what is the greenbelt ontario

The Greenbelt is a protected area of land in Southern Ontario, Canada, that includes green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds). It was created by legislation passed by the Government of Ontario in 2005 to prevent urban development and sprawl on environmentally sensitive land in the province). The Greenbelt is considered the worlds largest greenbelt, protecting farmland, forests, wetlands, rivers, and lakes, and it covers 2 million acres of land). The Greenbelt safeguards the vital resources that clean our air and water, reduces our flood risks, provides a home for wildlife, and ensures our communities have greenspace to explore. It includes 721,000 acres of protected wetlands, grasslands, and forests, and farmland makes up 40% of the protected Greenbelt, including rare specialty crop). The Greenbelt is also home to many of Ontario’s vibrant rural communities and natural heritage attractions and provides 177,700 full-time jobs and $9.6 billion in economic impact every year.