SANTA MARÍA HUATULCO, Oaxaca.- The declaration of new Protected Natural Areas within the Huatulco Integrally Planned Center (CIP), creates an atmosphere of misunderstanding between citizens and investors, and will generate a rupture in the social fabric of the population, considered business chambers that represent the productive sector in this tourist destination.
As part of the public consultation process promoted by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) on the justifying studies prior to the issuance of the decrees to declare new Protected Natural Areas in three polygons of the municipality of Huatulco, the business chambers have set their position through a document in which they reject the federal initiative and carry out an analysis of the possible environmental and social consequences that this would entail.
Complicated outlook for Huatulco
In the extensive text, which was delivered to the offices of the Huatulco National Park, dependent on the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp), which is signed by APRODIT, the Association of Hotels and Motels of Huatulco (AHMH), Equipo Verde Huatulco , Prohotur, Canaco Servitur Huatulco and the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV), those considered threats to the sustainable development of Bahías de Huatulco are highlighted, such as the transition from Fonatur to the state government, due to the risk implied by the new administration of resources from the CIP, which added to the lack of control of the irregular settlements, “could unleash adverse situations for the future of Huatulco.”
In this complex administrative and political context, they describe, ANP’s declaration is incomprehensible for both citizens and investors who saw Huatulco as a suitable place to invest.
Prevent social conflict with decree
In relation to the Natural Area proposed for Bajos de Coyula, which has unleashed a series of protests by community members and inhabitants, who say they feel excluded and affected by a proposal that lacks community consensus, the document highlights that there is currently a latent social problem due to disagreements of the population, for which they emphasize: “we cannot support your decree, because in the current conditions it will generate a rupture in the social fabric of the population in the municipality.”
And they add: “The consensus between the three levels of government and society is very important in order to draw up the road map that allows the establishment of guidelines that guarantee sustainable development. The opportunity is based on the criteria of the Sustainable Tourism Development Zones. The will of all parties is necessary. Let us not forget that a government that makes decisions vertically is condemned to a permanent call to account by the society that entrusted it with the administration of its natural and economic assets”.
The business community considers that the new delimitation of ANP does not respect what is established in the Development Plans and “strangles the urban design, disrupting the future growth, in the medium and long term, of the CIP Huatulco.”
Decreasing urban development areas are concerned
For this reason, they insist, we do not support their decree and we ask that a greater analysis of this issue be carried out, seeking the protection of the environment, but allowing the citizens and authorities of the municipality to be responsible for it, as we have demonstrated with various Actions. This will allow us to grow in an orderly and sustainable manner, always respecting our laws.
Additionally, it is exposed that the reduction of urban and tourist development areas would increase the social gap, if we take into account that the migration caused by mass tourism will increase the fixed population and that, in the medium and long term, they will not have land to settle and they will not have enough job opportunities.
Irregular settlements and deforestation will increase
“The increase in Protected Natural Areas, under the current budgetary criteria, will make them attractive areas for irregular settlements, deforestation and the illegal trade in tropical wood trees with great value on the black market, and which are already sold on foot on federal highway 200 between Bahías de Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, due to the lack of Profepa inspectors”, they add.
Finally, they classify as an act of corruption that the new categorization intends to bury the people’s resources invested in urbanization, to reconvert them into “pristine and untouchable” areas, which will bury millions of pesos that could be used for other actions and works of social benefit.
Source: NVI Noticas
