Tourism project in Mexico threatens fragile preserve… In an act of “typical corruption”, according to environmentalists' complaints, Mexican officials gave the green light in late 2006 to two big real estate projects in areas bordering the Chamela-Cuixamala nature preserve, near the Pacific coast, in the western state of Jalisco.

The projects, which include hotels, golf courses and homes, “were approved under pressure and in violation of the laws and recommendations included in many studies,” Alberto Székely, spokesman for the non-governmental Council for the Defense of the Pacific Coast, told Tierramérica.

Contrary to the opinion of other government agencies, the Environmental Impact Directorate approved the projects between Nov. 28 and Dec. 4, 2006. On Dec. 1, Felipe Calderón was sworn in as Mexico's president, replacing Vicente Fox.

“It was a typical last-minute move (when public interest was focused on other issues), with hints of corruption,” said Székely.

Although the planned developments are outside the limits of the Chamela-Cuixamala park, which covers 13,142 hectares of tropical forest, lakes and marshes, they are within the giant polygon that the United Nations considers a global reserve zone.