Ecological Sustainability and Urban Green Space	RINGKØBING PAPERS Water Management Landuse Planning Waste Management Area Resources Habitat Quality
Urban Density and Green Structure Case Studies Ringkøbing -DK Stocksbridge -UK Oslo -Forsheimer -N Poland- Green networks -PL Tidaholm & Trollhatten -S Social Impacts of sustainable Housing Oslo - city centre -N Helsinki - Espoo -SU Political Instruments Norway - N Click a Topic QUIT RINGKØBING DENMARK Habitat quality menu Vegetation as an indicator Pilot Study Methodology Findings & Conclusion References Click a Topic	RINGKØBING CASE STUDY - HABITAT QUALITY THE FINDINGS To access this information use the bottom left menu to move between Sections and the arrows to move to the next page Conclusions The opportunity When linking the information of cover of grassland as opposed to woody vegetation with the assessment of the habitat quality for all structure zones, a distinct Ringkoebing "biostructure" of high quality urban green spaces appears. The pattern is different to that of the three concentrations of green shown in the formal municipal structure plan (click here to see Municipal Plan) and it is only partly reflected in the detailed plan of area use categories (click here to see Area Uses) The actual green structure of Ringkøbing shows as two parallel ribbons of high quality habitats, repectively edging and cutting through the urban area. The built up area between the two ribbons is generally richer in biological terms than the area east of the ribbons, which only has two structure zones with a high rating. The coastline ribbon of sandy, partly herb covered slopes and meadows is legally protected against major changes other than that caused by the sea. The old harbour area cutting through the coastline ribbon is under redevelopment. It comprises some areas of high quality which were not big enough to change the rating of the whole structure zone, but which are important to integrate in the development plans if the biodiversity of the area is to be preserved or enhanced. The railway line ribbon, in contrast to the coastline ribbon, is culturally based and to a large degree woodland covered. The vegetation volume, with its almost uninterrupted course through the town and a direction perpendicular to the prevailing west winds, makes the railway line ribbon the backbone of the actual green structure of Ringkøbing, both in relation to biodiversity and local climate. Moreover it is already used for storm water management (ditches and ponds/basins) Click here to see Map of Potential for ecological change .   With a municipal recognition of this unique opportunity of combining ecological functions with future recreational accessibility, Ringkøbing will have an multi-functioning green feature, which comes close to the ideals of ecological sustainability and urban green space.