Ontario’s Wealth, Canada’s Future: Appreciating the Value of the Greenbelt’s Eco-Services

Published by: David Suzuki Foundation
Authored by: Sara Wilson
ISBN: 978-1-897375-17-4

Biodiversity, Cities Ontario, eco-assets, conservation, species at risk, agriculture, economics, natural capital, forests

Ontario’s Wealth, Canada’s Future: Appreciating the Value of the Greenbelt’s Eco-Services quantifies the value of the ecosystem services provided by Ontario’s Greenbelt — such as water filtration, flood control, climate stabilization (i.e., carbon storage), waste treatment, wildlife habitat and recreation.

The findings show that the Greenbelt offers $2.7 billion worth of non-market ecological services to the province each year, an average value of $3,571 per hectare annually.

Covering just over 1.8 million acres, the Greenbelt includes green space, farmland, communities, forests, wetlands and watersheds, including habitat for more than one-third of Ontario’s species at risk.

Ontario’s Wealth, Canada’s Future was made in collaboration with the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.