Mexico’s AG Will Investigate the Filling of Wetlands

(Acapulco, NA 18 March) The “Black Lagoon” of Puerto Marqués is a wetland, protected under federal environmental law. In the past several months it has been partially filled in by the construction crews working on the interchange where the Puerto Marqués-El Cayaco road intersects the Escénica-Airport road. More than 100 square meters of wetlands was ordered filled in, where the channel meanders from its outlet near Revolcadero Beach in the direction of the Three Palos Lagoon.

Joel Tacuba García, the representative in Guerrero of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa), said that the Attorney General will be investigating the complaints made by his agency. Nine truckers were caught dumping construction debris into the wetlands, and arrested. It is still not clear who, if anyone, authorized the illegal actions. Possible candidates are CAPAMA and the construction company working in the area. The wetland itself is public land, in this case belonging mainly to the pueblo of Llano Largo. When asked whether Profepa and the Attorney General plan to move against the owners of the wetlands, the representative said that the matter would be handled under criminal law, as the arrests were part of a criminal investigation, and the persons responsible were caught in the act.