Maya communities demand cancellation of Sian Ka’an road project

Maya communities in Felipe Carrillo Puerto and fishers from Punta Allen, Quintana Roo, are demanding the permanent cancellation of ‘Puerta al Mar’. The project, executed by the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) since 2023, involves constructing a 55-kilometer road intended to connect the municipal seat to the coastal zone near the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

During a recent appearance before the Chamber of Deputies, Alicia Bárcena, head of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), stated that large-scale urban developments in the reserve will be ruled out to prioritize conservation. However, environmental organizations and local communities argue this does not guarantee the project's cancellation or address existing damages.

Legal representatives from Territorios Diversos para la Vida (TerraVida) report that the works began without necessary permits, resulting in the clearing of 6.34 hectares of jungle and the impact of 1,418 square meters of red mangrove. Local groups are seeking legal guarantees to prevent the project from being rebranded, as well as an ecological restoration program and a judicial review of pending legal demands.