Yucatán protests against Las Dunas tourism project threaten coastal dunes

Local residents and the environmental collective Salvemos las Dunas have mobilised in the coastal community of Chuburná, Yucatán, after heavy machinery began clearing sand dunes for the “Las Dunas” tourism development that would include hotels, apartments, commercial areas and parking. The activists allege the project damages a rare dune ecosystem that protects the shoreline from hurricanes, erosion and supports local flora, fauna and aquifer recharge, and they have launched an information campaign and petition to halt the work.

The state government of Yucatán has formally asked Mexico’s federal environmental agencies—Semarnat (Secretariat of the Environment and Natural Resources) and Profepa (Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection)—to verify that the project complies with all required federal authorisations and environmental conditions, noting that state regulations reserve more than half of the site for conservation of wetlands, mangroves and dunes. The activists demand an immediate suspension of the works and a thorough review of the permits, warning that continued demolition could exacerbate coastal erosion and biodiversity loss.