Investing in land on the Yucatán Peninsula can cause serious environmental damage. Know the ecological risks before you buy.
Buying land on the Yucatán Peninsula has been promoted as a lucrative real estate investment. However, behind this narrative of “luxury in nature” lie serious environmental consequences that are increasingly raising concerns among researchers, environmentalists, and local communities.
That is why Greenpeace pointed out that before investing, it is important to understand the other side of massive real estate development in the region.
What is the relationship between real estate developments and marine pollution?
An investigation by Cinvestav Mérida, published by the digital media outlet Vector Yucatán, revealed that wastewater from various real estate developments on the peninsula may be linked to the red tide recorded last August.
The lack of adequate wastewater treatment infrastructure leads to leaks into the sea, affecting marine life, fishing, and the balance of coastal ecosystems.
How do these projects affect the Mayan jungle and cenotes?
Real estate development has fueled deforestation, the filling of wetlands, and the alteration of cenotes, the main sources of freshwater in Yucatán. The Mayan jungle, one of the country’s most important natural lungs, is losing biodiversity and its capacity to mitigate climate change.
Furthermore, many species are displaced to make way for housing developments that promise exclusivity but destroy the environment they claim to value.
Why does investing in land have a high environmental cost?
Acquiring land in this context means participating in a speculative model that degrades key environmental services, such as climate regulation, carbon sequestration, and water protection. Deforestation, soil pollution, and ecosystem destruction threaten the future of the Yucatán Peninsula. Before buying, it’s worth asking yourself if the investment justifies the environmental impact.
Source: Yucatan a la Mano
