Protests erupt over illegal sand mining in Mexico's UNESCO-protected river
A long-running dispute over illegal sand and gravel extraction in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve has escalated. Residents of San José El Chilar recently staged protests, during which a forest fire broke out. The conflict centres on the Río Grande, a key waterway protected under UNESCO’s Mixed World Heritage status. For nearly ten years, locals and agrarian authorities have fought to halt the extraction of sand and stone from the river. Despite filing multiple complaints with government bodies, their efforts have failed to stop the operations. Every day, around 40 tons of material are removed, with 10 to 12 truckloads transported from the site.
The environmental toll has been severe. Native vegetation has vanished, riverside willows have been cut down, and the river’s water flow has dropped sharply. The damage extends across the 490,000-hectare reserve, which spans Puebla and Oaxaca. Two men, Elpidio Concha Arellano and Rubén Fernández, are allegedly behind the extraction. They hold permits from Conagua, Mexico’s water authority, allowing them to continue despite opposition. Concha also faces accusations of illegally seizing 47 hectares of communal land near the river in 2016, converting it into private property. The community of San Pedro Chicozapotes has renewed its resistance, demanding an end to the exploitation. But those speaking out report threats and intimidation, raising concerns over their safety.
The conflict over the Río Grande highlights the challenges of protecting natural reserves from commercial exploitation. With extraction ongoing and protests met with resistance, the river’s future—and the communities relying on it—remains uncertain. Authorities have yet to intervene despite years of complaints and escalating tensions.
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