Mexico's Profepa and Conanp shut down illegal operations in 33 protected areas

From 15 to 20 June, Mexico’s Federal Prosecutor for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) carried out a second joint national inspection across 33 priority protected areas in 25 states. The operation involved 555 personnel from federal, state and municipal agencies and executed 99 actions, including 57 inspections, 39 land and maritime patrols and three review checkpoints.

Authorities closed 33 illegal activities, seized 171 orchids, three excavators, 21.3 m³ of wood, 8,311 kg of charcoal, and dismantled 15 illicit charcoal ovens and 13 illegal structures. A wild boar was also released. Specific violations were documented in the Celestún and Ría Lagartos reserves—illegal logging, mangrove removal, wetland filling and unauthorized occupation of federal maritime‑terrestrial zones. In Campeche’s Bala’an K’aax area, 12.5 ha of secondary forest were cleared and burned; in Los Petenes biosphere reserve, 13 irregular structures were removed.

Profepa prosecutor Mariana Boy Tamborrell emphasized that protected areas are of public interest and warned that violations will continue to be investigated and prosecuted under existing environmental law.