Tren Maya: Dangers of Ecotourism

October 28, 2022

The Mayan train is a new development that was designed and paid for by public and private donors within Mexico to further boost ecotourism. A huge advocate for this project has been the current President AMLO.

Additionally, Tren Maya also uses foreign investors to fund and eliminate the once-protected Mayan jungle. This jungle stretches 42,300 km and is the second-largest tropical jungle (Programa Selva Maya, 2019). Its effects will be seen economically and ecologically and poise as another example of the national government's wars on indigenous communities through continuing to support privatized tourism, land privatization, and displacement of marginalized communities. These acts continue to weaken rural areas and their inhabitants as many lose access to natural resources. (Barkin, David, 2000) by disempowering marginalized communities.

Historical Background:

The origins of the megaproject that is Tren Maya began in 2018 the beginning of AMLO's presidency as a way to help poor underserved communities of the Yucatan Penisula which is primarily a tourist-driven economy already. Tren Maya has been a continuum of ecotourism for furthering infrastructure in Mexico and part of past projects of FONATUR. Tren Maya has various governmental agencies working together in opposition to wipe-out indigenous communities inhabiting and opposing the construction.

In the aftermath of neoliberalism, governments have created systems of oppression by facilitating access to land and permits for building through the creation of legal loopholes overturning established promises and policies. In the situation of Article 27 [1]  of the constitution, where the government has the authorization to remove people and regain access to land with oil or mineral deposits (mines, etc.)

 [1]  "The Mexican Land and Petroleum Laws." In Editorial Research Reports 1926, vol. I, 105. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 1926. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1926020800.

The building of the Tren Maya disrupts over 20 ecosystems living in the Mayan Jungle and houses over 588,000 thousand people (according to the WWF). The creation of Tren Maya the main community affected is the Mayan community and the direct descendants of this geographical region encompassing the Yucatán Peninsula (lavacaindependiente). The Mayan train eliminates the work done by the ancient Mayan civilization in living alongside the environment (living and nonliving). The Mayan people transformed the geographical area they inhabited to be livable while peacefully co-existing through methods of sustainable practices of agriculture. Such as beekeeping as essential pollinators, and the expanding of natural species of plants (lavacaindependiente).

Lvi. “The Maya Jungle: A Natural and Cultural Sanctuary.” La Vaca Independiente. La Vaca Independiente, May 25, 2021. https://lavacaindependiente.com/en/the-maya-jungle-a-natural-and-cultural-sanctuary/.

Many of the lands (figure 1.1 map) run through ejidos.

Ejidos according to Merriam-Webster is a tract of land held in common by the inhabitants of a Mexican village and farmed cooperatively or individually. Additionally, according to MexLaw, Americans and Europeans cannot own these ancestral lands. While it is forbidden the naturalization process is not entirely impossible. More about ejidos is that only Mexican nationals can earn ownership if they adhere to the pre-established laws and agree to the communal rule surrounding the property and use of land. Anything other than the unanimous abiding leads to the courts getting involved. (MexLaw). As claimed by the Wilson Center, Article 27 laid a framework for land reform to save and preserve ejidos took a spin in 1992, when the Mexican Government allowed for ability for these lands to be able to be bought and sold. This was because the Mexican Government realized that profit was falling, and the government has maintained economic and political profit success comes before the moral promises constructed. (Wilson Center). 

·       https://mexlaw.com/ejido-mexican-concept-misunderstood-foreigners/ 

·       https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/infographic-land-ownership-mexico-colonial-era-end-20th-century 

***Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (FONATUR), is a Mexican agency that is in charge of tourism and internal development.

Additonal Environmental Impacts:

The threat that the train poses for over 20 ecosystems living in this region is the disruption of the daily life of the flora and fauna. One of those species is the Mexican jaguar which is endangered. as a result of construction will have to be forced out of its environment and compete with others for space (Female Puma).

Carlos A. López González, Fernanda Cruz Torres, Mircea G. Hidalgo Mihart "Female Puma (Puma concolor) Highway Crossings in the Yucatan Peninsula," Western North American Naturalist, 80(4), 573-580, (16 December 2020)

The building of the road and pathways have caused ripples already. The freshwater of cenotes is being threatened specifically Sac Actun. Cenotes are religious places that Mayan people have held to be sacred for thousands of years and now are being jeopardized as one of the routes passes over Sac Actun.

Lack of Political Power:

The continuous lack of involvement and political presence by indigenous communities in government continues to enhance the disparities within these same communities, Mexico according to Global American [1]  has one of the largest communities but is not present in government due to there not being ethnic quotas to ensure this branch of equality of representation. Such control has led to the indigenous population displacement and created hostile relations between indigenous communities and government agencies due to the internal pressure to grow and allow tourism to further develop.

 [1]  October 19, 2017Click to read this article in Spanish Click to read this article in English. “Indigenous Political Representation in Mexico.” Global Americans, July 15, 2020. https://theglobalamericans.org/2017/10/indigenous-political-representation-mexico/.

Economic Issues:

Why People Support:

The Yucatan Penisula is one of the poorest areas in all of Mexico, people in Campeche survive with about 46 pesos a day, (2.37 USD). A lack of development in these areas as presented in the video has led to a change in sentiment by the inhabitants of the Yucatan Penisula to aspire to change in the economic market and await the finishing project. According to the national Mexico tourism page, Tren Maya will create over 11,500 jobs (ALSTOM) and reduce the poverty rate in the area by about 15% (the economic review).

Quick Case Study: Parasiso Refinary

The oil refinery of Paraiso is an example of the subsequent further development of Tren Maya. EJ Atlas demonstrated many of the linked communities that are being affected by the overall political agenda of AMLO (EJ atlas).

Tren Maya and the oil refinery were part of a list composed of over 25 other mega projects to further development or to nationalize and privatize current markets. There is a replaying connection in Tren Maya as many of the projects eliminate years of conversation as well as disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. In this case, the oil refinery Paraiso is a threat due to the talla practices associated with clearing the land to be finalized. Yet is supposed to offset the negative aspects by bringing in 340 barrels of crude oil a day once completed.

Source: EJ Atlas