Greenbelt protection refers to provincial policies that restrict development in designated areas surrounding urban regions, preserving agricultural land, natural features, and rural character. Ontario's Greenbelt, created in 2005 and expanded since, protects nearly two million acres around the Greater Golden Horseshoe from urban development. Similar policies exist in other provinces. Greenbelt rationales include: preserving farmland for food production, protecting water resources and ecosystems, preventing urban sprawl, maintaining distinct communities rather than continuous urbanization, and providing recreational green space accessible to urban residents. Greenbelt policies are politically contentious—developers and some municipalities argue they constrain housing supply and drive up prices, while environmentalists and farmers advocate for stronger protections. Recent controversies in Ontario over proposed Greenbelt removals highlight ongoing tensions between development pressure and conservation goals.