Controversy over tourism project in La Paz: citizens and activists oppose

A tourism project at the center of controversy

The project called El Saltito Second Phase, promoted by the bank Ve Por Más, has sparked strong opposition among residents and activists in La Paz, Baja California Sur. This ambitious plan aims to transform over 109 hectares of forested land in the La Fortuna sub-delegation into a private tourism and residential development.

Environmental and social concerns

The affected area is considered a valuable community space by locals. Activists have highlighted that it is not merely a vacant lot, but a coastal ecosystem comprising a forest of cardons and a beach that, if destroyed, would be irrecoverable. Civil associations such as BCSicletos, Es Mi Playa, mi Barrio, Cerca BCS, among others, have issued a joint statement demanding that federal authorities deny the permit under evaluation, arguing that the technical study presented does not meet legal requirements.

The procedure in question is a change of land use in forested areas, identified as El Saltito Second Phase (log 03/DS-0011/03/26), promoted by Banco Ve Por Más as the legatee of trust number 1157. Authorization is sought to clear 109.622 hectares to enable residential lots, a golf course, artificial bodies of water, and a hotel with a private beach club.

Impact on the local ecosystem

The technical study suggests a 20-year period for site preparation and construction, although vegetation cannot be removed without the corresponding permit. This process is being evaluated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), with the technical opinion of the Baja California Sur State Forestry Council and the State Technical Committee on Land Use Change.

Organizations have emphasized that within the 109.622 hectares affected, there are approximately 110,000 woody and succulent plants, including about 21,000 tree-like and around 17,400 cardons (Pachycereus pringlei), a species that is crucial for the local ecosystem due to its ability to provide structure and shade.

Endangered species and mitigation measures

Within the proposed area for clearance, there are four species at risk according to NOM-059-Semarnat-2010, including the biznaga (Ferocactus townsendianus) and the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides), both endangered. The study proposes relocating these species to areas devoid of vegetation within the area of influence, a plan criticized by environmentalists for its lack of viability.

The document also allocates 13.134 hectares for artificial bodies of water and 16.669 hectares for the golf course, in a city already facing water stress issues. Critics of the project have pointed out that removing vegetation reduces the soil's ability to manage water, a resource explicitly protected by law.

Infrastructure and necessary resources

The proposed development lacks basic services, so it is planned to be supplied with water by tanker trucks and electricity by diesel plants. Additionally, two desalination plants are planned, which would discharge brine into the subsoil, an aspect that has raised concern among environmental experts.

The project's impact is not only environmental but also social. Last Saturday, hundreds of people demonstrated on the La Paz boardwalk to express their opposition to the project, highlighting the importance of preserving El Saltito as a common-use space for the community.

The importance of community participation

The protesters emphasized that the loss of beaches has been a gradual and silent process, and that El Saltito still belongs to the La Paz community. The decision about the future of this beach depends on the community's ability to unite and defend its natural heritage.