Semarnat seeks to regularize the works of the Mayan train in environmental matters: Bárcena

Enrique Méndez

La Jornada newspaper
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, p. 9

The head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, informed deputies to evaluate the permits that the Mayan train has “to regularize the work”, in addition to recognizing that, especially in section 5, eight caverns and cenotes were affected, and reported that the deforesting areas will be compensated.

“We have been working to see the work of cleaning and retirement of concrete from the work” in that section, he said in his appearance before the Environment and Climate Change commissions of the lower house, where PAN deputies and PRI asked him if he would let the impact of the project pass.

The PRI Samuel Palma César said that a satellite analysis managed to document that at least 6,659 hectares have been deforested directly by works of the Mayan train, and that of the almost 10 thousand 831 hectares occupied for facilities, roads, accesses and auxiliary work, 61 percent lacked due permission to use forest land.

He pointed out that in section 5 Cancun-Tulum more than 3.5 million trees have already been talked, and in section 6 tulum-butumal, another 2.6 million.

In response to the legislators, Bárcena Ibarra said: “The train was already when we arrived. We cannot say: ‘We don’t want it.’ In addition, he explained that agency officials have made tours of the seven sections of the railroad and the 28 associated works.

“And, therefore, what we have done is to evaluate all the permits it has, those that do not have, so that the work is regularized. Regularizing the train’s work means putting a series of conditions, and it is what we have dedicated to,” he added.

They create an inter -institutional group

He explained that an inter -institutional group in which the Secretariat in charge participates, the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection and the Mayan Train, which manages the army, meets every week to follow up on each section, see what permits are missing, the conditions they have not fulfilled and the actions that must be undertaken.

He acknowledged that although the information of the work was reserved until 2027, from this sexennium it is published in the Ecological Gazettewhich is broadcast on Thursdays.

The PAN also asked for a position regarding the reform of the Amparo Law, which the Chamber received yesterday from the Senate as a minute, especially because now environmentalists must demonstrate the legitimate interest when they present an appeal against infrastructure projects.

The official replied that in the field of legitimate interest “and if it will be given to diffuse interests, such as those of the environment, I would tell you that you have the word.”

He said that before the appearance he talked with the coordinator of Morena, Ricardo Monreal Ávila, who stated that although with the modifications “it will be better in many aspects that the law in force must have a certain benefit and that is not yet concluded in the discussion. The Court can also interpret it in favor of the defenders of the environment.”