Vision and Objective

Introduction / International greenbelt policy

Greenbelt policy was pioneered in England in the 1940s. England’s 14 well-protected greenbelt areas now cover 16,716 km², or 13% of the country. Across Europe, greenbelts are being expanded by consolidating them with other lands such as parks, wetlands, forests and farmland to form large continuous tracts of permanently protected land to help make cities more sustainable.

Internationally recognized objectives of greenbelt policy include:

  • closely tie greenbelt policy with sustainable cities policies;
  • safeguard greenspace areas from encroachment;
  • conserve and protect nature and vital ecological functions;
  • protect habitats and wildlife corridors;
  • improve air and water quality in urban areas;
  • retain and enhance rural landscapes;
  • provide the urban population with access to the open countryside;
  • provide opportunities for outdoor recreation near urban areas;
  • restrict urban sprawl and preserve the special character of rural towns;
  • promote urban regeneration by encouraging the use of derelict land (brownfields);
  • promote the use of under-utilized urban land (intensification).

In Canada, the Ontario government recently passed the Greenbelt Act to enable the preservation of agricultural and other natural lands in southern Ontario.

The Greenbelt Coalition’s Vision

We see the National Capital Greenbelt as part of our national heritage and an essential component of the national capital’s “emerald necklace” that makes Canada’s capital a truly unique green city to live in and visit. This “necklace” also encompasses and links Gatineau Park, the other National Interest Land Mass (NILM) lands such as Leamy Lake, the Poets’ Pathway, and other NCC greenspaces such as the parkways, as well as the Central Experimental Farm. We see the Greenbelt as a “natural oasis” with expansive views of the Capital, significant natural areas, and agricultural, forest and heritage landscapes – a model of biodiversity in an urban setting. This “green structure” will enable a diversity of activities within a city aiming to be part of a sustainable ecosystem.

Coalition Objective and Goals

The Coalition’s overall objective is to promote our vision and the preservation and enhancement of the National Capital Greenbelt.

Our goals for the Greenbelt include:

  • legally protecting the Greenbelt and keeping it in public ownership;
  • protecting the Greenbelt functions and boundaries as a biodiversity reserve;
  • ensuring that the principles of maintaining the Greenbelt’s ecological and territorial integrity and sustainable uses are followed;
  • maintaining and restoring biodiversity connections within the Greenbelt, as well as links to other natural areas in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec;
  • enhancing natural areas within the Greenbelt and expanding the Greenbelt to complementary areas;
  • ensuring that planning within and around the Greenbelt is consistent with the protection of the Greenbelt and its functions;
  • preserving and protecting the Greenbelt’s wild species;
  • maintaining wildlife corridors and restoring those that are now broken;
  • providing a more informed understanding and respect for wild species, in order to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts;
  • supporting the preservation and enhancement of agricultural lands;
  • creating a shared vision among the stakeholders and the NCC for the integrated management of the natural environment and agriculture lands;
  • ensuring that there are no new transportation corridors through the Greenbelt;
  • ensuring that there are no new residential, commercial or institutional buildings in the Greenbelt;
  • promoting public awareness of the value of the Greenbelt and encouraging participation in the NCC Greenbelt Master Plan Review.
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