By the Staff of California Hoy
LOS CABOS, Mexico — Federal environmental authorities have temporarily shut down six real estate and tourism developments near Cabo Pulmo National Park after determining that construction and land modifications were being carried out without the required environmental permits.
The enforcement operation, conducted between Feb. 16 and Feb. 25 by Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa), targeted projects located within and around the protected coastal zone of Cabo Pulmo in Baja California Sur. The inspections were prompted by citizen complaints alleging environmental damage in the area.
Authorities, supported by members of Mexico’s National Guard, inspected eight sites during the operation. Six of those locations were ordered to cease activities after officials confirmed that construction work and land alterations had been undertaken without federal environmental authorization.
Construction halted over missing environmental approvals
According to inspectors, the affected developments were carrying out activities such as fencing properties, clearing vegetation and altering coastal terrain without undergoing the mandatory federal environmental impact review.
The projects subject to temporary closure include developments identified as “The Last Place,” “La Ribera,” “Costa Coral,” “Las Barracas Beach Club,” as well as two additional properties, including one unnamed project and another fenced parcel of land.
Investigators determined that the work involved changing land use in areas classified as forest terrain containing sarcocaulescent scrub vegetation, a type of desert ecosystem characteristic of Baja California Sur. Because the sites lie within a sensitive coastal environment, federal law requires developers to obtain environmental impact authorization before any construction begins.
In the two remaining locations inspected during the operation, officials reported no construction or activities that fell under federal jurisdiction, though formal inspection reports were still issued.
Protecting one of Mexico’s most valuable marine ecosystems
Cabo Pulmo National Park, established in 1995, covers more than 7,100 hectares of marine and terrestrial territory and is home to the only coral reef system in the Gulf of California. The reef has earned international recognition and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its biodiversity and ecological importance.
Environmental officials say the strict oversight is intended to prevent unregulated development that could threaten the fragile coastal ecosystem.
“In Cabo Pulmo there is no room for projects that operate outside the law,” Profepa chief Mariana Boy Tamborrell said in a statement. “We will continue working with strong interagency coordination and constant monitoring to ensure that any project in the region complies with environmental regulations and protects one of the country’s most valuable natural ecosystems.”
Property owners or developers involved in the inspections have five business days to present evidence or legal arguments regarding the violations cited in the reports. After reviewing the documentation, environmental authorities will determine the next steps, which could include administrative sanctions and potential restoration orders requiring the affected sites to be returned to their original ecological condition.
Officials said Profepa will continue monitoring the area to safeguard the coastal environment and ensure compliance with federal environmental laws in one of Mexico’s most environmentally significant marine reserves.
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