National Parks
Numerous national parks, nature reserves and other protected areas are dedicated to preserving the natural environments of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Sian Ka'an Nature Reserve: located south of the Riviera Maya and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this reserve protects mangrove ecosystems, sandy beaches and tropical forests, as well as part of the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to cenotes, natural pools that harbor a unique biodiversity, and petenes, tropical forests that emerge from marshy areas. The reserve acts as an ecological continuum between these different ecosystems, helping to preserve biodiversity.
Ria Lagartos Reserve: located in the north-east of the peninsula, this reserve protects remarkable wetlands, including mangroves and cenotes, as well as lakes(las coloradas) and pink salt marshes. Biodiversity here is remarkable, with numerous bird species including pink flamingos and crocodiles.
Arrecife Alacráns National Park: located in northern Yucatán, this Unesco World Heritage site protects the largest coral reef in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the park's islands is accessible by boat, where you can go snorkeling.
El Corchito Cenotes Nature Reserve : located in the north of the peninsula, it protects a remarkable biodiversity associated with mangrove and cenote ecosystems.
Strong anthropic pressures on the environment
Human activities are responsible for the degradation of natural environments and the erosion of biodiversity, particularly agriculture, industrial fishing and tourism, through the pollution they generate, changes in land use, overexploitation of resources and the introduction of invasive species.
Agricultural pollution. Nitrogen and phosphate discharges from industrial farming contribute to the disruption of wetland ecosystems. The use of pesticides has also contributed to the erosion of biodiversity. The good news, in January 2021, was the promulgation of a decree banning the use of glyphosate and the cultivation and import of GMO corn in the country by 2024.
Deforestation. Deforestation, which began with shipbuilding in the 18th century and the creation of the railroads in the following century, is now mainly linked to agriculture, livestock farming and urban development, but also to illegal logging. These activities are jeopardizing the survival of the forests. Faced with this situation, a number of initiatives have been launched. For example, the NGO Nukuch Kaax is developing agroforestry projects in Yucatán.
Mass tourism. Mass tourism also has a major environmental impact. It generates soil artificialisation and fragmentation of natural environments through the almost continuous urbanization of the coastline, particularly between Cancún and Tulum. In 2023, Mexico inaugurated a revolutionary infrastructure initiative known as the "Mayan Train". This is an ambitious rail project designed to connect major cultural and historical destinations on the Yucatán peninsula over a distance of some 1,500 kilometers. Although the project has aroused great enthusiasm, it has also generated controversy, not least because of environmental concerns. Plans include measures to protect biodiversity and minimize ecological impact, but environmentalists and indigenous groups are concerned about the potential effects on forests, wetlands and wildlife habitats. Another aspect is the significant production of waste and aqueous effluents, which are poorly managed and contribute to environmental pollution. It is estimated that hotel complexes are responsible for almost 95% of wastewater in Cancún, where facilities are insufficient to treat effluent quantitatively and qualitatively before discharge into the natural environment, in this case the ocean. Tourism also leads to the overexploitation of resources, particularly fish stocks.
Cancún, or the end of a model
Cancún is the symbol of a tourism model doomed to extinction. Created ex-nihilo in the 1970s along a pristine coastline, the seaside resort is the source of pollution and pressure on natural resources, as mentioned above. Urbanization has led to the fragmentation of natural environments. The large hotel complexes act as barriers, preventing exchanges - particularly water circulation - between the lagoon and the sea, thereby disrupting ecosystems. They also impede wind flow, reinforcing the effect of waves and beach erosion on which tourism is based. To save the beaches - and tourism - millions of tonnes of sand have been trucked in, creating not only significant air pollution and greenhouse gases, but also natural imbalances in situ and ex situ. These sand inputs also contribute to the weakening of the coral reef. Added to this is climate change, which is accelerating coastal erosion and could contribute to a more frequent occurrence of extreme events, in a geographical area exposed to hurricanes(Delta, Gamma and Zeta in 2020). Ultimately, the entire site is threatened with extinction.
The invasion of sargassum or the symbol of planetary pollution
The beaches of the Riviera Maya are periodically confronted with sargassum washes ashore. The proliferation of this brown algae has direct economic repercussions for the area (seaside activities and fishing), as well as environmental impacts (disruption of local biodiversity) and health risks for those exposed. This phenomenon is thought to be linked to intensive agriculture in Amazonia. Massive deforestation and the intensive use of inputs - phosphates and nitrates - lead to soil leaching, whose effluents end up in the river and then in the ocean, where they create conditions favorable to the development of sargassum. Currents then carry the algae to the Caribbean Sea. Sand mists from the Sahara also contribute to the movement of Sargassum. Global warming could mean more frequent occurrences of these sand mists. In response, booms are being set up off the coast. But these are only curative measures. Through our daily actions and consumer choices, we can help prevent pollution and combat climate change.
