**Community Rallies Against “Gran Baja” Beach Encroachment in La Paz**
Residents living in the El Manglito neighborhood, with support from the broader La Paz community, have embarked on a campaign to resist the perceived exploitation of one of their last remaining public beaches, “Gran Baja.” The community’s opposition is directed towards a proposed tourist project known as “Muelle Almar.”
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) currently under review by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources reveals the project’s goal: constructing a dock to facilitate and safely dock aquatic transport, proposed to be built in the El Manglito neighborhood, on land once occupied by the “Gran Baja” hotel. The port area defined by the project spans a total of 12,650 square meters, with the dock itself covering 352.98 square meters.
The investment outlined in the EIS amounts to 9,763,727 pesos, including 6.3 million pesos earmarked for a fixed dock and an additional 2 million pesos for a floating dock designed for a 70-boat capacity, plus 16% Value Added Tax (VAT).
The El Manglito-Inalámbrica Neighborhood Committee has publicly voiced its strong opposition to the development promoted by El Salate, presented to the Ministry in November 2024. They argue the dock poses a direct threat to the neighborhood and the broader La Paz community by targeting a historically public recreational space vital for social, cultural, and survival aspects of local life.
“The construction tied to the Almar Residential development could block access to a protected national asset, leading to a de facto privatization that would exclude local residents and disrupt our social fabric and way of life,” the committee warned.
Additionally, they highlighted how tourism-driven developments in the area have accelerated gentrification, displacing long-term families from El Manglito, as rising real estate and rental prices transform the traditional neighborhood into an exclusive high-income enclave.
“As a historical and cultural heritage, locals have repeatedly rallied to protect and preserve this space, one of the oldest communities in La Paz,” they emphasized. The proposed dock is seen as a disruptive force, threatening to sever the community’s traditional ties and collective historical memory.
Environmentally, the La Paz Bay is a crucial wetland habitat for shorebirds, housing endangered species like sea turtles and whale sharks. Concerns have been raised that the “Muelle Almar” project could endanger over 20,000 migratory birds that visit annually, potentially increasing pollution and disrupting the Ramsar site, which contravenes existing national and international environmental protection treaties.
**Call for Public Consultation**
Carlos Mancilla, director of BCSicletos, indicated that a formal request for public consultation has been initiated with the Ministry concerning this project. “The period to file this request ends on January 30, and following this, the authority has five working days to decide whether to open a consultation,” he explained. This public consultation aims to have the project promoters explain the development, especially its environmental impact, directly to the community.
Mancilla criticized the current environmental impact statement submitted by the project promoters, alleging it is poorly constructed, being a mere copy of documents used for projects in Cancun and other parts of the country. Over 40 requests for public consultation have been submitted thus far, and an announcement from the Ministry is awaited to determine the subsequent course of action allowing the community’s voices to be heard.
—
**In Related News: Coastal Development Concerns in Mexico**
Across various coastal regions in Mexico, the rise of tourism-driven projects has sparked significant local and environmental concerns. The balance between tourism development and environmental preservation remains a contentious issue, as seen in areas like Cancún and Los Cabos.
In recent years, several coastal communities have stood against expansive hotel developments, citing threats to local biodiversity, public accessibility, and the displacement of long-standing residents. Strategies like community-led environmental reviews, public consultations, and legal challenge routes have become common tactics among residents looking to safeguard their coastal heritage against rapid commercial changes.
The intricate dance of development versus conservation in Mexico’s coastal regions continues to ignite passionate debates as residents strive to protect not only their cultural and environmental wealth but also their right to public recreational spaces and sustainable living conditions.