Xochimilco was historically a highly productive agricultural land with unique methods of farming, called chinampas. The pre-hispanic crop system produced a wide variety of crops based on integrated nutrient management from lake sediments, aquatic plants, crops and live-stock residues; as

well as on integrated management including irrigation, waste decomposition and fishing. Strong land use pressures are currently affecting the existence of chinampas, including demographic pressure and the introduction of industrialized systems. Xochimilco’s production mode is changing. Because of water pollution and urbanization, the area of chinampas has decreased a lot from 1989 to 2006. These changes involve the loss of the lacustrine environment, which integrates water, trees and wetlands. The production types of Xochimilco is also decreasing from the Hispanic times. Currently, although greenhouses make more profit, this type of agriculture is not sustainable because of the portable water stress in Mexico City.