Environment

The Greenbelt’s natural capital delivers some $2.6 billion worth of benefits to Ontarians each year. Its forests, wetlands, meadows, grasslands and other ecosystems provide safe drinking water, prevent flooding, and enhance biodiversity. The Foundation leads on key environmental issues including:

  • Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park
  • Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research
  • Commissions the ground breaking report by the Suzuki Foundation to quantify the value of Greenbelt eco-services
  • "Greened up" the agricultural sector and encouraged farmers to be stewards of the land by funding the Environmental Farm Plan
  • Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands
  • Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress and stewardship by farmers
  • Entrenching public awareness of and support for the environment through the TVOKids’ “Greenbelt Adventure” reaching over 250,000 children and parents, 17 million viewers through CHUM TV’s “Greenbelt Contest” and giving out over 1 million Greenbelt Activity books through the LCBO

 

It’s less expensive to preserve the natural environment and the benefits it provides us, than to replace it with man-made infrastructure.

 

The David Suzuki Foundation Report

Featured News

More News
 

Not Just a Swamp

Environment  |  February 2, 2012

Today, environmental and conservation organizations are celebrating World Wetlands. Each year, groups from across the globe educate people on the importance of wetland protection. Coinciding with World Wetlands Day this year is the release of a new report from Foundation grantees: Ducks Unlimited, Ontario Nature, Ecojustice, and Earth Roots. The report... Continue reading

 

Greenbelt drives economic opportunity, study says

Environment  |  January 12, 2012

Innovative planning aids advancement of food, farming and environment By Lilian Schaer It might be hard to find a bigger advocate for Niagara Region than Patrick Robson. Ask him about the opportunities for food, farming and culture in the area and the region’s head of planning quickly lists half a dozen initiatives that are helping to rejuvenate Niagara’s economy as it transitions away from... Continue reading

 

Issue Fact Sheet

 

Download a copy of our Economy Fact Sheet (PDF)

Ontario’s Greenbelt is the largest and most diverse greenbelt in the world. It protects 1.8 million acres of green space, prime agricultural lands and rural communities.

 
 

Featured Grants

More Grants
 

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario

Increasing Organic Production in the Greenbelt through Farmer-to-Farmer Training and Support

The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) is an organization established in 1979 to promote the advancement and understanding of ecological agricultural methods. Continue reading

Grants Made:

$150,000 - June 25, 2007

 

The Greenbelt Foundation is

  • Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar

  • Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park

  • Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel, U of T. City of Toronto Facilities and Markham

  • Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO

  • Contributing $2.65 million to Greenbelt farmers to improve their operations (leveraging millions of dollars from federal sources), and to employ the opportunities of the Green Energy Act

  • Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%

  • Funding research and analysis on greenbelts around the globe which concluded that Ontario’s Greenbelt is the most robust in the world, with a strong legal and policy framework

  • Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands

  • Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region

  • Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels

  • Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products

  • Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event

  • Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers

  • Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas

  • Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities

  • Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham

  • Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara

  • Creating a network of Farmer’s Markets to help improve our local food economy

  • Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students

  • Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets

  • Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination

  • Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research

  • Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns

  • Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others

  • Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter

  • Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities

  • Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area

  • Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic

  • Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph

  • Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit

  • Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities

  • Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers

  • Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries

  • Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students

  • Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions

  • Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level

 
Learn more about what the Greenbelt Foundation has done for you »

Advertorial sponsored by the Greenbelt Foundation

Toronto Star

Familiar Waters
Series Archive »

The Greenbelt Blog

Romancing in the Greenbelt

Ontario’s Greenbelt stretches across 1.8 million acres and offers many options for romantic getaways. We’ve selected a few of our favourites that suit any budget. Share the beauty and nature...

Read more from our Blog »