Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz

Situated between the river Zadorra and wetlands of Salburua, the river Alegría and its banks represent today an important ecological corridor between these two valuable ecosystems, allowing the movement of such representative species as the European mink. It is a space for leisure activities, which connects the periurban Salburua park with the future fluvial park of the river Zadorra, in the Gamarra area.

Picnic site in the Armentia Forest

This is a large natural oak forest, located between the city and the Mountains of Vitoria, the main mountain range and one of the most valuable natural areas in the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz.[2] Precisely its location makes the Forest of Armentia a real biological corridor between the forest areas, green areas and peri-urban ecosystem, and in this paper lies the main value Armentia Park.

Olarizu mountain, Casa de la Dehesa and Olarizu meadows

Olarizu Meadows

Deer in the Green Ring

The fields open stands of Olárizu, an iconic mountain and the many trails that run through there and connects the city with the nearby towns, make this park a popular spot that is ideal for walking or just stay (in authorized areas).[3] Unlike the other parks in the Green Belt, Olarizu Park has a "less natural" and closer to the typically urban park concept, as it is with this character as originally conceived. Created in 1984 to the mid-90 becomes part of the Green Belt. Since then, his conditioning has been directed mainly to public use and to accept training and environmental education. Included among the grounds the Botanical Garden Olárizu.

Salburua a wetland formed by several lakes (Arcaute and Betoño are the main ones), along with spaces and a small oak empradizados.[4] The lakes dried centuries ago to transform the area into farmland, the restoration work started in 1994 have reversed this situation and now Salburua is one of the most valuable inland wetlands of the Basque Country and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. The park can be visited through various routes that surround and connect major gaps. Facilities include the 'Interpretation Centre ATARIA' and two bird observatories.

This park is the result of an intensive restoration process, which has become an area of old gravel pits, very degraded, in an area of natural interest suitable for leisure and recreation of the population.[5] In the park of Zabalgana there are alternating meadows, scattered woodlots, ponds, small hills and ridges, sitting areas, trails and natural forest gall; it is a forest-island surrounded by a sea of crops.

The Zadorra river runs along the north part of the city acting as a limit to the city's expansion.[6] Holder of important natural values that have motivated his statement as space SCI (Site of Community Interest) within the European Natura 2000 Network of Protected Natural Spaces, the Zadorra and its surroundings are an ideal space for walks. In the near future it will be possible to have an extensive river park 13 km long and a surface of 213 ha, which will act as a key link in the Green Ring, including wetlands and Salburua and Zabalgana.

The future park is bounded on the south Olarizu Park and north to wetlands Salburua, being included within the new residential expansion Salburua.[7] Its location makes this place an important connecting element between the Green Belt parks located south and east of the city. The river Errekaleor ensure ecological connectivity while the Cerro de Las Neveras, noteworthy from the standpoint of landscape, will be included in the Green Belt as a promenade a must for great views. The design of this environment, which is provided as part of the redevelopment project of Salburua, will involve the expansion of the area of the Green Ring in 28 hectares.