Mayan Train: Without environmental permits, work begins on Section 5

Without authorization of environmental impact, nor of change of soil in forest land, work has begun on what will be the new line of the Mayan Train megaproject in Section 5 that goes from Cancun to Tulum, a line that the National Fund for the Promotion of Tourism (Fonatur) has not officially made it public either.

Civil organizations reported this Tuesday that the work to devastate the jungle in an area of ​​the new line has already begun, which is witnessed “with great sadness and anger”, since it is estimated that Eight million 736 thousand trees, palms and shrubs will be devastated along 120 kilometers of virgin jungle between Cancun and Tulum.

In an interview, Guadalupe de la Rosa, representative of Moce Yax Cuxtal, explained that the calculation was carried out based on a study carried out by the “Alfredo Barrera Marín” Botanical Garden –for other purposes– which calculated that for every 500 square meters of forest, there are 400 tree specimens, palms and bushes.

“They were not satisfied with the trees that were removed from the central median of the federal highway. They have already started with machinery to cut down the jungle and the trees. We were in two points and we could verify it. We were able to hear how they creaked, perceive the smell of the jungle, we wondered how many affected animalsbecause they go very fast”, he assured.

In addition to the trees, there will be loss of environmental services, fragmentation of ecosystems, defaunation, reproductive isolation and impacts to the underground aquifer, since below the Tulum region runs the largest network of underground rivers in the world and caverns that house unique archaeological and paleontological treasures.

Organizations working for conservation and environmental education in the Riviera Maya denounced that “without permits, or relocation programs for trees and wildlife. Without recognition of trees in danger of extinction of NOM 059 or geophysical and hydrological studies, Without public consultation or socioeconomic studies, the machines have been coming in to destroy the forest. A forest in an excellent state of conservation, fragile, complex, with all its living and complete elements.”

The beginning of the works constitutes –they affirmed– “a complete violation of environmental legislation and the Right to a healthy environment.”

JM

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