USING LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY AND SPATIAL STATISTICS TO EXAMINE THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED REMOVALS TO NATURAL HERITAGE SYSTEM AND THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM OF ONTARIO’S GREENBELT

The 2022 proposed removals from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Southern Ontario’s Greenbelt would have resulted in negative impacts including, reductions to the size and functionality of the Agricultural System and Natural Heritage System, which are components of protected Greenbelt area. Several removal sites were located either on or in close proximity to corridor areas of the NHS, reducing connectivity and negatively impacting the surrounding ecological area. The removal of Agricultural land primarily consisted of corn and soybeans, as well as large removals of woodland, wetland, and shrubland class areas. The removal sites on local Agricultural composition and configuration were potentially disruptive to local agricultural land and functions. Recent policy revisions dictate no that land area should be removed from Greenbelt designation. The socioeconomic pressures for urban development are increasing in response to growing population and urban sprawl, therefore, to protect the integrity of the environment and agricultural system, integrated policies that encompass both environmental protection and development needs are required. Future protection of Ontario’s Greenbelt will be dictated by the provincial government; therefore, protection of NHS and Agricultural land via policy regulation is contingent on political will.