The jungle reigns in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, with seemingly endless greenery, from the treetops to the bushes that spring up everywhere, amid the songs of birds and the insects' gentle fluttering. It's a territory where nature rules, a sacred place for the Mayans that is impregnated with archaeological remains and ancient traditions. Yet the freshness of the vegetation ends suddenly near Tulum, and the greenery opens up into an ocher and brown desert. The barren landscape has been carved by the Mayan Train project, or El Tren Maya, one of the flagship construction projects of the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has described it as a comprehensive plan to “achieve the sustainable development of southeastern Mexico.” Upon completion, the railway will cover nearly 950 miles across five states after an investment of approximately $10 billion. "If you're trying to protect a place, you don't do this," said Tania Ramírez, 32, pointing to the miles of removed soil, stones, roots and cut tree trunks. Read the full story here. |