anada is a land of vast distances and rich natural resources. Our land is used for many things: agriculture, forestry, mining, outdoor recreation (golf courses, ski slopes, etc.), parks and protected areas, and urban living, to name a few.

As our population increases, more land is needed to support more people. This growing demand leads to disagreements over how land is used. Some people view undeveloped natural areas simply as raw materials for humans to exploit. Others believe in preserving the natural environment at all costs.

Somewhere there is a balance between economic growth and a healthy, vital natural environment. The key to reaching that balance is to live sustainably, that is, to meet our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

In this section, we look at one of Canada's most important land uses – agriculture - one of the biggest threats facing agriculture – urban sprawl – and a solution to curbing urban sprawl and protecting agricultural lands and wilderness – greenbelts.