More than 100 caves and cenotes have been mapped by the organization Cenotes Urbanos, primarily in Playa del Carmen, as part of their conservation efforts for these vital elements of the local ecosystem.
Mónica Ruiz, a volunteer member of Cenotes Urbanos, reported that over the past seven years, they have intervened in more than 300 bodies of water to conserve them. “We have more than 300 records in the city, but on the map, we have about 121, mostly in Playa del Carmen, but also in Puerto Aventuras and other areas throughout Quintana Roo,” she said.
The initiative began with a group of young people eager to explore the underground caves of Playa del Carmen, guided by Roberto Rojo García, a biologist and founder of Cenotes Urbanos, who was then the director of the Sayab planetarium. “Cenotes Urbanos is a collective that started in 2018 to conserve caves, cenotes, and caverns, initially focusing on Playa del Carmen but with a broader vision for the peninsula,” he explained.
Currently, the organization explores these bodies of water daily, many of which are contaminated with plastics and chemicals due to human activity. They have undertaken environmental conservation tasks to address this issue. Over the years, they have made significant discoveries, including archaeological finds.
Mónica Ruiz represented Cenotes Urbanos in a discussion with the civil association Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (Dmas), emphasizing the need to protect these cavernous bodies through legal means. Dmas is working on requesting authorities to create Risk Atlases and Urban Development Plans that objectively consider these bodies of water, with citizen participation, to protect the human right to a healthy environment.
Source: Sipse
