May
20
Who Controls Paradise? The Battle over the future of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve
May 20, 2007 | Tags: Environment, Chamela-Cuixmala | 1 Comment
 The Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve. Map courtesy of The New York Times.  The Goldsmith/Marcaccini family’s La Loma estate. Photo by Adriana Zehbrauskas for the New York Times. |
The New York Times in today’s edition has a feature article on the battle brewing over the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is 13,142 hectares (32,473 acres) of federally protected coastal land located about 3 hours south of Puerto Vallarta.
The battle not only pits environmentalists against developers but is also a fight between some of Mexico’s most powerful families. One the one side, the Goldsmith/Marcaccinis, whose 2,000 acres La Loma estate is within the boundaries of the reserve. Do they want to protect the environment of the area as claimed or do they simply want to maintain the exclusivity of their own super-luxurious estate.
On the other side are two resorts planned for the area. The developers are led by Roberto Hernández with partners Gian Franco Brignone and his son Giorgio, the Italian real-estate tycoons who have developed a series of super-luxury resorts in Jalisco state.
Tragically, the battle seems to be over which segment of the rich will be allowed to enjoy this land. Will it be the super-rich, super-exclusive resorts that cater to a more environmentally sensitive unspoiled vacation for the very few? Or will it be the simply very rich who can come to large resorts with golf courses and swimming pools; a development which will certainly be harsher on the environment.
The article is well worth a read both for it’s analysis of how the environment is playing as a political issue in the new Mexico as well as the more traditional issue of the power struggle between the wealthy families of Mexico.
Read the article: New York Times: Who Controls Paradise (free registration required).
Locate it on the map: Chamela.
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