Organization: The Greenbelt Foundation

Year of publication: 2019

Type of green infrastructure: Natural Infrastructure

Type of benefit(s): Economic

Summary: The Greenbelt Foundation, in association with the Greenbelt Golden Horseshoe Conservation Authorities Collaborative (GGH CAC), contracted Anielski Management Inc. to develop an economic case for three natural infrastructure projects within the Greenbelt region. The results of the economic case analyses are intended to provide a socio-economic rationale for decision-makers and fundraising efforts for the projects and demonstrate the value of cost-benefit analyses for natural infrastructure projects.

This report has three main purposes:
1.  To identify an appropriate methodology for developing business/economic cases that incorporate costs and benefits of ecological restoration projects as investments in natural infrastructure;
2. To apply the selected methodology to three restoration projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, and;
3.  To document the necessary information required to build business cases for future ecological restoration projects.

The three restoration projects analyzed were:
1. Hamilton Conservation Authority's Saltfleet Conservation Area
2. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority's Brock Lands Restoration Project
3. Kawartha Conservation Authority's Lake Scugog Enhancement Project

Link: GB_EconomicCase_REPORT_e-ver.pdf 3 MB