1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Zaragoza
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Anillo Verde Norte
Short description of the intervention
The North Green Belt was developed and built up in connection to investments and structures for the 2008 Expo. (Ref. 1,2) The North Green Belt is a series of connections extending the green corridor and network of green spaces in Zaragoza, with the Ebro and Gallego rivers as the two main axes of the belt. (Ref. 1,2)
Address

Anillo Verde de Zaragoza
50012 Zaragoza
Spain

Location
The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).
Area boundary
POINT (-0.848728 41.649916)
POINT (-0.919795 41.666332)
POINT (-0.873103 41.682231)
POINT (-0.830188 41.712737)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Ref. 3
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Industrial
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://www.zaragoza.es/ciudad/medioambiente/espacios/AnilloVerde.htm
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2008
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2008
End date of the intervention
2012
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
- Design a north green belt that fits and connects into the green ring around the whole city. (ref 5)
- Further incorporate the Gallego river into the green networks of the city. (Ref. 4)
- Develop and connect the former industrial areas along the banks of the Ebro as green spaces in the city (ref 4)
- Increase the vegetation along with the bike and pedestrian paths of the green corridor (ref 4)
- Provide clear and thorough signage for users of the green corridor. (ref 5)
- Increase access of citizens to "little known" areas of and around the city. (ref 1)
Quantitative targets
- 28.8 km of continuous green networks along the north part of the city. (ref 3)
- 6 sections connected to form the north ring. (ref 5)
Monitoring indicators defined
km of continuous green networks along the north part of the city. (ref 3)
sections connected to form the north ring. (ref 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore ecological connectivity
Implementation activities
-The whole north belt is divided into six sections, each completed as a sub project of the larger ring: 1. Section of the Ebro 5.3 km long; 2. Gallego Sur 3.8 km long; 3. Gellego Norte 6.3 km; 4. San Gregorio 5.4 km; 5. Parque Goya 5.2km; 6. Parque del Agua 3.9km or 4.1km (ref 1)
-Areas next to route will benefit from reforestation, creation of urban gardens, and equipment installations (Ref. 2)
- Provide signage (Ref. 2)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Green corridors and green belts
Vegetation Type
Trees
Garden beds
Other
Please specify how many trees were planted
unknown; reforestation mentioned (Ref. 2)
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Recreation areas (Ref. 2)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Educational or biodiversity trails
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza (City Council) leading the project and providing maintenance budget (ref 1 and 2)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
No information found
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Urban Development Plan - Plan de Organizacion Urbana, Zaragoza 2007
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning guidance
Other
Please specify other type of mandatory intervention
"Expo Zaragoza 2008" plan - the Expo 2008 was taken as an opportunity to develop and transform some of the spaces that now make up part of the North ring. (ref 5)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
Urban Development Plan - Plan de Organizacion Urbana, Zaragoza 2007
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
General municipal plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Please specify other vegetation type
'green network', 'green corridor', 'vegetation along bike and pedestrian paths' (Ref. 1-5),
Reforestation, creation of urban garden in areas next to route (Ref. 2)
Ebro and Gallego rivers, green spaces (Ref. 1,2)
green ring (Ref 5)
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Funds for sustainable development of urban space as connected to the Expo 2008 development. (ref 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
10 000 000 (Ref 1)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
10 000 000 euros from funds for expo 2008 and 21 000 euros of additional funds for final conditioning of the ring (ref 1)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Funds provided for the construction work of the Expo 2008 (ref1)
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Please specify other Business model
Urban regeneration (Ref. 1,2,5)
Business models
Green densification model
Other
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Infrastructural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The signage system of the ring is mentioned as a notable feature of the green corridor (ref 2 and 5). Moreover, the international network of sustainable architects highlights that, "The project stands out for its versatility, for the use of the concept Expo 2008, for its uniqueness of design versus a conventional business park, and for their commitment to the environment and sustainable development. It has sought the transformation of covered spaces into a useful and pleasant areas for the user, overlooking the Ebro river." (ref 6)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Description of environmental benefits
Development of 30km of green belt (Ref. 1,2)
Incorporation of green ring and rivers into city network (Ref. 1,2)
Increased vegetation along bike and pedestrian paths of green corridor (Ref. 4)
Reforestation, creation of urban garden in areas next to route (Ref. 2)
Developed and connected the former industrial areas along the banks of the Ebro as green spaces in the city (ref 4)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Please specify other socio-cultural impact
sustainable development (Ref 6)
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Promotion of cultural diversity
Other
Description of social and cultural benefits
Green ring's proximity to rural areas provide opportunities for urban-rural connection (Ref. 2)
Improvement of roads and pedestrian/ cycling pathways & improved signage enhance access to green spaces (Ref. 1,2)
The signage system of the ring is mentioned as a notable feature of the green corridor (ref 2 and 5). Moreover, the international network of sustainable architects highlights that, "The project stands out for its versatility, for the use of the concept Expo 2008, for its uniqueness of design versus a conventional business park, and for their commitment to the environment and sustainable development. It has sought the transformation of covered spaces into a useful and pleasant areas for the user, overlooking the Ebro river." (ref 6)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Green areas connected and rehabilitated, 30 km long green corridor made up of the following sections.
1.Section of the Ebro 5.3 km long;
2. Gallego Sur 3.8 km long;
3. Gallego Norte 6.3 km;
4. San Gregorio 5.4 km;
5. Parque Goya 5.2km;
6. Parque del Agua 3.9km or 4.1km (ref 1)
- Access to three other green environments from the North Corridor (ref 5)
- opportunities for urban-rural connection (ref. 2)
- signage (ref. 1,2)
- improved roads/ pathways (ref. 1,2)
- increased vegetation (ref. 4)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of 4 September 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1 El anillo verde norte de Zaragoza, en una guía
Ref. 2 Zaragoza completa su anillo verde con otros 30 kilómetros en el norte
Ref. 3 Anillo Verde Norte
Ref. 7 Biodiversidad y Naturaleza: Anillo verde Norte de Zaragoza
V.V. Corredor Oliver-Valdefierro
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Ref. 5-Memoria.pdf (164.5 KB) 164.5 KB
List of references
1. Heraldo. (2012). El anillo verde norte de Zaragoza, en una guía. Available at: http://www.heraldo.es/noticias/aragon/zaragoza_provincia/zaragoza/el_anillo_verde_norte_zaragoza_una_guia_175745_301.html [Accessed 4 September 2020].

2. El Periodico de Aragon. (2012). Zaragoza completa su anillo verde con otros 30 kilómetros en el norte. Available at: http://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/aragon/zaragoza-completa-anillo-verde-otros-30-kilometros-norte_734229.html [Accessed 4 September 2020].

3. Rulando. (2010). Anillo Verde Norte. Available at: http://www.rulando.es/?page_id=1349 [Accessed 4 September 2020].

4, Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. (2017). Anillo verde Norte. [Not available in 2020].

5. Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. (2017). Memoria. [Document provided].

6. Green Planet Architects. (2017). RECONVERSION EXPO ZARAGOZA 2008. Available at: https://www.greenplanetarchitects.com/en/project/cultural/reconversion-expo-zaragoza-00 [Web platform under re-construction in 2020].

7. Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. (n.d.). Biodiversidad y Naturaleza: Anillo verde Norte de Zaragoza, Trazado y Senalizacion. Available at: https://www.zaragoza.es/ciudad/medioambiente/espacios/AnilloVerde.htm [Accessed 4 September 2020].
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/screen_shot_2017-07-07_at_12.15.35.png
Public Images
North Green Belt
Source: Ref. 3