Environment Environmental Defenders Mexico
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Mexican Court Rules Against Ecocide in Jilotzingo, Protecting Forest Reserve Area

Bosque Diamante project map – Source: GeoComunes

A judge in Mexico’s State of Mexico has issued a ruling against a planned mega-residential project that would have destroyed a forest reserve area. The ruling revokes all permits issued to the Funtanet family, which had been authorized by the former Governor Eruviel Avila Villegas.

The project, known as Bosque Diamante, had proposed building 20,000 houses in the 238-hectare area of private property. The amparo lawsuit was filed four years ago by the Civil Organization “Friends for the Forest,” which argued that the project would have deprived the inhabitants of the area of various environmental services, such as infiltration and provision of quality water, the conservation of biodiversity, the mitigation of the effects of climate change, the retention and formation of soil, the scenic beauty, and the economic use for eco-tourism development.

The project was intended to benefit real estate developers, but the judge found that it would have caused irreparable harm to the natural environment. The forest reserve is home to a variety of species, including jaguars, pumas, and monkeys, and is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, which is vital for the conservation of biodiversity in the region.

The court’s ruling is seen as a victory for the environment and a step towards protecting the rights of local inhabitants. It is also a reminder of the importance of environmental protection and of the need to ensure that projects like these are held accountable for the environmental impact they cause.