Semarnat halts Nayarit luxury beach development over environmental violations

Mexico’s Environment Ministry has halted a luxury formation improvement successful the Pacific seashore authorities of Nayarit, marking the nation’s 2nd large tourism task scrapped successful caller months.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) said Monday it revoked a national concession for the Las Cocinas formation task successful Punta Mita aft uncovering unauthorized operation and biology violations by developer Cantiles de Mita, portion of Grupo Dine.

Construction had already been underway, but relentless actions by activists and section residents enactment the project’s biology concerns into the nationalist spotlight and yet led to its cancellation. (Angie Tovar/Cuartoscuro)

The bureau said a reappraisal confirmed “non-compliance” with concession terms, including works carried retired wrong the national maritime-terrestrial portion (Zofemat) without approval.

Zofemat is the portion of national land, usually 20 meters wide, that runs on the nation’s seashore — walkable areas that indispensable stay publically accessible nether Mexican law.

Developers tin physique determination lone if they get a concession from the national government.

In a property merchandise issued this week, Semarnat said it had “decided to rethink the project” with a absorption connected “environmental impacts” and “the extortion of coastal ecosystems and escaped transition on the beach.”

Three months ago, the Interior Ministry (Segob) vowed to warrant escaped nationalist entree to Las Cocinas, but Semarnat’s caller determination goes further by revoking the Zofemat concession.

The task was to see a 145-room hotel, much than 60 luxury residences and amenities connected astir 20 hectares, with a planned 2027 opening. It was to beryllium portion of Montage Hotels & Resorts, which operates Montage Los Cabos and different luxury properties.

Environmental concerns centered connected Las Cocinas arsenic a nesting tract for leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. 

Protests by residents of Punta de Mita and adjacent communities intensified successful caller months, including clashes with constabulary and allegations of arbitrary arrests. Punta de Mita is simply a coastal municipality successful the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit.

Interior Ministry confirms nationalist entree to Las Cocinas, gathering 1 of the Punta de Mita protesters’ demands

The luxury edifice country of Punta Mita is portion of the region, but the gated compound is legally and commercially tally separately. Montage Punta Mita was to beryllium wrong its boundaries.

Semarnat’s determination follows its May rejection of the “Perfect Day Mexico” megaproject connected the confederate Caribbean seashore of Quintana Roo, which it said posed risks to reefs, mangroves and coastal ecosystems.

The backstage cruise-ship playground had been planned by Royal Caribbean adjacent Mahahual, a municipality of less than 3,000 radical known for its clear, lukewarm waters and proximity to the Mesoamerican Reef.

The cruise-ship elephantine had touted the task arsenic including much than 30 waterslides, the world’s longest “lazy river,” and astir 12 eateries and 24 bars — including the Tipsy Sombrero Bar, a standalone cantina topped by the “world’s largest sombrero.”

With reports from La Jornada and Infobae