The Government of Yucatán, through the Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SDS), clarified that the Las Dunas real estate project in the community of Chuburná, municipality of Puerto Progreso, obtained its construction permits during the administration of former PAN governor Mauricio Vila, and that the final environmental authorization falls under federal authorities. However, the site is currently under a temporary total closure order.
During a press conference held this day, the state agency established a clear position: the protection of the dunes, mangroves, and coastal wetlands takes priority over any private project.
The head of the SDS, Neyra Silva Rosado, explained, based on official documents, that state evaluations require the complete conservation of 58,740 square meters of the property, more than half of its total area. This includes 55,305 square meters of coastal wetlands and 3,435 square meters of Federal Maritime-Terrestrial Zone, which must remain free of occupation, as well as the mangroves protected under NOM-022-SEMARNAT-2003.
Photo: Luis A. Boffil
The official explained that the timeline of events shows that the original approval process for Las Dunas corresponds to the administration led by former governor and current senator Mauricio Vila Dosal (2018-2024). The Urban Environmental Feasibility Assessment (FUA) 186/2023 was issued in April 2023 by the previous state administration.
Later, the Puerto Progreso City Council, headed by PAN mayor Julián Zacarías Kuri, granted the land-use license in February 2024. In November of the same year, the Institute for Urban and Territorial Development (IMDUT) ratified the feasibility as part of a previously integrated file, maintaining the same environmental conditions.
According to Silva Rosado, Semarnat rejected the first Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) in December 2023 and later issued a conditional authorization in April 2025.
“The timeline confirms a fundamental fact: the final environmental authorization has been and continues to be the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources,” stated the head of the SDS.
She explained that the Urban Environmental Feasibility Assessment (FUA) is a technical evaluation used to analyze the urban and environmental compatibility of a project. It also considers the carrying capacity, which is one of the technical elements used to determine the level of development that a property can support according to its territorial and environmental characteristics.
However, she clarified that the FUA is not a construction license and does not authorize the execution of the project by itself.
“Environmental impact authorization falls under federal jurisdiction through the Environmental Impact Statement, evaluated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat),” she emphasized.
Due to public concern, the State Government formally requested, since July 25, that Semarnat and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) verify compliance with the project’s authorizations and provided all available technical information.
The federal review is already underway. Profepa imposed a temporary total closure of the works on August 2, after detecting damage to species protected under NOM-059-SEMARNAT caused by the removal, with heavy machinery, of more than 90,000 square meters of sand and coastal vegetation. Meanwhile, Semarnat is conducting a comprehensive review of the project and its environmental impact authorization.
Background
As previously reported by La Jornada, the Salvemos Las Dunas collective stated that in 2023, Semarnat initially denied authorization for the project, considering that the construction could affect and endanger the flora and fauna of the Yucatán coast.
In July 2025, the company Auralux Representaciones obtained a land-use change permit when Guillermo Porras Quevedo, a member of the Green Party (PVEM) in the state, was head of the Semarnat office in Yucatán.
The first Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) submitted for the project included 74 apartments and was presented on September 27, 2023. Three months later, on December 13, 2023, Semarnat announced its rejection through official document 726.4/UGA-1789/003248.
Photo: Luis A. Boffil
However, on December 17, 2024, Auralux submitted a second MIA, this time proposing almost double the number of apartments: 138 units in 14 towers, which was approved, according to the Salvemos Las Dunas organization.
Source: jornada
