Ontario Natural Heritage System Boundaries for Provincial Plans

Boundary data for systems of natural heritage features and areas in Ontario, supporting ecological connectivity. The dataset is produced by the Government of Ontario and includes areas defined in provincial plans like the Greenbelt Plan and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan. It was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial overlap between natural heritage system boundaries and land development proposals using the geospatial features.
• Model ecological corridors by assessing connectivity between defined natural heritage areas.
• Assess compliance of regional plans with provincial conservation frameworks like the Greenbelt Plan.
• Visualize the extent of protected natural heritage systems for public engagement and reporting.

Strengths

• Includes boundaries from multiple authoritative provincial plans, ensuring policy relevance.
• Data is current, with a last update recorded in March 2026.

Limitations

• Dataset excludes modifications made by municipal governments, limiting local accuracy.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, hindering initial assessment of scope.

Provenance

Source

Government of Ontario

Collection Method

Defined by provincial land-use and conservation plans.

Freshness

Updated as of March 2026.

Geography

Ontario, Canada, specifically the Greater Golden Horseshoe and other plan areas.