The Greenbelt Foundation's latest report Housing Needs and Actions for the Agricultural Sector in Rural Greenbelt Communities in partnership with Caldwell Consulting, highlights housing needs in rural communities with a focus on sustaining agriculture, a major economy and source of jobs for rural communities in the Greenbelt and across Ontario. 

Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Strategy: A Path Towards Sustainable Tourism and Reconciliation on an Iconic Landscape  

May 1, 2025: The Greenbelt Foundation and Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) are excited to announce the publication of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Strategy, which aims to enhance the ecological and tourism potential of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail (ORMT).  

Stories From The Greenbelt: Atlassing the Greenbelt with Birds Canada

Written by Kaelyn Bumelis, ON Atlas 3 Project Manager, Birds Canada

From left to right. Common Nighthawk. Photo: Chantale Malo. Least Bittern. Photo: Ken MacDonald. Red-headed Woodpecker. Photo: Geoff Stimpson

What do these three species have in common?? They can all be found in the Ontario Greenbelt this spring!

With over two million acres of protected land, the Greenbelt provides essential habitat for these iconic species, while providing clear air, fresh water, climate resilience, and a reliable food source for the 20% of Canada's population that lives within 20km of the Greenbelt. The Greenbelt offers essential stopover habitat for migratory birds, and breeding habitat for 13 of Canada’s at-risk species, including Common Nighthawk, Least Bittern, and Red-headed Woodpecker.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation (ORMF) and Greenbelt Foundation are excited to announce the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Strategy, which aims to enhance the ecological and tourism potential of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail (ORMT). The launch of its two-phase strategy is aimed at enhancing governance, community engagement, and trail accessibility. This initiative will lay the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive trail experience for all users.   

The Oak Ridges Moraine, like many areas in southern Ontario, is facing unprecedented development pressures. The Greenbelt Foundation and partners have identified the renewal and expansion of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail as a critical strategy for building public interest in and protection of the Moraine.

Our mission for the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail is to permanently protect the nature trail corridor connecting people to the water, the lands, the history and the communities of the Oak Ridges Moraine.  The new Trail alignment will bring more natural areas under an additional layer of protection. The current trail spans 160 KM and encompasses approximately 190,000 hectares. 70% of the existing trail is on road. This project will realign the trail so that 100% of the trail in nature. This has the potential of adding an additional 100,000 hectares of nature under protection through land securements, IPCAs, MOECMs etc.

Indigenous Reconciliation begins with recognizing the land upon which the Oak Ridges Moraine rests is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe People, specifically the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Scugog Island First Nation, and Alderville First Nation.  Through a recent partnership with Cambium Indigenous Professional Services and the Mno Aki Land Trust, we have created an interim Indigenous Committee (Williams Treat Working Group) to work with Greenbelt Foundation’s Strategic Implementation Working Group on the governance, development and implementation of the project.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Trail Renewal Project supports the renewal and expansion of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail to accommodate the increasing demand for access to nature while increasing opportunities for Indigenous reconciliation – so the Trail serves to connect, educate, heal, hold, and support its diverse users and treaty holders.

The Oak Ridges Moraine Trail holds the capacity to attract users, support Indigenous conservation and build the next generation of support for the preservation of the Moraine.

Read the press release here and the full strategy below:

STORIES FROM THE GREENBELT: The Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program – 24 years of groundwater management

Written by Steve Holysh, Program Coordinator & Senior Hydrologist Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program

Groundwater is the hidden lifeline of the Greenbelt, flowing silently beneath the surface through layers of soil, rock, and glacial sediment. It provides clean, reliable drinking water for many communities and sustains rivers, streams, and wetlands—especially during dry periods when surface water runs low. About 20% of the rainfall and snow that falls on the Greenbelt soaks into the ground, replenishing aquifers and supporting ecosystems from below. This underground reservoir plays a vital role in the health of the Greenbelt’s environment, helping to regulate streamflow, filter pollutants, and maintain biodiversity across the landscape.

