Greenbelt Lands Maintenance Management Services

The National Capital Greenbelt consists of 20,000 hectares of green spaces, including farms, forests, wetlands and federal institutions that extend from Shirley’s Bay in the west to Carlsbad Springs in the east. It is a well-recognized landmark of the Capital, managed by the NCC in accordance with the Greenbelt Master Plan.

In the Greenbelt, Capital residents and visitors can learn about the natural environment and participate in recreational activities year round.

The Greenbelt offers a range of outdoor recreation and learning opportunities and provides a unique rural setting for the Capital. Over 175 kilometres of hiking trails and over 35 kilometres of recreational pathways have been developed in the Greenbelt for skiing, snowshoeing, running, hiking, cycling and bird watching. The Greenbelt Pathway is currently under development as a new addition to the Capital Pathways recreational pathway network. Sections of the Rideau Trail (Ottawa to Kingston) and the Trans Canada Trail (across Canada) are also located in the Greenbelt.

The Greenbelt has three important wetlands: Shirley’s Bay, Stony Swamp, and the Mer Bleue bog. Mer Bleue has been designated an internationally significant wetland under the United Nations Ramsar Convention. With more than 3,500,000 visits annually, the NCC is committed to protect the Greenbelt and ensure its sustainability for present and future generations.

The NCC has also entered into agreements with various partners to manage other NCC property in the Greenbelt including:

• Long-term commercial leases, including golf courses, technology complexes, etc.;
• Various agricultural leases (over 70 active farms);
• Various agreements with non-profit organizations or other public agencies related to recreational facilities and activities (e.g. cross-country skiing in Mer Bleue and the Western Greenbelt); and
• Many residential leases managed through another contract.

  In view of the large number of visitors who use this important natural space each year, Greenbelt development and management must contribute to public understanding of the importance of Canada’s natural environment.

The Greenbelt’s maintenance services must therefore endeavour to comply with conservation, public safety, public awareness and quality service principles.

The Contractor must be prepared to take special precautions and consider alternate methods when working in sensitive areas to minimize impacts on the natural environment and Greenbelt users. The need to work efficiently must be balanced with environmental considerations at all times.