Mexico City, Oct 21 (EFE).– Mexican authorities have shut down nine tourist projects in Tulum, a protected natural area in the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, citing their impact on wild flora and fauna.

Staff with the Profepa federal environmental protection agency verified through five environmental impact assessments and four forestry inspections of those tourist developments that an area spanning 37,615 sq. meters (9 acres) had been affected, that institution said in a statement Tuesday.

Vegetation had been removed from three ecosystems that play a key role in climate regulation – low altitude jungle, coastal shrubland and coastal sand dunes, Profepa said.

Those ecosystems, located in a strip of land that runs parallel to the coastline near the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, are home to a wide variety of species, the agency added.

They provide habitat and serve as nesting and mating grounds for numerous wild animal species, as well as for creeping, herbaceous and shrubby plant species that help minimize storm damage and play a key role in mitigating erosion.

Profepa, therefore, said it would prescribe urgent measures for restoring and offsetting the damage to the ecosystems and also impose fines and file criminal complaints. EFE