On the southern edge of Mexico City is Xochimilco, which translates to Field of Flowers in the Nahuatl language. It is the homelands of the Xochimilcas, the first of the seven northern Nahua tribes to arrive and settle in the valley of Mexico.
Xochimilco is situated by the fresh waters of Lake Xochimilco. The Xochimilcas arrived around 900 CE, 425 years before the grand city of Tenochtitlán was established by the Mexica. They were farmers that grew an abundance of food and flowers on their island gardens called chinamitl, now known as chinampas. When the Mexica extended the existing waterways connecting Xochimilco to Tenochtitlán, 60% of their city’s food and flowers were transported from the chinampas. Essentially, Xochimilco was a source of life for the people of Tenochtitlán.
Today, descendants of this ancient and sacred place are practicing their traditional work on their chinampas, growing traditional foods such as corn, squash, beans, chili peppers, amaranth, flowers, and more. Regardless of the many challenges they face, resulting from Mexico City’s exploitation of groundwater, unethical tourism, urban sprawl, the introduction of foreign species, and now the new threat of heightened gentrification in Mexico City, they continue fighting to keep their rich legacy alive and to pass on sacred traditions to the younger generations.
Only an estimated 20 percent of the 5,000 acres of chinampas are used in Xochimilco. Of approximately 15,000 chinampas, only 864 (three percent) are actively used for agriculture.
Due to reckless groundwater extraction, it is estimated that in 50 years, the canals surrounding the city will dry up, resulting in the end of traditional chinampa farming. Tourism, a source of local income since 1940, has contributed to the canals’ degradation due to high pollution levels. The practice of building dams between canals, resulting in higher water levels in busy tourist areas, while severely lower in some cultivation areas is also devastating the ecosystem. Today approximately 60k families make a living from trajineras (colorful tour boats), carrying 50k people through the canals daily. Two hours of trajinera work vs. a full day of campesino work on chinampas equals the same pay. Furthermore, many locals that do not work the trajineras have been forced to leave their campesino life for jobs in cities, such as Mexico City and the United States.
Don’t get us wrong, we think Trajineras are great! But we are big dreamers and we believe that there can be a balance, where responsible and ethical business practices can exist within the Trajinera and campesino communities alike.
Why does it matter?
Why are chinampas crucial for biodiversity?
The chinampa system houses 2% of the world's biodiversity and 11% of the national biodiversity with 139 species of vertebrates, 21 species of fish, six amphibians, 10 species of reptiles, 79 species of birds and 23 species of mammals.
Why is it crucial for this tradition to continue?
Since campesinos working on chinampas preserve traditional cultivation techniques, such as growing milpa and amaranth, the chinampa system is essential for ancestral agricultural knowledge. In today’s challenging world, Indigenous Peoples carrying knowledge that has been passed down for thousands of years hold a key to the survival of our planet.
Are axolotls in danger of extinction?
As the canals of Xochimilco continue to be polluted and unhealthy, so is the Axolotls’ natural habitat (they only live in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco). As they continue to be highly desired for scientific research and a culinary delicacy, they continue to be in grave danger and critically endangered.The Axolotl can be saved from extinction by bringing back the health of the chinampas and addressing the following issues:
Water Pollution: Illegal house construction on chinampas leading to irresponsible waste and sewage dumping into canals has contributed to water pollution within the Xochimilco network, making some areas inhospitable for aquatic life.
Habitat Loss: The rapid development of Mexico City and unethical tourism have contributed to the vast swathes of the Xochimilco lake complex being drained and destroyed.
Invasive species: Invasive species carrying diseases have been introduced to axolotl’s habitat. Perch and tilapia have decimated axolotl numbers, significantly contributing to their decline.
Learn more about axolotls here.
What does ethical ecotourism look like?
Ethical ecotourism is responsible travel to ecosystems while supporting the fauna, flora, and local communities and cultures.
Ethical Ecotourism contributes to the conservation efforts of the original stewards of the land. Unethical ecotourism by foreigners can be harmful to the local community. When traveling, consider who you're giving your money to and your intention for your visit. Being a good guest looks like supporting local people, leaving a positive impact on the environment, and learning about the land.
May we all be good guests when visiting each other's ecosystems.
