Mexican Protected Areas Struggle to Combat Climate Change

Isla Mujeres national park is among the most popular in Mexico, especially due to its coral reefs. But these are under threat due to rising sea temperatures.

Ezequiel Sánchez, a 63-year-old fisherman from Puerto Morelos in Quintana Roo, Mexico, owes his life and livelihood to the sea. “My life, my work, my family,” he says, pointing around his office just a block from the ocean.

Sánchez learned to fish at age 12 alongside friends in this coastal town, which lies 1,630 kilometres southeast of Mexico City and had nearly 27,000 residents in 2020.

But the environment has changed, and local fishermen are feeling the impact. “Years ago, we used to catch more than 300 kilograms; now we don’t even reach 200,” laments Sánchez, director of the Puerto Morelos Fishermen’s Cooperative Production Society, which brings together 44 fishermen and 11 coastal fishing boats.

Declining catches are driven by overfishing, rising sea temperatures, pollution, urbanization, and the loss of critical habitats. “This year, they are catching 80% fewer fish and 50% fewer lobsters. Development comes at a price, and we are paying it,” he adds.

Mexico has committed to the Global Biodiversity Framework, including conserving 30% of terrestrial and coastal-marine areas by 2030, with a target of protecting 30.8 million hectares of land and 19.6 million hectares of marine zones. The government has drawn up 75 measures to achieve this goal, covering management, governance, Indigenous community contributions, and sustainable use.

However, outdated evaluations and insufficient data on natural protected areas (NPAs) obscure progress. According to IPS freedom of information requests, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (Conanp) lacks records on rainfall, temperature, habitat transformation, and environmental risks, despite these being required under national programmes.

Even with increased NPAs, irregular evaluations and falling budgets hinder conservation. Resources per hectare dropped 81% between 2006 and 2024, with annual allocations averaging just 52 cents per hectare in 2025. Conanp’s budget fell from $135 million in 2014 to roughly $54 million this year.

Protected areas in Quintana Roo, including the 9,066-hectare Arrecifes de Puerto Morelos National Park and the 1,103-hectare Manglares de Puerto Morelos, face threats from urbanization, rising sea levels, poor water quality, storms, and plastics. Coral reefs are experiencing bleaching, and mangroves are disrupted by construction and changing water flow.

Local residents and experts warn that weak management, low budgets, and limited enforcement undermine NPAs. “The strategies are not applied. There are many meetings and documents, but few mitigation actions,” says biologist Rosa Rodríguez.

The Mexican Caribbean, including Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos, faces growing pressure from tourism, pollution, sargassum influx, and climate change. Sea level rise could flood large areas, affecting thousands of residents, while coral and mangrove ecosystems remain vulnerable.

Fishermen, residents, and environmentalists urge stronger protections, better planning, and higher budgets to safeguard these critical coastal ecosystems. “A comprehensive review is needed to refocus all activities,” Sánchez says. “The sea is not a pool; what happens in one area affects the entire system.”