Cabo Pulmo proposed development (article, badly translated by google)
Google-quality translation, but you get the idea:
Ciudad de Mexico - The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources may authorize the construction of a tourist complex that cause serious damages to
the Cabo Pulmo National Park (CPNP) for a problem: these projects are you authorized by a single unit, lamented Bonilla Alejandro Olivera, coordinator
of Public Policy and Communication The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) northwest office.
"In the past we have seen that the authority supports the construction of a project even though it has seven dissenting opinion, and this is a
fundamental problem for all projects of this type nationwide rely on a single firm, depend on an area director or even Secretary of Environment
"activist denounces interview Ferriz.com.mx
"In the presidency of Felipe Calderon Hinojosa was a terrible legislative change for the preservation of the environment, as the opinion of
independent institutions such as UNAM ceased to be binding for this type of decision making, ie, ceased to be compulsory SEMARNAT that has to take
them into account in their decision making "explains Ferriz.com.mx Raúl Estrada, a spokesman for Greenpeace Mexico.
Now the SEMARNAT only evaluates the analysis performed by specialists and academics to decision-making, but not force anything.
"At the end is a discretionary decision" Olivera Bonilla lamented, adding that so far the majority of opinions on Cabo Dorado project is against, so
SEMARNAT should deny the construction of the mega project.
On 14 March he was admitted to the SEMARNAT an application for the construction of a new resort on the East Cape in Baja California Sur, called Cabo
Dorado. Us The Rivera Development BCS wants to erect this property tourism project on the same site where was intended to erect the Cabo Cortés
project in the municipality of Los Cabos, Felipe Calderon canceled by June 2012.
In an interview Ferriz.com.mx spokesman project, Sergio Tabansky said they expect approval of SEMARNAT because, unlike the previous project, and
taking into account the views of non-governmental organizations, the removal was agreed Navy, the desalination plant and the density was lowered by
almost half, minimizing environmental impact.
I asked about the lack of water in the area, said the Cabo Dorado project has concession by Conagua 4.5 million cubic meters per year, agreed amount
based on water availability in the area. The liquid would be extracted from the aquifer Santiago, subject only to supply water demand of existing
populations.
On the information released in various media suggests that the two of the three companies behind the project are fraudulent, the spokesperson added
that the Mexican company owns the company is not under those conditions. "For there is talk of a construction company that has those features but our
company is not; the company; Company Sansong Glorious Earth, which is the developer, no. "
Two of the three companies that make Beijing Sansong International Trade Group, a company associated with the American Glorious Earth Group,
interested in investing in Cabo Dorado, are related to acts of corruption, and are vetoed by the World Bank (WB) since 2009, fraud.
This is China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCE) and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which were accused by the
international institution to conduct fraudulent practices during the first phase of road construction in the Philippines, and a bridge in Malaysia
where BM contributed $ 150 million.
Asked about the accusations of Greenpeace in the sense that at the meeting of May 8 Cabo Dorado representatives failed to show that they are a
sustainable project, Sergio Tabansky was confident that the authority to do its job. "We hope that we live in a rule of law and respect very much the
authorities of this country are those given a verdict."
Cabo Dorado project currently is under environmental impact assessment before SEMARNAT; since undergoing this academics and environmental review have
disclosed significant deficiencies project specific environmental impact as being contrary Program Ecological Los Cabos, and the scale is not
compatible with the ecosystem of the area .
The Institute of Ecology of the UNAM, the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur and a coalition of over 15 civil society organizations have
spoken out against the megaconstruction, which is driven by two Chinese companies and an American.
The Cabo Dorado project, which includes megaconstructions would be erected near Cabo Pulmo, the only living coral reef in the Sea of
Cortez; Environmentalists claim that significantly affect the region, which is a world class example on the issue of conservation and
recovery of biomass in an ecosystem.
After being overexploited fishing area, flora and fauna then renewed the work of more than 20 years residents of the area, in order to save the
ecosystem abandoned fishing as a business and be dedicated to ecotourism.
