Dzilam de Bravo, one of the main fishing ports in the Yucatan Peninsula, is affected by the destruction of its coastal dunes.
Its inhabitants notice an obvious change in the beaches, while academics are calling for legislation that increases the protection range of these key ecosystems.
The municipality periodically faces the felling of vegetation from its dunes, mainly due to the sale of investment lots.
Researcher Gabriela Mendoza González, from the Institute of Ecology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), explained that dunes are clusters of sediments that work like sandbanks because throughout the year, beaches are nourished by them. However, current legislation does not sufficiently protect them.
Dzilam de Bravo is one of the most important ports in Yucatán for its fishing production. Source: Itzel Chan.
As you walk along the main road of this community, you can see the cluster of signs prohibiting access to the sea. And on the other side, from the beach, the space between the sea and the houses has narrowed.
“We don't even have easy access to the beaches anymore. To enter, we have to walk a long way to find access because everything else is private,” lamented Carla Uicab, a resident of the place.
Some lots even show felling of vegetation. Itzel Chan Source.
At the end of last year, the Federal Attorney's Office for Environmental Protection (Profepa) closed a main road in this area, with an extension of 804 meters long by 13 meters wide, for lack of permits for land use change and causing environmental damage to the coastal ecosystem.
“That was the most resounding case last year, but the truth is that they are often removing the mountain from our beaches and complaints are not always heeded,” said Luz de la Cruz, a resident of Dzilam.
Dzilam de Bravo is not an isolated case
Mendoza González warned that the case of Dzilam is not isolated and, unfortunately, all ports in Yucatán are under pressure to clear their coastal dune.
“The entire coastal strip of Yucatán is currently under high pressure due to the devastation of its dunes. Although the beach is highly valued, there is no knowledge that the coastal dune is what keeps beaches healthy and resilient. Building on this ecosystem, without any type of regulation or protection, means that in the state we already have sand deficits,” said Gabriela.
In dune areas where the vegetation is preserved it is possible to see even large trees. Source: Itzel Chan.
The Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat) is considered the 20-meter-wide strip of dry land, passable and adjacent to the beach. Construction companies must leave this section free and build over that distance.
In Mexico, Zofemat is regulated by the laws of National Assets, National Waters and the Regulations for the Use and Use of the Territorial Sea, but compliance with the laws that regulate Zofemat is poor.
“It's not enough to leave this buffer area and start building after those 20 meters. And that's why the dunes are in a very critical state of conservation. Here in Yucatán, there are already very chronic examples of erosion because the entire coast has dune degradation,” Mendoza warned.
In addition to their vegetation, coastal dunes are home to a great diversity of wildlife, including mammals, birds, reptiles, crustaceans, arachnids, amphibians and insects. They are also nesting areas for sea turtles and play an essential role in regulating the climate, as well as in natural protection against hurricanes and storms.
International research released in 2020 warned that, by the end of this century, up to half of the sandy beaches on the planet could disappear. In Yucatán, there are 11,848 hectares of coastal dunes. A regional study on coastal erosion estimated that, between 1980 and 2019, the peninsula's coastline receded by up to 19 meters in the areas most affected by this phenomenon.
In the most serious cases, the beaches appear to be degraded. Source: Rodrigo Guzmán.
Mendoza and other academics propose raising the legal protection level of dunes, as is the case with mangroves.
“This would allow the sanctions to really be effective and at the same time the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone has to be a strip longer than 20 meters. A change in legislation is urgent to include coastal dunes in protection and conservation strategies because until now they are among the most invisible ecosystems despite being protective barriers and serving for climate regulation,” he said.
Although there is the NMX-AA-120-SCFI-2016 standard, which establishes sustainability and beach quality requirements, it is not sufficient for the researcher in the face of the economic interests of the real estate and business sector.
By 2023 alone, there were 439 beach concessions in Yucatán, most of them valid for 15 years. Mostly for the provision of tourist services, establishment of beach clubs and hotel rest areas.
In the community it is possible to see these types of offers or land for sale. Source: Itzel Chan.
“There is already a union of academics at the national level and we are organizing to propose stronger legislation for the protection of dunes. And here in Yucatán, a rapprochement is being sought with the deputies,” said Mendoza González.
* This article was written by Itzel Chan, who covers coastal communities thanks to the support of the Report for the World program .
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