Semarnat approves controversial developments in La Paz, Mexico

Mexico’s federal environmental agency, Semarnat, has granted conditional approval for two distinct real estate projects in the La Paz region of Baja California Sur.

The first project, Camarón Beach, is a tourist-residential development promoted by Superior Enterprises S. de R. L. de C. V. Spanning approximately 31 hectares, the development includes 27 residential lots, staff housing, and recreational areas. Semarnat’s General Directorate of Environmental Restoration noted that the project presents adverse impacts on biodiversity, soil, water, and air quality, concluding that proposed mitigation measures are insufficient to preserve the site’s ecological integrity. The area is home to three reptile species listed as threatened under Mexican endangered species standards.

The second project, titled “Programa de viviendas para el bienestar INFONAVIT, Bahía Real,” involves the construction of 269 four-story buildings in the Olas Altas neighborhood. This social interest housing development will include 16 apartments per building and nine commercial zones. Because the site is located in a flood-prone area, Semarnat has mandated that the developers implement water channeling or protection works and provide guarantees to address potential environmental damage before construction begins.