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How to use volcanic geoheritage to contribute to urban sustainability: the Geocity project, Mexico City

Marie-Noëlle Guilbaud1 , María del Pilar Ortega Larrocea2, Silke Cram3, Peter Kriegger4, Alejandro Pastrana5, María Zorrilla Ramos6, Eleonore Mérour7, Benjamin van Wyk de Vries7, María Fernanda Martínez8, Eduardo Rodriguez Osnaya9, Natalia Villalba10, Damaris Zavala Hernández9, Laura Sofia Ortiz Blanco10, Yedid Villagómez Valdez11, Frida Itzel Villegas Granados1, Emilio Saavedra Gallardo10, Perla Marina Beltran Malibran10

  • Affiliations: 1Instituto de Geofisica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 2Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 3Instituto de Geografía, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 4Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MexicoMexico City, Mexico; 5Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historía, Mexico City, Mexico; 6Universidad Ibero-Americana, Mexico City, Mexico; 7Université Clermont-Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France; 8Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 9Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 10Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; 11Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historía, Mexico City, Mexico

  • Presentation type: Talk

  • Presentation time: Monday 09:15 - 09:30, Room R380

  • Programme No: 7.1.4

  • Theme 7 > Session 1

Abstract

Cities often contain volcanic geoheritage that is important for urban sustainability and social well-being created through scientific research, geoeducation, recreation, esthetics, and nature conservation. Mexico City was founded in a beautiful setting: a shallow lake basin surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes. However, uncontrolled hyperurbanization has caused the loss of most natural spaces, to such an extent that city residents are poorly aware of both the risks and benefits associated with their volcanic environment. Young monogenetic volcanoes in the southern part of the city provide the last remnants of the original landscape and preserve part of the native flora and fauna of the basin. However, the population and the authorities ignore their value so that they do not get involved in their protection and upkeep, and this threatens their survival. I will present here the first results of the Geocity Project (CONAHCYT CBF-1049) that aims to form a network of geosites in the city, through providing academic support to existing efforts of conservation led by citizens or local authorities, hence building bridges within the local community. We apply methods from geology, biology and geography to determine the scientific value of these sites and identify the elements that threaten them. We also integrate perspectives from social sciences and humanities (archaeology, politics, economy, anthropology and geo-esthetics) to understand the interactions between urban communities and their environment in the past and the present. Finally, we co-create solutions for the restoration and long-term conservation of these sites by sharing knowledge across the academia and civils.