Towards the end of August, 2010, the Akumal Ecological Center (CEA) gave a presentation concerning sustainable development in Playa del Carmen and the surrounding area (on the Yucatan Peninsula). The presentation, delivered by Paul Sanchez, administrator of the CEA, offered a definition of sustainable development, and discussed how it applies to and affects Playa del Carmen real estate.
Sanchez defined sustainable development as the task of meeting needs of our current generation, "without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs," defining it as a combination of efforts in the areas of "economic, social, and environmental" development. Some also include the idea of culture, closely tied to social.
As one of the fastest growing communities in Latin America, Playa del Carmen has an especially present and visible task, attempting to balance the three concepts. In some newly developing area, Playa del Carmen land has increased in value over 40%, pointing to continued high demand and rapid growth. While some developments are using sustainability as part of their design, in his presentation, Sanchez challenged all those involved in development to prioritize environmental issues, extending his invitation beyond design to the day to day lives of residents as well.
One of the functions of CEA is to analyze growth and development, and its effect on the environment, informing and educating the public, the government and private corporations, making their part of this task a little more manageable. The organization runs an education center downtown Akumal (about 40 minutes south of Playa del Carmen) which is open to the public.
On the whole, sustainability has been gaining momentum in Playa del Carmen, with several new developments incorporating ideas such as low-density, conservation of natural vegetation and energy efficiency. Many real estate buyers, both from within Mexico, and from other countries such as the United States and Canada, are also beginning to take these factors into consideration when buying their property.
This kind of trend can be found in other parts of Mexico. The nearby town of Tulum is becoming a favorite for Mexico land investment, and a significant number of buyers are showing interest in the eco-friendly developments, some of which will rely on solar and wind power, leaving a large amount of the original trees and vegetation in place, while others rely on the newest infrastructure systems for efficient energy use. Other areas, such as La Paz in Baja California, or Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast, have green-focused organizations, in which many non-Mexican residents are involved as a way to contribute to the community which they have chosen as their new home.
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Region: Playa del Carmen real estate.
Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. A Mexican Certified Realtor he is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546.
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