Protected Countryside

Supporting Ontario’s vibrant agricultural and food systems.

The Greenbelt’s Protected Countryside are agricultural lands not otherwise protected under the Niagara Escarpment Plan or the Oak Ridges Moraine Plan. This designation permanently protects the natural heritage and water resource systems in these areas, as well as the character of rural communities. The Protected Countryside includes two specialty crop areas (Holland Marsh and the Niagara Tenderfruit and Grape Specialty Crop Areas) and prime agricultural and rural lands, and provides levels of protection against loss and fragmentation of these valuable areas.

The Greenbelt’s agricultural system is the cornerstone of the rural economy and provides residents of the Greater Golden Horseshoe with a reliable and diverse source of local food and drink. Together, the Protected Countryside, Niagara Escarpment, and the Oak Ridges Moraine preserve 750,000 acres of some of Canada’s most fertile farmland within one of its most favourable growing climates. Greenbelt farmland is in close proximity to Canada’s most densely populated region, making it a critical resource for advancing local food initiatives.