Residents of Tijuana’s Residencial del Bosque neighborhood say a civic organization ripped out more than 50 recently planted trees from a city-owned green space on April 30, part of what they describe as a scheme to subdivide and sell public land.
The group, called Fuerza y Esperanza Unidos, allegedly tore out the trees from a 4,500-square-meter municipal lot. Neighbors had spent two months reforesting the parcel with trees donated by the Tijuana city government. Two women identified by residents as Claudia and Rocío María were named as participants in the uprooting.
City Government Opens Investigation
The Tijuana municipal government announced on May 1 that it will investigate the alleged illegal sale of green spaces in Residencial del Bosque. According to Tijuana en Línea, officials said they will review whether any permits or processes were filed irregularly. The city pledged to determine the legal status of the disputed green areas and protect urban infrastructure in the zone.
The investigation was prompted by reports that the land grabs have already caused structural damage to streets, storm drains, and homes in the neighborhood. A second nearby parcel, located behind the local sports complex, has already been graded by heavy machinery in preparation for unauthorized lot sales, residents told local media.
Environmental Fines Could Be Steep
Under Tijuana’s municipal regulations, environmental fines for uprooting trees can reach 200,000 pesos (roughly $10,000 USD) per tree, depending on severity. For 50 trees, potential penalties could theoretically total 10 million pesos ($500,000 USD), though enforcement of such fines has historically been inconsistent.
Tijuana is one of Mexico’s most park-deficient major cities. A 2022 report from the city’s own Secretary of Urban and Environmental Development found that at least half of the municipality’s 209 parks lacked adequate maintenance and equipment. Reforestation efforts like the one destroyed in Residencial del Bosque are part of ongoing attempts to expand green coverage in the city’s sprawling hillside colonias.
Land Fraud a Recurring Problem
Illegal land sales using civic organizations as a front are a persistent issue across Tijuana’s peripheral neighborhoods. Groups register as civic associations, claim vacant municipal lots, then subdivide and sell them to unsuspecting buyers who receive no legal title. The practice targets both Mexican families seeking affordable housing and, in some cases, foreign buyers unfamiliar with Mexican property law.
Property owners in Tijuana’s hillside developments should verify that any lot they purchase has a valid escritura (deed) registered with the Public Property Registry. Municipal green-space designations do not always prevent encroachment in practice.
The original report was published by Punto Norte on May 2. The Tijuana municipal government’s response was reported by Tijuana en Línea on May 1.