The National Capital Greenbelt
Overview
The National Capital Greenbelt is an essential mosaic of natural habitats, protectively encircling the southern outskirts of Ottawa. Established in the 1950s and mostly owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC), it spans over 20,000 hectares of biodiverse ecosystems such as forests, alvars, sand dunes and peat bogs and is home to over 60 at-risk species. The Greenbelt also provides rich and productive farmland that helps feed the region while also being an accessible place for the local community to relax and connect with nature.
Unfortunately, the National Capital Greenbelt remains largely unprotected and is therefore under threat of encroachment from roadways and urban and industrial development. It is crucial for both nature and the community that this area is given the protection it deserves which is why CPAWS-OV is working with local partners and stakeholders, including indigenous groups, to secure a future for the Greenbelt.
We acknowledge that the greenbelt is located on unceded Algonquin lands.
What we are doing about it
CPAWS OV along with our National Capital Greenbelt Committee has worked hard to collect petition signatures seeking National Urban Park status for the green belt. This petition has been submitted and we have been informed that other urban green spaces will be taking priority for the time being.
We will continue to advocate for National Urban Park status but in the meantime, we are looking to make sure the Greenbelt’s borders are protected in legislation against any threat of encroachment.
Please stay tuned for more information on how you can help while having your voice heard in the protection of this precious green space.
As we continue to work on this campaign, please read the following ministerial questions we submitted as well as the answers we received concerning national urban park status for the Greenbelt.
The Mer Bleue bog
The Mer Bleue bog is an internationally recognized wetland that is over 7,700 years old! What makes it special is much more than its impressive age. The Mer Bleu Bog is home to wildlife you would typically only find within northern boreal bogs while also providing a safe haven for regionally rare plants and birds. At Mer Bleue, you’ll spot muskrat, mink, cottontail and snowshoe hare, white-tailed deer, moose, and more. Another important feature of this impressive wetland is its role in mitigating climate change which has earned it the following national and international designations:
- A wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- A provincially significant wetland
- A provincially significant life and earth science area of natural and scientific interest
The Greenbelt is a fragile ecosystem providing vital climate change mitigation for our communities and species at risk. A 1.5°C increase in global average temperatures will put up to 30% of the world’s species at risk of extinction–and Canada has already experienced a 1.7°C increase. Mer Bleue provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for you to experience a northern boreal landscape within minutes of downtown Ottawa while supporting climate action for animals and communities alike.
The Greenbelt feeds our community
As our world’s population increases, so does our communities’ need for food. Over the next 30 years, experts predict a need to increase food production by at least 70%!
A healthy and protected Greenbelt can help curb food insecurity across the Ottawa Valley by providing high quality produce with a low carbon footprint. Around 5,000 hectares of the Greenbelt is leased to farmers. By providing fertile ground for local and sustainable agriculture it can play a critical role in feeding the nearly 1.5 million people living in the region, while supporting a vibrant and culturally rich farming community.
Read our comments on the proposed Brian Coburn Boulevard extension across the Greenbelt near Mer Bleue.
Read the NCC’s Greenbelt Master Plan.