The clampdown in the Todos Santos area, a popular spot for American expats and tourists, highlights growing tensions between large-scale real estate projects and environmental protection in Baja California Sur.
TODOS SANTOS, Baja California Sur, Mexico – In a move that underscores the escalating conflict over development in Mexico's Baja California peninsula, federal environmental regulators have shut down a construction project in the scenic town of Todos Santos, known for its surf spots and artist community.
The Mexican Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) issued a full, temporary closure order for the project, located in the "Las Tunas" area, after inspectors found it was being built on fragile coastal dunes without the required federal environmental permits.
The action spotlights the intense pressure from real estate development in the region, where local communities and activists report a surge in "gentrification" driven by large-scale residential and commercial projects. These developments, often targeting wealthy foreigners and investors, are increasingly encroaching on sensitive ecosystems like coastal dunes and displacing local farms, known as "huertas."
According to Profepa, the project was flagged during a September 19th inspection. Officials found that while the developers had local building permits from the municipal government for single-family homes, the scale and nature of the construction suggested potential commercial use. Crucially, the developers could not produce the mandatory federal environmental impact authorization, which is required for projects in ecologically sensitive zones.
“They were building right on the dunes without any mitigation plans,” a source familiar with the inspection said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a clear violation.”
The clash between local and federal permissions points to a broader regulatory issue. Cash-strapped municipal governments may grant construction licenses, but these do not override federal environmental laws designed to protect at-risk landscapes like coastal dunes, which act as natural barriers against erosion and are critical habitats.
This is not the first time Todos Santos has been at the center of an environmental dispute. Just three months ago, the "El Palmoral" project sparked citizen protests over similar concerns, signaling a pattern of contentious development.
The recent clampdown suggests federal authorities are bowing to public pressure to scrutinize the building boom more closely. Profepa acknowledged the role of citizen complaints in triggering its inspection, a common practice where community activism often serves as a de facto enforcement mechanism.
For long-time residents and environmentalists, the closure is a temporary victory in a larger battle. They argue that the character of Todos Santos, with its historic farms and pristine coastline, is being fundamentally altered by speculative construction.
“It feels like a gold rush,” said a local activist who wished to remain anonymous due to the contentious nature of the issue. “The dunes and the huertas are what make this place special. If we pave over them for condos and hotels, we lose everything.”
Profepa stated it is conducting a detailed technical analysis of the project's documentation to determine its final status and potential fines.
The situation in Todos Santos mirrors struggles in desirable coastal communities across North America, where natural beauty attracts investment that often threatens the very resources that made the area attractive in the first place. The outcome here will be a test of Mexico's ability to manage growth and protect its environmental treasures against powerful economic interests.
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