The Ecological Value of Ontario’s Greenbelt

This report, produced by York University’s Ecological Footprint Initiative, highlights the Greenbelt’s critical role in supporting Ontario’s sustainability through the lens of biocapacity. Biocapacity measures the ability of natural ecosystems and farmlands to produce essential resources that humans rely on, such as food and water, while also absorbing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Developed as part of the Visioning the Future of the Greenbelt series, this report shows that Ontario’s Greenbelt provides nearly three times more biocapacity per hectare than the rest of the province, underscoring the importance of its protected status. As our population and economic activity continue to expand, there will be increasing demands for food, water, land and the need to respond to climate change. How Ontario grows and builds infrastructure will enhance or diminish the Greenbelt’s biocapacity as demands increase, potentially undermining the balance needed for sustainability. 

Key Recommendations:  

• Improve the collection and reporting of land use and land cover data, including more detailed categorization of agricultural lands.  
• Use land use data to identify and protect areas at risk of losing farmland, wetlands, and natural cover.  
• Provide governments with geospatial biocapacity data to support evidence-based land use planning and policy.  
• Maintain up-to-date mapping of natural heritage, agricultural, and water systems across the Greenbelt region.  
• Invest in restoration, regenerative agriculture, and soil health initiatives to strengthen Greenbelt biocapacity.  
• Renew commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to lower Ontario’s ecological footprint.  
• Incorporate biocapacity into municipal natural asset management and planning frameworks. 

Through a series of discussion papers, the Visioning the Future Greenbelt Series explores the Greenbelt’s current and future role in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our time, positioning it as a vital solution for the province’s sustainable future.