Mexico's Semarnat greenlights beach restoration and solar park projects with conditions

Mexico’s Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) approved an environmental impact statement for a beach‑restoration project at a hotel in Akumal, Quintana Roo. The plan targets up to 11.4 metres of sand lost per year and includes protective structures, artificial dunes, re‑vegetation and marine sand extraction. Semarnat gave an 18‑month construction window and a 50‑year usage term, while the broader state program to restore 33.5 km of public coastline remains postponed until 2027.

Separately, Semarnat authorized a 50‑MW photovoltaic solar park in Tekax, Yucatán, located within the Sierra de Ticul‑Punto Put bird‑conservation area. The approval carries 16 terms and six conditions to safeguard 26 threatened animal species and a protected plant. The project must be built within 24 months and can operate for 50 years, covering 159.1 hectares and connecting to the national grid via new substations and transmission lines.

Both initiatives aim to address coastal erosion and expand renewable energy capacity, but they raise environmental concerns about altered marine currents and habitat impacts on protected wildlife.