The devastation of the mangroves in Sisal reached an alarming area of 23,000 square meters (m²)—equivalent to three football fields—which has generated deep concern among environmental authorities, as it affects federal lands and constitutes a crime.
In response to this damage, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), with the support of the State Government and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), has initiated an intervention process to stop the devastation.
As we reported a few days ago, authorities arrived to protect the area, which led to a confrontation with community residents.
Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, head of Semarnat, highlighted the seriousness of this problem and asserted that mangroves are not only natural barriers to meteorological phenomena such as hurricanes and storms but are also vital to local biodiversity. These ecosystems are home to endangered marine and terrestrial species such as flamingos, shrimp, and sea bass, which depend on this marine vegetation to reproduce.
The destruction was carried out with heavy machinery and chainsaws, which complicated control efforts at the time of the intervention. Bárcena Ibarra emphasized that, although the situation has been difficult, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and federal and local authorities are working together to identify those responsible and stop the destruction.
“Imagine how much it costs to plant mangroves and how easy it is to destroy them in a minute. It’s outrageous,” the official said.
She reiterated that the effort to restore them is immense. “This is a federal crime, and we are committed to stopping it,” she insisted.
TYT Newsroom
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