A look at the problematic of the soils of Mexico City (CDMX)

Abstract

Mexico City (CDMX) is administratively divided into urban land and conservation or rural land. The urban land is the region where most of the population lives and is located mainly in the downtown area, where there are large buildings, avenues and most of the human settlements are located. The rural land covers important areas of nine delegations (mayor ships) where almost a quarter of the population lives, provides environmental services for the sustainability of the region and captures about 70% of the water that is used for various activities in the basin. It is currently subject to strong pressure that puts at risk the environmental services that it provides and that represent the future viability for the city. The growth of the urban area increases the sealed soils preventing the soil from performing its natural functions, with important economic and health consequences. Sorne actions aimed at a sustainable goal are recommended, in order to preserve rural and urban land, which means a challenge in which society and the govemment of the CDMX will have to assume to guarantee its conservation and proper functioning. On the other hand, the soil groups are mentioned from the pedological knowledge framed in the world classification (WRB) that covers 15 different soils, predominating in the mountainous areas the Andosols, Leptosols and Phaeozems. In the lacustrine zone the saline and Gleysols, as well as the soils generated by human action such as Anthrosols and Technosols.