Concerns Grow Over Impact of Real Estate Projects on Mangroves in La Paz and Los Cabos

A new report from the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA), in collaboration with UNAM academics, highlights the growing deterioration of mangrove ecosystems in Baja California Sur

Mangroves are essential for marine biodiversity

A new report from the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA), in collaboration with UNAM academics, highlights the growing deterioration of mangrove ecosystems in Baja California Sur—especially along the coasts of La Paz and Los Cabos, where real estate development has surged with little environmental oversight.

According to the report, at least 22% of the mangrove coverage in the bays of La Paz and San José del Cabo has been affected by land filling, road construction, private marinas, and tourism projects, many of which have been approved without complete environmental impact assessments.

Mangroves are essential for marine biodiversity, hurricane protection, and carbon capture.

Their destruction not only represents an ecological loss but also poses an economic risk to fishing and tourism communities that rely on these ecosystems.

Environmental organizations have called on the state government and SEMARNAT to impose a temporary moratorium on new projects in sensitive areas, and to create a public platform that transparently displays issued permits and includes citizen evaluations.