Ambassador Ken Salazar arrived in Campeche to take a closer look at protecting the Mayan jungle

Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, arrived Thursday in Campeche, where he met with Governor Layda Sansores, to learn about the economic development and protection measures of the Mayan rainforest, which he described as “a jewel in the crown of conservation in the Yucatan Peninsula.”

The diplomat has toured the states of southeastern Mexico and said that President Joe Biden's government seeks to promote conservation and sustainable development in the tropical rainforest of the Yucatecan peninsula. In February of this year, it signed a letter of intent with the governors of the region to promote actions in favor of the environment.

It should be noted that the southern border region of Mexico has been a meeting point between Ken Salazar and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, where on a couple of occasions they have held meetings to discuss migration issues, since in recent years the flow of Central Americans seeking to reach the United States.

Salazar said on April 7 that he is interested in learning about environmental care that is being carried out in Campeche, the state through which the Maya Train will pass, another of the federal government's flagship works and that in recent weeks it has raised controversy over the accusation of irregular cutting of thousands of trees to adapt the trace of the track.

In Campeche, works are being carried out on Section 2 of the Maya Train covering 235 kilometers, and according to the project, it will tour archaeological sites such as Edzna and Calakmul, declared by UNESCO, as the only mixed heritage in Mexico.

In the midst of controversies over halting the construction of the Maya Train, the president, López Obrador announced that the Ministry of National Defence (Sedena) has already begun construction of another 550 kilometers for sections 6 and 7, in Quintana Roo.

“What are we looking for with the construction of the Mayan Train? That those tourists who come to enjoy the beaches of the Caribbean can enter the territory and be able to stay longer and be able to enjoy an extraordinary wealth”, commented a few days ago the head of the Executive.

AMLO has denied that the train represents damage to the region's ecosystems and assured that reforestation actions have been carried out in other areas to compensate for the felling of trees.

The Mayan Train is one of the flagship projects of the López Obrador administration: with an investment of 200 billion pesos and its more than 1,500 kilometers of extension, the Morenista government will seek to develop the economy and tourism in the southeast of the country.

The project comprises 7 sections of construction and consists of 18 stations and 12 stops. However, the progress of his works has led to several pronouncements against organizations and personalities that cause severe damage to the biodiversity of the region.

These pronouncements have been intensified with the modification of the route of Section 5 South that covers Playa del Carmen and Tulum, since it was planned that its route would be through an overpass. However, in the hurry to finish the works, it was changed at ground level for the jungle area.

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