A year ago Mexico took the bold step of prohibiting nearly all coastal development harmful to mangrove ecosystems. Now a bill has been filed in the Mexican Senate that would relax restrictions again, allowing builders to offset the damage their projects do by planting new mangrove stands elsewhere. The measure, which could come before the full Senate as early as next month, is expected to spark fierce debate between green advocates and shoreline developers concerning ecological protection and job creation. “We reject this reform completely because it is technically unviable,” says Alejandro Olivera, coordinator of the Greenpeace Mexico environmental group’s oceans campaign. “The compensation scheme is absurd. You will never recuperate the functions that the mangrove had.” Counters Gordon Viberg, president of Mexico’s National Council... [Log in to read more]