Greenbelt Coalition of Canada’s Capital Region

Coalition pour la sauvegarde de la Ceinture de verdure

ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS JOIN TOGETHER TO PRESERVE

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL GREENBELT

For immediate release

December 16, 2008 – Ottawa, Ont. – To coincide with the National Capital Commission’s upcoming review of the 1996 Greenbelt Master Plan, fifteen Ottawa environmental and community groups have formed the Greenbelt Coalition of Canada’s Capital Region to protect this natural oasis. The Coalition sees the Greenbelt as part of Ottawa’s Emerald Necklace, which also includes Gatineau Park, Leamy Lake Park, the Poets’ Pathway and other green spaces in the National Capital Region. Ottawa’s Greenbelt is approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of mixed rural and natural landscape.

Sol Shuster, the chair of the Greenbelt Coalition, says: “No matter what Ottawans’ particular interests are, they use, enjoy and benefit from this green space. I think essentially that’s what most people value about the Greenbelt, that it enhances their quality of life.” The Coalition feels this unique “green structure” enables a diversity of activities within a “Green Capital” aiming to be a sustainable ecosystem.

The Greenbelt Coalition’s goals include:

• promoting public awareness of the value of the Greenbelt, as well as encouraging participation in the NCC’s forthcoming review;

• ensuring that planning within and around the Greenbelt is consistent with the protection of the Greenbelt and its functions including the protection and enhancement of agricultural lands and ecosystems;

• expanding its boundaries through federal legislation as a biodiversity reserve;

• ensuring that the principles of maintaining the Greenbelt’s ecological and territorial integrity and compatible sustainable uses are followed.

Right now, the Coalition’s primary goal is to have the NCC declare a moratorium on all development, including roads, within the Greenbelt until the completion of the Master Plan review in 2011.

“The Coalition aims to raise public awareness since most people drive through the Greenbelt to and from home without knowing why this tract of land was preserved and why it should remain so,” says Nicole DesRoches, the coalition’s co-chair. “More importantly, most citizens of the region do not know that the previous Greenbelt Master Plan removed several important areas including the federal portion of the Provincially Significant Leitrim Wetland as well as land for residential development.’”

Currently, among the many threats to the Greenbelt are the City of Ottawa’s proposal to develop up to 25% of the Greenbelt for residential development, and the Ottawa Airport Master Plan that includes business parks and other commercial developments in the Greenbelt, some of it in wetland areas.

“Instead of going in the opposite direction and eroding its natural capital, Ottawa should follow the example of many foresighted cities around the world that are expanding their green belts to improve urban health and help their city become more ecologically sustainable”, says Ann Coffey, chair of the Coalition’s Natural Environment Committee.

The Coalition has just launched its own website, www.greenbeltcoalition.ca and will, over the coming months, undertake a number of activities such as organizing public awareness days and community outreach meetings, as well as actively participate in the NCC’s public consultations.

Anyone wishing to join or participate in the organization of activities is welcome and is invited to contact the Coalition at info (at) greenbeltcoalition (dot) ca .

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Media Contacts:

Ann Coffey (613) 746-8668 or ann.coffey (at) rogers (dot) com (English)

Nicole DesRoches (819) 772-4925 or nicole.desroches (at) creddo (dot) ca (French)

Background:

For more information, please visit www.greenbeltcoalition.ca

List of Member organizations:

Alliance to Save Our Greenbelt (ATSOG)

Canadian Biodiversity Institute

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)

City of Ottawa Biodiversity Task Force

City of Ottawa Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)

City of Ottawa Forests and Greenspace Advisory Committee (OFGAC)

City of Ottawa Rural Issues Advisory Committee (RIAC)

Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais

Ecology Ottawa

Federation of Citizens’ Associations of Ottawa-Carleton (FCA)

Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital

Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre

Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club

Save Our Greenspace

Sierra Club Canada