Chicxulub Puerto, Yucatán — Local agents from Profepa, the federal environmental agency, stopped workers from dumping rubble onto coastal wetland.
Water flow was interrupted and mangroves were removed in an area of more than 500 square meters near Calle 35 in Chicxulub Puerto.
In response to a citizen complaint, a Profepa inspection found discarded stones and other rubble.
Workers allegedly removed white mangrove (laguncularia racemosa), black mangrove (avicennia germinans), red mangrove (rizophora mangle) and buttonhole mangrove (conocarpus erectus), all endangered species.
The inspected property was found illegally delimited by wire.
The change in land use was made without authorization from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).
With the purpose of preventing continual environmental damage, the Clausura Total Temporal is based on Article 161, Section II, of the General Law of Sustainable Forest Development.
The land owner is subject to fines and up to nine years in prison.
Source: Press Release
