The race against time to save Xochimilco, Mexico City’s ancient wetland

A desperate mix of ancient knowledge and cutting-edge science is being deployed to rescue the historic canals of Xochimilco and its iconic axolotl. | Contesto: cronaca

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• The race against time to save Xochimilco, Mexico City’s ancient wetland

Contesto

In the sprawling southern reaches of Mexico City, a frantic and innovative battle is underway to save Xochimilco, the ancient Aztec-era wetland system whose intricate network of canals is dying. The fight, unfolding now, employs a startling array of tools—from mats of donated human hair to high-tech micro-nano-bubble injections—in a last-ditch effort to restore water quality and save the habitat of the critically endangered axolotl salamander, a cultural and scientific icon. Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, represents the last remnant of the vast lake and canal system that once sustained the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. For centuries, its *chinampas*, or floating gardens, have been fertile agricultural plots. Today, this historic ecosystem is besieged by a toxic cocktail of urban runoff, untreated sewage, and chemical fertilizers, leading to severe pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss. The degradation threatens not only a unique piece of living history but also the survival of the axolotl, an amphibian found nowhere else on Earth. The restoration initiatives are as creative as they are urgent. One project involves deploying filters made from mats of human hair, donated from local salons, to absorb contaminants and heavy metals from the canal water. In parallel, scientists are experimenting with injecting water with micro-nano-bubbles of ozone, a technique aimed at drastically increasing oxygen levels to support aquatic life and break down pollutants. These efforts are often community-driven, involving local farmers, or *chinamperos*, who have a deep ancestral connection to the land. At the heart of this ecological struggle is the axolotl. Renowned for its extraordinary ability to regenerate limbs, organs, and even parts of its brain, the creature is a cornerstone of biomedical research. Its cultural significance is equally profound, rooted in Aztec mythology. Wild populations, however, have collapsed due to the polluted water and the introduction of predatory fish. Saving Xochimilco’s canals is fundamentally a mission to pull the axolotl back from the brink of extinction in the wild. The significance of this work extends far beyond...

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Categoria: cronaca