The environmental destruction has highlighted the growing impact of real estate development on the coast, which has been one of the main factors in mangrove destruction.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to restoring beaches and coastal areas, ensuring that federal lands, including beaches, are protected and available for public use as directed by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
“Real estate development, especially in areas near the sea, has been one of the main causes of mangrove loss. Our goal is to prevent further real estate projects in areas within the federal maritime-terrestrial zone, which are publicly accessible,” she stated.
During the reforestation program’s kickoff event, held in Chuburná, Yucatán, Díaz Mena and Bárcena Ibarra led the planting of more than 100,000 specimens of red, black, and green mangroves to restore affected areas, strengthen coastal protection, and promote biodiversity. Furthermore, the goal is to ensure the region’s resilience to weather events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
National level, Mexico has around one million hectares of mangroves, of which approximately 15 percent (about 150,000 hectares) has been lost.
In Yucatán, the loss is close to 8 percent, underscoring the urgent need to restore and protect these ecosystems. The head of Semarnat also highlighted that Mexico ranks third worldwide in mangrove area, making the preservation of these habitats even more important.
In addition to mangroves, the sea urchin, a key species in coastal ecological restoration, is also being included in reforestation efforts.
Semanat is committed to working on the restoration of these ecosystems with the support of local communities, so that both mangroves and sea urchins can continue to play their important role in biodiversity and coastal protection.
With mangrove reforestation underway, authorities hope this joint effort will not only help restore the ecosystem, but also strengthen the local economy and the security of fishing communities, who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
TYT Newsroom
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