The Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) of the Federal Government rejected the change of land use application submitted by the tourist consortium Grupo Xcaret, which aimed to build a new tourist park near Uxmal.
After several environmental groups had expressed their concerns about the negative impact that the project would have on the environment, the company Alto Comercializadora y Operadora Turística, affiliated with this group, withdrew its request in July. However, it was not until this month that the federal agency closed the case.
In its application filed in April, Alto Comercializadora described the project as a private mixed-use development consisting of 16,200-person capacity hotels and infrastructure, urban equipment, and services designed to support large-scale eco-tourism activities.
The main feature of this project is that it would be built underground and occupy an area of 513,092 square meters. However, permission was requested to clear nearly 160 hectares, which would involve the felling of approximately 165,000 trees.
During the public consultation process, researchers from Yucatán grouped in the Mexican Association for Karst Studies documented the severe damage caused by Grupo Xcaret’s project Xibalbá in Valladolid, leading to the rejection of the permit.
It is worth mentioning that during the construction of the theme park in Valladolid, scientists found evidence that the company had removed natural vegetation, soils, relief, and underground water flows using dynamite to create pathways and tunnels connecting cenotes.
