The Xitle Lava Tubes in México City, Conservation or Destruction?

Lava tubes from the eruption of Xitle volcano ~ 2000 years ago constitute one of the most important geological heritages in southern Mexico City. The accelerated growth of Mexico City and real estate developers seriously threaten the conservation of the 73-hectare (hc) Natural Protected Area (ANP) known as Los Encinos, where these lava tubes are located. Therefore, the re-evaluation of this natural area from the geoheritage point of view is urgent. We mapped 4.76 km of lava tubes. Among the outstanding features are the anastomosed, and master tubes in several levels and the flow features such as a lava fall, levees, parietal crusts, and dragged blocks. In addition, we studied the biological, ecological, and environmental aspects of the area, as well as the changes in land use that have impacted the area in the last 20 years, producing the loss of 9 hc of the Los Encinos natural area. We also present proposals to integrate protection actions that allow the development of the area while preserving the geoheritage.