A “resilient”

Resilience and Vulnerability
in a Post-Industrial Urban Community:
The Zorrozaurre Peninsula, Bilbao
Robert Alcock
Almudena Garrido
University of Deusto, Bilbao
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
Introduction
• Resilience and vulnerability in an ecological system
• A case study: the Zorrozaurre Peninsula in Bilbao
(Basque Country)
• To analyse this case study: a conceptual model
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
The mountaineering bug model
resilient
pre-1940
peri-urban area
diversity
ecological
socio-cultural
economic
•A bug in a mountainous landscape
• Landscape ~> the state space of possible
ecological states
• Height ~> diversity
• Motion of bug ~> intrinsic development
• It climbs gentle hills (~> succession) but
rolls down steep slopes (~> collapse)
• Broad plateau ~> a state of resilience
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
Pre-1940: A “resilient” peri-urban area
• Since the 18th cent. this area has combined port
facilities with diverse agriculture, fishing, light industry
• Early 20th century: industry, population
concentrated along the river
• High ecological diversity, stable economy:
high resilience
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
The mountaineering bug model:
2. Collapse and impoverishment
resilient
pre-1940
peri-urban area
1940s–50s
industrialization
collapse
• A system disturbed beyond
the limits of its resilience will
suffer collapse, leading to
impoverishment
impoverished
diversity
ecological
socio-cultural
economic
1960s–80s:
industrial zone
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
1940s-80s: Collapse and impoverishment
• 1940s: Industrial and demographic explosion in
Bilbao, following the Civil War
• Conversion of the area into an industrial zone
• Creation of the Peninsula (Canal de Deusto, 1958)
• Social collapse of the area (expropriation, isolation).
• 1970s–80s: Economic collapse (obsolescence),
unemployment, deterioration factories and houses
•Ecological collapse: highly polluted land, air and
water (river anoxic), impoverished flora & fauna
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
The mountaineering bug model:
3. Vulnerability
resilient
pre-1940
peri-urban area
1940s-50s
industrialization
collapse
vulnerable
impoverished
diversity
ecological
socio-cultural
economic
1960s-80s:
industrial zone
2004
post-industrial
wasteland
?
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
2004: A “vulnerable” post-industrial wasteland
• Following the economic decline of the area, there
has been a gradual ecological and social recovery
• Pollution has diminished and species richness
(aquatic and terrestrial) increased: kingfishers, egrets,
wagtails, sparrows, carp, lizards, samphire, ferns, mosses…
• Growth of population and community identity, with
improvements in houses and green space
• Weak local economy (small businesses)
• Situation vulnerable to speculative development
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
The mountaineering bug model:
4. Recovering resilience
2010
eco-barrio?
resilient
resilient
pre-1940
peri-urban area
1940s-50s
industrialization
collapse
vulnerable
impoverished
diversity
ecological
socio-cultural
economic
1960s-80s:
industrial zone
2004
post-industrial
wasteland
2010
conventional
urban area?
impoverished
Resilience and Vulnerability - Zorrozaurre Robert Alcock & Almudena Garrido - University of Deusto, Bilbao
Actions to promote resilience
• To approach this state of resilience, a form of
development is needed that considers ecological and
social as well as economic aspects
• To achieve this, we have created a Forum for debate
among stakeholders
• A book with preliminary results has been published
• The next step is a workshop to arrive at concrete
proposals for the area
Takk!
Thank you!