On February 1st 2007 the Mexican Government published in the Federal Official Gazette an amendment to the General Wildlife Law. The amendment's main feature is the inclusion of Article 60-Ter, that imposes restrictions over any activity that may affect mangroves or ecosystems where these may be found. The Article in question reads as follows:
"Article 60 TER.- The removal, filling, transplant, cutting or any other activity that may affect the integrity of the hydrological flow of the mangrove, its ecosystem and zone of influence; its natural productivity, the natural capacity of the ecosystem for tourism products; nesting, reproductive, refuge, feeding and growth zones; the interaction between the mangrove, rivers, the dune, the adjacent marine zone and corals, or which may provoke changes in the characteristics and ecological services is prohibited.
Exempt from the prohibition referred in the preceding paragraph are works and activities that have the purpose of protecting, restoring, researching or conserving mangrove areas."
As a result of this new legal provision, any activity that may affect a mangrove will be prohibited and this could have a negative impact over tourism developments that are under way or in the planning state in many areas of Mexico, particularly tropical ones. The amendments to the General Wildlife Law were approved by the Mexican Senate on December 13, 2005 and by the Chamber of Deputies on December 21, 2006. There was speculation on whether President Felipe Calderón would veto the approved amendments because of their potential impact on the tourism industry. However, it appears that the President chose not to exercise his veto power.
Why am I telling you this? Honduras usually follows in the footsteps of it's neighboring giants and we believe strongly that mangroves should be protected at all costs. They are a natural filtration system and have served for thousands of years as a protector of the precious reef system. Developing will get tougher and tougher around the world, and it will be no exception here. What about all the people that already bought and are in some stages of development or planning? What's this going to mean to them?
