Playa del Carmen (Yucatán, Mexico): Meeting on Responsible Procurement and Forest Conservation in the Riviera Maya

10.04.2026

Organized as part of the project Madera Cero Deforestación and financed by AL Invest Verde European program, this meeting took on a unique challenge: bringing together the entire wood value chain—from community-based forest producers (the ejidos) to end buyers in the hospitality industry—under one roof.

The training and business networking event, titled “Traçabilidad Digital y Compras Responsables en la Riviera Maya” (Digital Traceability and Responsible Procurement in the Riviera Maya), was a great success.

Organizers and participants highlighted the unprecedented nature of this event, as it is rare for the various stakeholders in primary supply and tourism demand to engage directly with one another. The central objective was to break down communication barriers and reduce commercial intermediation.

At the heart of the discussions was the absolute necessity of adapting to new global requirements, and more specifically to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The experts present highlighted the importance of digital traceability, a powerful tool for building trust and reducing commercial risks. The hospitality sector, in particular, must now be able to verify the exact origin of the wood, its processing, and its transport to buyers.

Representatives from ejidos such as Noh Bec, Petcacab, and Caobas spoke to demonstrate their significant production capacity. Today, communities no longer sell only raw wood but offer high-quality finished and processed products. These achievements are supported in particular by local organizations such as the network of women carpenters in the state of Quintana Roo, which brings design and added value to forest resources. On the buyer side, representatives such as those from the Iberostar group shared their sustainability policies, confirming the growing interest of hotels in these certified and local products.

The event was not limited to speeches; participants left with solutions directly applicable to their businesses:

The presentation of the 12 ATIBT technical booklets, initially financed by ITTO and now translated into Spanish, to understand the terms of international sales contracts, wood grading, and logistics rules.
The presentation of a new catalog of tropical wood species, designed to raise awareness of the diversity of little-known local species and diversify demand.
An introduction to the online platform “Mercados por un futuro sostenible” developed by the Rainforest Alliance, which functions as a virtual marketplace to connect certified producers with companies or consumers seeking sustainable purchases.

This event helped foster momentum toward raising awareness and promoting forest products. It laid a solid foundation for hotels in the Riviera Maya to actively support the Selva Maya through a commitment to responsible purchasing and to foster a direct connection with Mexico’s ejidos.

Download the 12 factsheets in Spanish here