Ecosystem Services as a Device for Urban Regeneration. The Reopening of the Østerå River in Aalborg (DK)

Abstract

Denmark is a frontrunner in the fight against climate change and demonstrates that it is possible to develop a sustainable society and at the same time ensure economic growth and well-being. The most comprehensive document in Europe on sustainability was drawn up in Aalborg in 1994; the city pursues the commitments of sustainable growth through energy conversion, nature conservation and urban regeneration. Against land consumption and to combat pollution, Aalborg has focused on the reactivation of interrupted cycles and the re-naturalization of urban areas. One of the most significant projects is the restoration of the Østerå, the river that ran through the city. The entire course of the river will be brought to the surface, reclaimed and equipped as a new ecological corridor. The project is divided into three interconnected parks: Gabriel, Åparken and Karolinelund. Each park enhances the multiple benefits of the river as an ecosystem service in various ways: environmental redevelopment, climate adaptation and urban regeneration. The natural environment is restored through an innovative approach to enhance the wilderness in the city. The opening of the river contributes to the mitigation of flood risk by acting as a scalable rainwater management system. The intertwining of green and blue textures grafted into the urban fabric helps to raise the quality of public spaces and allows the community to have a direct experience of nature.