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Profepa Shuts Illegal Forest Conversions, Including 5 Hectares Near Monarch Reserve

Officials acted after inspections confirmed unauthorized clearing for orchards near the Monarch Biosphere Reserve.

Overview

  • In Contepec, Michoacán, authorities imposed a total temporary closure on five hectares in the El Rincón area after detecting unpermitted forest land-use change for avocado and lemon plantings.
  • Inspectors documented two affected zones: 2.2 hectares with 12 oak stumps representing an estimated 3,616 cubic meters of wood and 500 young avocado plants plus 12 lemon plants, and 2.82 hectares with about 470 avocado plants.
  • Stumps lacked marks from a certified forestry technical manager, which the agency cited as evidence of illegal logging and unauthorized timber use.
  • In a separate action in Texcalyacac, State of Mexico, Profepa sealed a site where 200 square meters of oak-forest vegetation were cleared and a roughly 50-square-meter house was being built without required permits.
  • Profepa said the closures followed citizen complaints and that it will pursue administrative proceedings, verify compliance, and assess ecological restoration of the affected areas.