Constitutional Controversy and Impact on the Area of Tulum, Quintana Roo

On April 9, 2008 the City Council of Solidaridad, Quintana Roo published in the official newspaper of the Quintano Roo State Government its UrbanDevelopment Program for the Tulum Population Center 2006 – 2030 (Programa de Desarrollo Urbano del Centro de Población de Tulum 2006-2030 orPDUT). The PDUT deals with the urbanization of the Tulum National Park and Archeological Zone, which are protected under Mexican federal jurisdiction.Before the publication of the PDUT, the Mexican Federal Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) filed a constitutional lawsuitagainst the PDUT before Mexico’s Supreme Court. Upon admitting the case, the Supreme Court ordered that the application of the PDUT be suspended.Because of such ruling, projects currently pending or under evaluation by the municipal authorities have been temporarily suspended.