Sedena relocates Military Museum project to protect Chapultepec forest

Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) has announced it will relocate the planned construction of a new Military Museum and National Center for Military History. The decision follows significant public opposition and concerns from environmental activists regarding the potential impact on the Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City.

The original project, estimated to cost 1.658 billion pesos, was slated for a military training field adjacent to the forest. Although Sedena noted the site had low tree density due to existing military infrastructure, critics and local residents argued the development would threaten the ecological value of the area, which is recognized as an Environmental Value Area (AVA).

Sedena stated that the new site will be chosen from existing military fields that already possess infrastructure to ensure no further impact on green spaces or ecosystems. The museum aims to preserve and display over 200 years of military history, including documents, uniforms, aircraft, and weaponry. The final location for the cultural complex has not yet been determined.