Thanks to social media reports, illegal deforestation in the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve was halted.
Faced with the increase in cases of environmental destruction in protected areas, the environment has found an unexpected ally in social media. In places like the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve, in southern Mérida, illegal clearing of low deciduous forest has recently been halted thanks to reports filed through digital platforms.
Sandra García, director of the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve, indicated that thanks to these posts, it was possible to detect the deforestation of eight hectares, which were razed with heavy machinery. This resulted in the loss of several trees measuring 8 and 10 meters in height, some over 30 years old, seriously affecting the ecological balance of the area.
“The removal of vegetation, in addition to destroying habitats, causes soil erosion and increases the risk of fires; these losses have profound and long-lasting consequences,” she warned.
The site manager indicated that once the case was brought to light through social media, authorities took immediate action, enabling the creation of a case file and the activation of a response protocol, as well as a formal complaint to the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).
“Citizen participatory monitoring has been key because it is not possible to constantly monitor the nearly 12,000 hectares that make up the reserve,” she added.
In this regard, she emphasized that social media has not only been a tool for reporting but also for community organizing. Through it, more points of attention have been identified, as it is estimated that more than 50 hectares have been affected, some of which are used as clandestine dumping sites.
These digital reporting mechanisms have also proven effective in other areas of the state, such as the mangroves on the Yucatan coast, where citizens have documented their destruction using their cell phones to make way for tourism or highway developments.
The post Social media reports stopped illegal deforestation in the Cuxtal Ecological Reserve first appeared on The Yucatan Times.