Identification of the potential soil environmental services in the urban landscape of Mexico City

Ecosystems health and integrity has been affected due to the growth and expansion of the cities reducing their capability to offer environmental services. Soil is one of the first components altered, diminishing the provision of numerous benefits linked to the citizens quality of life. In this work a first analysis of this situation in Mexico City is carried out. Maps and recent images were analyzed and processed to build a morphoedaphic map. Based on this information, the following priorities were derived: a) care and attention to soils on slopes > 10o pointing out the implied delegations; b) increase the extension and/or improve the quality of the remaining not-sealed soils in each delegation; c) the need to elaborate a management and political proposal for the whole watershed and a set of delegational level programs considering their own different combination of soil uses and morphoedaphic units. Some of the potential environmental services to be considered in construction-free soils management policies are also suggested.