“Chinmperos” provided Mexico City to the generations. Do they have the future?

Kinemperos receive their name from ‘Chinampas’, the human islands of floating gardens they are located. The Azteci discovered that the layered mud, plants and branches on shallow lakes can create high fertile plots of the country.

Hundreds, Chinampas suffered agricultural communities, but the climate crisis, agricultural enthusiasm among younger people and huge, metropolis, could be combined to ensure that this way of life is indicated by the threat.

Team from UN University He met with Xochimilca farmers on the eve of leaving 2025. years Interconnected risks of disaster A report that accompanies how disasters are associated with each other as well as human behavior.

They discussed the history of the Community of Xochimilco and how their way of life can be saved for future generations.

Lauro Rivera

72, beekeeper

“I was born and raised in the Xochimilcou, a place that exists because of the hard work of our ancestors. They built Chinese black on branches, leaves and rich mud from the bottom of the lagoon.

o Answer them in place, they planted Ahuejote trees (original Bonplan willow), in each corner.

Over time, these efforts have created a huge network of channels and chinampas who are still here today. There are almost 180 kilometers of channels surrounded by Chinampas. “

Samuel Luna

67, Farmers vegetables

“This knowledge is ancestors, and the Chinese are unique in the world. We brought that to their children.

There were even freshwater stains here. Fish, turtles, snails, axolotls. But there are major problems currently with pollution and water scarcity.

We begin to return to what has been done before: using crops adapted to the environment, using fewer pesticides.

Maybe we can’t get everything back, but at least what we can save is what we have now. We, farmers, are the guards of these countries. “

Eric Enriquez

45, Farmer and grandson Samuel

“My grandfather was the one who taught me agriculture. There is no school for Agriculture Chinamp. My mother brought me here as a baby. We still use the fork, and it is transmitted from generation to generation.

First, there were very clear season of rain, heat, cold. But with climate change you no longer know when it will rain or be cold. The technology advanced, and now we have materials that help in a heat or cold pillow or a fight. But there is also a disadvantage: Not everyone earned money to invest in all these types of tools.

If everyone works in the office, who will do all this job we do to feed Chinampas? This is all very nice and I have huge feelings for it. I don’t want to get lost. “

Mariana Cruz

29, historian

“When we talk about farmers, the first thing falls on your mind is a picture of a man. I, however, are my grandmother, but also grown by Chinampas. I was even born in 1995, and even then the exact waters became brown.

Many families have stopped agriculture. First of all, because of the stereotype that the farmer is bad.

I am very proud to say that I come from the Chinmperos family. We learn our friends and associates why we should take care of the channels, why should we take care of the water, why the Xochimilco is important for Mexico City. The work of farmers is important as the work of the doctor. “