Index Anillo Verde de Vitoria-Gasteiz

The Green Belt is an environmental project that aims to recuperate the city’s degraded spaces. It is also an educational and social project as it promotes the use of the Green Belt by the public and for environmental education, but basically it is a territorial and urban development project, designed for the city and for its citizens.

The CEA is the entity responsible for the conception, design and execution of the Green Belt. However, in order to carry out this initiative, it has the technical, financial, administrative and political support of other municipal departments and other public and private institutions including, among others, the European Union, the Ministry for the Environment, the Basque Government and the Vital savings bank.

Milestones in the development of the project:

• 1992: Work begins on the Belt. Ecological recovery of the Zabalgana gravel pit
• 1996: First environmental education activities. 1400 participants
• 1999: The Green Belt is included in the General Urban Plan of Vitoria-Gasteiz
• 2000: Selection as "Best" Practice by the Spanish Habitat Committee
• 2002: Declaration of the park of Salburua as Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Agreement
• 2002: Granting of financial assistance by the Ministry for the Environment to the Hydraulic Preparation and Environmental Restoration Project of the river Zadorra to create the park of the Zadorra
• 2004: Project to prepare urban paths and walkways through the Green Belt to promote its use by the public
• 2007: Building of Ataria, the Interpretation Centre of the Salburua wetlands

The Green Belt project was selected as “BEST” at the 3rd International Practices Competition of Dubai called by the Spanish Habitat Committee and was given prominence in the 3rd Spanish Catalogue of Good Practices. "Cities for all", published by the Ministry of Public Works and the FEMP for its contribution to "improving the living conditions of citizens from the viewpoint of sustainable development".

It is perhaps this award that best sums up the true magnitude and significance of this project, which, from the original design and conception to the maintenance carried out in each one of the parks, has been inspired by the basic principles of sustainability.

Last update: 10/02/2007

Links

• Best Practices Competition of Dubai of year 2000