Mexico's Supreme Court declares Lake Texcoco a protected natural area, upholding AMLO's decree

The Mexican Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) has affirmed a significant environmental decision by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, declaring the lands of the former Lake Texcoco as a Protected Natural Area. This ruling, which validates a 2022 decree, marks a crucial moment in the ongoing dialogue between national development and environmental preservation in Mexico.

Eight of the nine justices sided against ejidatarios from San Salvador Atenco, who argued that their right to prior consultation was disregarded. The court, however, found that the communal landowners were adequately notified and had the opportunity to present their case before the decree was issued. This legal stance underscores the judiciary's role in balancing development projects with the rights of local and indigenous communities.

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This is the way the country has been built and has caused historical damage. Roads and dams have been built without even talking to the people, they have been displaced from their place of origin without dialogue.

Despite the majority ruling, the presiding minister, Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, acknowledged the importance of enhanced consultation processes for indigenous communities in such matters. He lauded López Obrador's decision as a precedent-setting move, highlighting it as a departure from historical practices where development often proceeded without meaningful community engagement. This perspective resonates deeply within Mexico, where land rights and community consultation are central to political and social discourse.

The decision to protect the former Lake Texcoco site, where the controversial New Mexico City International Airport (NAIM) was planned, is seen by many as a victory for environmental conservation and a testament to the current administration's focus on prioritizing ecological concerns. From a Mexican perspective, this ruling is not just about land use; it's about rectifying past injustices and forging a path toward more sustainable and community-inclusive development, a narrative often overlooked in international coverage that tends to focus solely on the economic or political implications of such projects.

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It seems, even somewhat contradictory, that on the one hand it is said that the right to be heard was compromised in this case and the amparo ends up being denied.