Cabo Dorado proposes the construction of an ecotourism city with nine hotels, six thousand 141 households, 4000 380 trade facilities, restaurants,
services and condominiums; one hundred quarters for infrastructure services and equipment.
Building also arises in an area of nearly 4000 hectares, an airstrip, an aqueduct 14 miles long, golf courses, educational, cultural,
sports and entertainment centers.
The main investment for the project comes from two companies of Chinese origin and an American. A few days ago it was announced that the World Bank
has vetoed the two Chinese companies, which in Mexico are represented by Rivera Development Company.
Srrgio said it is a long term project, we are talking about 10 years, first avenues would enter with infrastructure and services would gradually
building the 4000 80 hotel rooms, this is not the overnight, Los Cabos has developed two decades and has 16 thousand 500 hotel rooms, we hope to build
in ten years more than four thousand rooms.
The information about the developers, considered Greenpeace has been opaque. "The World Bank has vetoed these two Chinese companies for corruption and
bribes to governments at the time of submission of the projects," Estrada said.
Greenpeace spokesman Mexico called to be attentive to what kind of companies to invest in Mexico and if those investments do they expect Mexicans. "If
we do not have investments or promises of a booming economy when really these projects have proved little serious in other parts of the world."
Raúl Estrada brings up the various sectors meeting held on May 8 with the developers of the mega project. The locals expressed their concerns
regarding the management of water; developers, he says, took the rhetoric and never gave answers based on scientific evidence.
"What we saw were babbling, was surprising how they wanted to defend themselves, were only statements without scientific evidence to support his
statements," Estrada pointed.
There was also no clarity on the availability of water and 14-kilometer aqueduct constructed to carry water from the aquifer to the development of
Santiago.
"There are 4.5 million cubic meters of water a year, and due to lack of water in the region, which is a semi-desert area, the people of the suburbs
questioned developers about it, because we know that the federal government has estimated that in the next 15 years water availability could be
reduced by 15 percent in that area; the developer had no clear answers based on scientific evidence "Estrada argued.
There is no clarity on how to perform waste management in a region where there is a plan in this regard; could not sustain what will happen to the
waste that can be poured directly into the PNCP although neither marine nor desalination is not built.
The main risk to the Cabo Pulmo reef is the leaching of contaminants, sediment dredging of marine oils, vessels, brine desalination, sewage;
especially in seasons when currents ranging from north to south. This would directly impact on the rich biodiversity preserved and recovered in 15
years of work.
The area of Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, is permanent and temporary habitat for a rich variety of species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, turtles,
seabirds and marine mammals. Some of them under some environmental protection at risk, according to the Mexican-SEMARNAT-2001 NOM-059 Official
Standard.
The reef has a five times higher than the average biological productivity of the reefs in the Gulf of California and possibly any other in Mexico.
Its great biological importance and seniority achieved in 1995 was declared a Protected Natural Area in the category of National Marine Park, while in
2008 he registered as a Ramsar site, a title that recognizes the global importance of this wetland.
Off the coast of Cabo Pulmo is the coral reef of the Gulf of California's largest and because of their age, could be the oldest American Pacific reef.
Cabo Dorado is not necessary to economically develop the Baja California Sur project, Greenpeace accurate. It is more important to strengthen existing
tourism destinations that have not made it out of the economic crisis and continue with a tourist occupancy well below capacity.
"It's the third round we're throwing Mexicans to defend this great book that is a world example on the issue of conservation and recovery of biomass
in an ecosystem," said Raul Estrada.
And no matter how many threats more to come, civil society will struggle. "We will continue fighting for what matters is the PNCP, and any project
that poses a threat be fought" Olivera concluded Alejandro Bonilla.
About Eliesheva Ramos
Reporter Ferriz.com.mx
As a journalist I have a mission, to paraphrase the Spanish intellectual Julio Anguita, disturb, shake the brain to move consciences. To achieve these
goals I cling to abc as others cling to the scapular.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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