Restoring the Chinampa System in Mexico: A Blueprint for Conservation

San Gregorio Atlapulco, a neighborhood in Mexico City, is home to the chinampa system, a traditional agricultural method with significant ecological and cultural importance. This system is currently under threat, and the Mexican non-profit organization Organi-k, supported by Deutsche Bank, is working to restore and protect it.

“Manos a la Tierra,” a project that emerges from the alliance between Organi-K A.C. and GAIA A.C., plays a key role in this effort.

Recognized as a UNESCO site, San Gregorio Atlapulco has suffered from severe environmental degradation. The chinampa system, once vital for local biodiversity and agriculture, is now facing issues like sinking land, salinization, and habitat loss. As a result, endangered species such as the Mexican axolotl and the Moctezuma frog are rapidly disappearing.

Organi-k is leading a multifaceted restoration initiative to address this:

• Restoring Chinampas: Rehabilitating two traditional chinampas to boost native agriculture and provide habitats for local and migratory bird species.
• Ecological Workshops: Training 15 local residents in sustainable tourism and bird species identification, promoting community involvement and conservation awareness.
• Site Enhancements: Mapping, restoring, and reforesting critical areas, including sections of the Magdalena River, to restore ecological balance and promote biodiversity.

The early outcomes are encouraging. Trained locals are now guiding eco-tours, generating sustainable income. The restored chinampas are already yielding crops, supporting local livelihoods, and improving wildlife habitats. Reforestation and river restoration efforts are showing tangible progress, with native tree species beginning to flourish.

As a partner organization of The Resource Foundation, Organi-k exemplifies the transformative impact that strategic support and collaboration can achieve for local communities.