Environmentalism for convenience: The hidden role of foreign NGOs in Baja California Sur

“True sustainability cannot be built by subordinating local rights to foreign interests.”

Baja California Sur – In recent years, the involvement of non-governmental organizations in territorial planning and urban development in Baja California Sur has generated growing debate. Although many of these organizations present themselves as environmental defenders and promoters of sustainability, local voices warn that foreign economic interests may be operating behind their apparent philanthropy.

Organizations such as How Are We Doing La Paz? and the International Community Foundation (ICF) have been singled out for their influence in key urban planning processes. Various local actors accuse their environmentalist rhetoric of serving as a platform to facilitate projects aligned with foreign corporations, such as Walmart , which undermines territorial sovereignty and community rights.

One of the harshest criticisms comes from the agricultural sector. Silvia María del Carmen Salas Cariño , delegate of the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU) in the state, has been accused of pressuring ejidatarios to support the Urban Development Program (PDU) promoted by ¿Cómo Vamos La Paz? (How Are We Doing in La Paz?) . According to testimony from ejidatarios such as Miguel Amador Avilés , president of the Ejidal Commission of El Triunfo, threats—such as the possible declaration of communal lands as Protected Natural Areas—have been used to condition the use and exploitation of the properties.

The strategy of some NGOs, according to complaints, consists of obstructing development projects under environmental pretexts, while opening up spaces for foreign investment in high-value areas. The case of the Malecón District project illustrates this dynamic: under the guise of environmental protection, initiatives that sought to boost local economic activity were blocked, indirectly benefiting the interests of large transnational corporations.

In El Sargento , a coastal community with a rich natural beauty, the rejection of the current PDU reflects citizen discontent. Residents point out that urban policies disproportionately favor wealthy foreigners while restricting Mexicans' right to develop and use their land. Walmart has been identified as one of the main corporations to benefit in this context.

Faced with this situation, voices from civil society and ejido leaders are calling for a thorough review of the funding sources, ties, and agendas of nongovernmental organizations that influence the region. The risk of urban planning becoming captured by external interests demands greater transparency, effective participation of local communities, and a genuine commitment to territorial sovereignty.

Building a truly sustainable Baja California Sur cannot be based on borrowed narratives or strategies that subordinate local rights to global dynamics. Today, more than ever, the defense of the territory requires citizen oversight, critical information, and the strengthening of democratic processes in urban development.