Greenpeace Blasts Cabo Cortes Resort Project Circe Vargon - Rumbo de Mexico
go to original June 10, 2012

(Greenpeace/Ivan Castaneira)

MEXICO CITY – Environmental organizations accused the Environment Secretariat (Semarnat) of knowing since April 19 that Hansa, a realtor, did not comply with environment requirements in construction of the Cabo Cortes mega resort in Baja California Sur.

Alejandro Olivera, a Greenpeace campaign coordinator, said he had a letter signed by Alfonso Flores Ramírez, the head of the General Environmental Impact and Risk Department (DGIRA) of Semarnat, that states that Hansa breached environmental guidelines.

Semarnat gave Hansa approval to build Cabo Cortes in September 2008, but construction of the resort was later halted when an area resident filed a request for a review of the contract. On March 1, 2011, Semarnat gave Hansa the go-ahead again but set environmental conditions the company had to follow.

“We have in our hands, and we are giving to the media, the document SGPA/DGIRA/2969, which states that Cabo Cortes breached eight clauses regarding the environmental impact of the project.”

Gustavo Alanís Ortega, the executive director of the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA), said, “What we have discovered is extremely serious, so serious that not only did NGOs know about these irregularities, but also the environmental secretariat (knew) and notified Hansa about the irregularities but also looked the other way and failed to act accordingly.

“This means that the project should be blocked indefinitely, and the DGIRA’s authorization of the project should be revoked.”

The failure to comply with eight of the 20 requirements gives Semarnat the right to shut down the development, which represents a major ecological threat to the Cabo Pulmo protected area in Baja California Sur, said organization leaders.

“What we are asking, in this case Felipe Calderón, is that he be consistent in his actions and if he portrays himself internationally as being an environmentally responsible official, then we urge him to comply with the law and his duties,” said Alanís Ortega.

The property in question covers 3,800 hectares (9,380 acres). Hensa plans to build a marina, two golf courses and seven hotels on the property. Environmentalists say that the mega resort threatens the nearby Cabo Pulmo marine reserve.

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