In the late 1990s, with urbanization marching northwards from the Toronto area, the Regional Municipalities of York, Peel and Durham recognized the need for action. A series of public meetings highlighted the public’s concern for the integrity of the Oak Ridges Moraine, and of the need for improved management of, and access to, environmental data (and groundwater data in particular). The seeds for the Oak Ridges Moraine Groundwater Program were sown.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Greenbelt: A Legacy of Vision and Protection

  February 28, 2025

 Written by Mary-Lou Tanner, Greenbelt Foundation Board Chair

As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Greenbelt, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of pride—pride in what we’ve accomplished together and gratitude for the visionary leaders who laid the foundation for its success.

Long before the Greenbelt came into being, Ontario made bold decisions to protect the Niagara Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine. These landscapes, rich in biodiversity and essential to our water systems, were recognized for their irreplaceable value. When the Greenbelt was established in 2005, it built upon those earlier protections, creating a vast, interconnected region that safeguards over 2 million acres of farmland, forests, wetlands, and water resources.

The Greenbelt is more than a line on a map—it’s a living, breathing landscape that strengthens our communities and sustains us in ways we often take for granted. It provides us with clean air, abundant fresh water, local food, and irreplaceable outdoor spaces that enhance our well-being.

Healing the Land Through Building Relationships With Native Plants 

In spring 2020, I enrolled in a field ecology course, eager for nine full days of hands-on, outdoor work in a small class, practicing ecological sampling and monitoring at various field sites. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had other plans. Our course went online, and all the fieldwork activities became independent. The prospect of doing fieldwork alone at a nearby park was truly disappointing. I did not expect to develop a deep connection to the local park and build relationships with the native plants I met there.  

2024 Year in Review: A Year of Community and Vision

  December 20, 2024

As we reflect on 2024, it’s clear this has been a year of incredible progress and teamwork. Ontario is growing fast, and as it does, the Greenbelt becomes even more essential. The Greenbelt is not just a stretch of protected land; it’s a living, breathing system that supports communities, sustains agriculture, and provides spaces to connect with nature. From supporting agriculture, safeguarding our waters systems to providing spaces for recreation and boosting local tourism, a thriving Greenbelt makes all of Ontario stronger. Let’s dive into some of the year’s highlights and see how together, we’re shaping a brighter future. 

Pelham Greenbelt Natural Asset Management Project Highlights Importance of Nature Connectivity in Ontario. 

Written by Emily Sharma, Communications and Engagement Advisor with the Natural Assets Initiative. 

A recent project in the Town of Pelham, Ontario, reveals how much communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region rely on nature, especially the intact ecosystems that make up Ontario’s Greenbelt, to provide essential community services such as clean water, temperature regulation and flood control.

In a first-of-its-kind study for the Town of Pelham, Council and residents understand the significant contribution - over $585 million – local forests and wetlands provide directly to the community in stormwater management and flood control services.

The Pelham Greenbelt Natural Asset Management Project outlines how much it would cost to replace these services with traditional, engineered infrastructure, and develops management and financial strategies to maintain these ecosystems and services for the long-term. This approach is similar to how local governments manage traditional infrastructure assets such as roads and bridges. In fact, Ontario’s regulation overseeing the management of municipal infrastructure requires the inclusion of nature-based services and related ‘natural assets’ in local plans.

Ontario’s leadership in requiring municipalities to recognize core services provided by nature is a sustainable, cost-effect and climate resilient approach to building communities. It also helps governments appreciate the tremendous value of the Greenbelt and we are excited about the work the Town of Pelham has done, the smallest community in the region to complete such as detailed study.

Women in Agriculture: The Making of a Series 

  October 31, 2024

 Written by Claire Foran, Videographer 

Growing up, I spent countless weekends on my grandparents' hobby farm in rural Ontario, observing the world of agriculture. I watched crops being harvested, tractors navigating the highways, and farmers’ markets brimming with local produce. I often associated this industry solely with the role of a farmer, even dreaming of becoming one myself.