Improvement of ecological connectivity and accessibility of peri-urban open spaces in Bilbao
About this good practice
Bilbao is a medium-sized city in Northern Spain. It covers an area of approximately 41.6 km2, with 343,430 inhabitants. It is flanked by two mountain ranges with an average altitude of 400 meters that form some of its natural limits. It is in these mountains where the so-called Bilbao Forest Parks are located: peri-urban open areas that together with the urban parks and gardens and make up the green belt of Bilbao.
In recent years, 18,500 native trees have been planted: birch trees, local oak trees, beech trees and strawberries. This seeks to reinforce the values of preservation, conservation and enjoyment of nature. In addition, the City Council is planning for the coming years the construction of three new parks, adding 90,000 sq. meters to the urban park offer. In these urban parks, the City Council plants annually 540,000 flowers in nurseries and 120,000 flowers in gardeners.
A Long Distance trail connects the 5 forest parks with the urban green spaces, forming a ring accessible from all the neighbourhoods of the city. This ring along with its accesses from different points of the city, add up to 70,17 km.
In order to enhance the leisure and cultural value of the peri-urban Forest Parks, the City Council of Bilbao has created new areas of recreation, going from 27 hectares in 2006 to the 134 hectares currently maintained. There are 18 “Recreational Areas” that include playgrounds for children, tables, stationery, barbecues, banks and informative and panoramic posters.
Resources needed
Maintenance cost is integrated into the contract of "Conservation and Maintenance of Forest Parks Owned by the City of Bilbao". The economic cost depends on budgetary availability, the average maintenance expenditure has been € 132,362.75 € per year.
Evidence of success
The influx of users of Forest Parks has increased in recent years. It has also been demonstrated as a practical tool for the enjoyment of citizens during periods of perimeter confinement due to COVID.
This information is easily shown through the notable need to increase the cleaning frequencies of the Recreational Areas that make up and connect the Green Belt, as well as the amount of waste generated to increase more than 60%.
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice values the effort to connect the network of urban parks with the Green Belt of the city of Bilbao. A "Long Distance Trail" allows to access the peri-urban green spaces from virtually every neighbourhood of the city. This ensures physical, but also social and ecological connection, while allowing the management and planning of actions of the system as a whole.
Restoration with native vegetation allows the care of biodiversity and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, capable of providing their services. Three of the five forest parks that make up the Green Belt of Bilbao can be considered "biodiversity shelters" for their richness of flora and fauna.
Over the last few years, more than 100 hectares of recreational areas have been generated in peri-urban forest parks. Recreational Areas and their infrastructure provide an incentive for visitors, facilitate environmental education and research activities, while allowing an orderly use with minimal impact on ecosystems.