On August 25, 2025, citizen Miriam de Gandarias filed a submission to the Secretariat for Environmental Matters of the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the United States of America – CAFTA-DR (SEM), in which she asserts that the Republic of Guatemala is allegedly failing to effectively enforce its environmental legislation.

In the submission identified as CAALA/25/002 Finca El Zapote, the submitter alleges the presumed authorization of large-scale construction projects without serious environmental impact assessments or participatory processes. According to the submitter, this is also reflected in deficiencies in drainage infrastructure, which have caused sinkholes and pose threats to the life and health of nearby residents; the deforestation of ravines and slopes, which increases erosion and the risk of landslides; as well as a lack of transparency from authorities in the permitting processes and in the public disclosure of environmental risks.