Mexico City, often seen as a sprawling urban center, holds a surprising wealth of natural environments. This megacity offers a unique blend of urban development and ecological significance, playing a notable role in regional biodiversity. Despite its relatively small area of approximately 1,494 square kilometers, it contributes to 2% of global biodiversity and 12% of national biodiversity.
Urban Green Spaces
Mexico City’s urban core features numerous green spaces. Chapultepec Park, one of the largest urban parks in the Western Hemisphere, spans over 866 hectares (2,140 acres) and acts as a major “lung” for the city. It offers diverse flora, artificial lakes, and a zoo involved in conservation breeding for species like the Mexican wolf and axolotl.
The canals of Xochimilco, in the southeastern part of the city, are a distinct aquatic ecosystem. These pre-colonial waterways, remnants of the ancient lake system, are the last remaining wild habitat for the endemic axolotl salamander. Other urban parks like Parque México and Parque España also contribute to the city’s green infrastructure. They offer recreational areas, help cool the city, and assist in aquifer recharge.
Greater Mexico City’s Natural Reserves
Beyond the urban core, Greater Mexico City includes larger, protected natural areas. Desierto de los Leones National Park, Mexico’s first protected area (established 1917), is within city limits in the Sierra de las Cruces mountain range. This 1,867-hectare park has a cold, damp climate with dense forests of pines, oyamel firs, and oaks, along with brooks, ravines, and waterfalls.
Cumbres del Ajusco National Park, part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, features high-altitude forests and volcanic landscapes. It provides ecological services like water regulation and serves as a wildlife corridor. The Sierra de Guadalupe, to the north, also offers a unique environment with brushlands and habitat for various species. These peripheral reserves are important for regional biodiversity, provide a natural buffer to the urban environment, reduce atmospheric pollutants, and increase aquifer recharge.
Unique Biodiversity and Endemic Species
Mexico City’s varied ecosystems support a unique array of plant and animal species, adapted to its high-altitude, volcanic environment. The most well-known endemic species is the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a freshwater salamander found exclusively in Xochimilco’s remaining canals. This amphibian exhibits neoteny, retaining larval features like external gills into adulthood without metamorphosis.
The city’s diverse habitats also support a large bird population, with species like the Sierra Madre sparrow having a significant portion of their global population within Mexico City. High-altitude flora, adapted to the volcanic belt, adds to the region’s botanical distinctiveness. Mexico City is home to approximately 2,254 wildlife species, including mammals like possums and cacomixtles, reptiles such as rattlesnakes, and various insects and amphibians. This biological richness underscores the unique ecological value of the area.
Preserving Mexico City’s Natural Heritage
Conservation efforts are underway to protect Mexico City’s natural spaces and its rich biodiversity. The city launched an Environmental and Climate Change Program (ECCP) for 2019-2024, which includes a “Revegetation of the countryside and the city” strategy. This initiative aims to plant millions of trees and other plants, focusing on native species recovery and promoting pollinator gardens.
Government programs like “Altépetl” financially support rural communities engaged in conservation activities, leading to the planting of millions of specimens in conservation land and the restoration of forests and rivers. Citizen and company participation in revegetation days and environmental education activities are also encouraged. These efforts are designed to mitigate climate change by reducing carbon emissions and enhancing the city’s resilience against environmental challenges, improving air quality, and increasing aquifer recharge.