The Green Ring is a set of peri-urban parks of high ecological and landscape value strategically linked through eco-recreational corridors. It is the result of an ambitious project that began in the early 90s of the last century with the main objective of restoring and recovering the periphery of Vitoria, both from an environmental and social point of view, to create a large green area for recreational use around the city. It was selected by the UN among the 100 best global actions in the III International Competition of "Good Practices for the improvement of living conditions in cities", held in Dubai in 2000. It currently has 6 consolidated parks: Armentia, Olarizu, Salburua, Zabalgana,Zadorraand Errekaleor.[1].
Current parks
It is an extensive natural oak forest, located between the urban center and the Montes de Vitoria, the main mountain system and one of the most valuable natural spaces in the municipality of Vitoria. Precisely its location makes the Armentia Forest a true biological corridor between the forest areas of Montes de Vitoria, the peri-urban green areas and the urban ecosystem, and it is in this role where the main value of the Armentia park lies.
The pasture fields together with the emblematic Olarizu hill and the many trails that run there and link the city with the nearby towns, make this park a very popular place as it allows you to enjoy the walk or simply stay in the many corners enabled for it. Unlike the rest of the parks in the Green Belt, the Olarizu park presents less naturalness and greater proximity to the concept of a typically urban park, since it was with that character that it was originally conceived. Created in 1984, in the mid-90s it became part of the Green Belt. Since then, its conditioning has been aimed primarily at public use and hosting training activities and environmental education. It includes among its lands the Olárizu Botanical Garden.
Salburua is a humid area made up of several lagoons (Arcaute and Betoño are the main ones), along with grassed spaces and a small oak grove. Drained centuries ago to transform the area into crop fields, the recovery work begun in 1994 has reversed this situation and today it is one of the most valuable continental wetlands in the Basque Country, a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and a Site of Community Importance (SCI) within the European Natura 2000 Network. The park can be explored through various itineraries that surround and connect the main lagoons. The and two bird observatories help you learn about the natural wealth of the place and enjoy it.
green ring
Introduction
The Green Ring is a set of peri-urban parks of high ecological and landscape value strategically linked through eco-recreational corridors. It is the result of an ambitious project that began in the early 90s of the last century with the main objective of restoring and recovering the periphery of Vitoria, both from an environmental and social point of view, to create a large green area for recreational use around the city. It was selected by the UN among the 100 best global actions in the III International Competition of "Good Practices for the improvement of living conditions in cities", held in Dubai in 2000. It currently has 6 consolidated parks: Armentia, Olarizu, Salburua, Zabalgana,Zadorraand Errekaleor.[1].
Current parks
It is an extensive natural oak forest, located between the urban center and the Montes de Vitoria, the main mountain system and one of the most valuable natural spaces in the municipality of Vitoria. Precisely its location makes the Armentia Forest a true biological corridor between the forest areas of Montes de Vitoria, the peri-urban green areas and the urban ecosystem, and it is in this role where the main value of the Armentia park lies.
The pasture fields together with the emblematic Olarizu hill and the many trails that run there and link the city with the nearby towns, make this park a very popular place as it allows you to enjoy the walk or simply stay in the many corners enabled for it. Unlike the rest of the parks in the Green Belt, the Olarizu park presents less naturalness and greater proximity to the concept of a typically urban park, since it was with that character that it was originally conceived. Created in 1984, in the mid-90s it became part of the Green Belt. Since then, its conditioning has been aimed primarily at public use and hosting training activities and environmental education. It includes among its lands the Olárizu Botanical Garden.
Salburua is a humid area made up of several lagoons (Arcaute and Betoño are the main ones), along with grassed spaces and a small oak grove. Drained centuries ago to transform the area into crop fields, the recovery work begun in 1994 has reversed this situation and today it is one of the most valuable continental wetlands in the Basque Country, a RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance and a Site of Community Importance (SCI) within the European Natura 2000 Network. The park can be explored through various itineraries that surround and connect the main lagoons. The and two bird observatories help you learn about the natural wealth of the place and enjoy it.
Ataria Interpretation Center
This park has a very special meaning as it is the result of an intense restoration process, which has converted an area of old gravel pits, very degraded, into a space of natural interest very suitable for the leisure and recreation of the population. In the Zabalgana park, meadows, scattered forests, lagoons, small hills and hills, living areas, trails and a natural gall oak forest alternate, which, from an ecological point of view, is the most notable part of the space since it is an island-forest immersed in a sea of crops.
The Zadorra river, the most important in the municipality of Vitoria, is the protagonist of this peri-urban park. It runs north of the city acting as a limit to its expansion. Possessing important natural values that have motivated its declaration as a SCI space (Place of Community Interest) within the European Natura 2000 Network of Protected Natural Spaces, Zadorra and its surroundings constitute an ideal space for leisure and walking. The comprehensive conditioning of the river (hydraulic, environmental and socio-recreational), along its entire contact route with the city, is being carried out in phases and sections. In the near future there will be an extensive river park 13 km long and with an area of 213 hectares, which will act as a fundamental link in the Green Belt, between the Salburua wetlands and the Zabalgana park.
The future park borders to the south with the Olarizu park and to the north with the Salburua wetlands, being included within the new residential expansion of Salburua. Its location makes this place a fundamental connection element between the Green Belt parks located to the south and east of the city. The Errekaleor River will guarantee the ecological connection while the Cerro de Las Neveras, notable from a landscape point of view, will be included in the Green Ring as a must-visit walk for its excellent panoramic views. The conditioning of this environment, which is contemplated as part of the Salburua urbanization project, will entail the expansion of the surface of the Green Belt.
It is an elevated area of land that extends over the southern rural environment of the municipality, considered a natural watchtower.
This park has a very special meaning as it is the result of an intense restoration process, which has converted an area of old gravel pits, very degraded, into a space of natural interest very suitable for the leisure and recreation of the population. In the Zabalgana park, meadows, scattered forests, lagoons, small hills and hills, living areas, trails and a natural gall oak forest alternate, which, from an ecological point of view, is the most notable part of the space since it is an island-forest immersed in a sea of crops.
The Zadorra river, the most important in the municipality of Vitoria, is the protagonist of this peri-urban park. It runs north of the city acting as a limit to its expansion. Possessing important natural values that have motivated its declaration as a SCI space (Place of Community Interest) within the European Natura 2000 Network of Protected Natural Spaces, Zadorra and its surroundings constitute an ideal space for leisure and walking. The comprehensive conditioning of the river (hydraulic, environmental and socio-recreational), along its entire contact route with the city, is being carried out in phases and sections. In the near future there will be an extensive river park 13 km long and with an area of 213 hectares, which will act as a fundamental link in the Green Belt, between the Salburua wetlands and the Zabalgana park.
The future park borders to the south with the Olarizu park and to the north with the Salburua wetlands, being included within the new residential expansion of Salburua. Its location makes this place a fundamental connection element between the Green Belt parks located to the south and east of the city. The Errekaleor River will guarantee the ecological connection while the Cerro de Las Neveras, notable from a landscape point of view, will be included in the Green Ring as a must-visit walk for its excellent panoramic views. The conditioning of this environment, which is contemplated as part of the Salburua urbanization project, will entail the expansion of the surface of the Green Belt.
It is an elevated area of land that extends over the southern rural environment of the municipality, considered a natural watchtower.