creation of a coastal recovery and protection program for beaches. The motion presented is in coordination with state and municipal governments to implement urgent actions for the recovery of beaches and coral reefs.

Quintana Roo Senator Eugenio Segura presented the motion Wednesday to urge various government institutions to take concrete actions in relation to climate change. These actions, he said, are to prevent the continued loss of beaches in Mexico on which millions of tourism-related jobs depend.

“In Quintana Roo, one of the main attractions is the beaches, representing the largest concentration of tourism in the country. In our state, tourism contributes 8.7 percent of the national GDP and generates around 450,000 direct jobs and more than 1.2 million indirect jobs.

“Cancun and the Riviera Maya have some of the highest hotel occupancy levels in the country, exceeding 80 percent for most of the year,” he said.

Segura highlighted that in Quintana Roo, Governor Mara Lezama has made great efforts to have 25 beaches Blue Flag certified. She has also created a Comprehensive Sargassum Management Plan that has allowed more than 44,500 tons of sargassum in 3 million square meters of beach to be collected with the support of the Navy and the municipalities.

He stressed that it is urgent for Mexico to have a Comprehensive Coastal Recovery and Protection Program to mitigate the impacts of climate change and coastal erosion, guaranteeing the environmental and economic sustainability of our communities.

Segura says the state also requires the creation of a National Program for the Recovery and Conservation of Coral Reefs, something that is considered essential to protect the coasts against natural phenomena.

Quintana Roo Senator Eugenio Segura

“It is essential to have these federal programs that are specifically dedicated to dealing with the impact of climate change. Therefore, I propose an appeal to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) to, in coordination with state and municipal governments with coastlines, implement urgent actions for the recovery and conservation of our beaches,” he explained.