Our Mission

The Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS)works to protect the best farm lands in Canada, particularly the threatened unique tender fruit and grape lands of Niagara.

About THE PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS SOCIETY

Established in 1976, PALS is the longest standing farmland preservation group in Canada. Through research, education and advocacy  its members have raised the level of understanding Canada-wide about the need to stem the tide of development on prime farmlands across Ontario and most importantly  the  irreplaceable  and much threatened  Niagara  tender fruit lands . Since 1974 these  have dwindled from 35,000 acres to approximately 10,000 acres  with about 6,500 in production. similarly   Niagara's  well known wine-producing  grape lands, once covering 35,000 acres,  were reduced to  between  15,000  and 17,000 acres. Today, both tender fruit and grape lands are under extreme development pressures from changes to provincial planning policies. And  PALS,  whose advocacy , along with  progressive Niagara Regional planners,  has been credited  by Ontario's former lead Planner Victor Doyle, " for   ensuring that these precious Niagara tender fruit and grape lands are in the Greenbelt "  will work  hard  in the next few years to ensure  Niagara fruit lands are  permanently protected in the Greenbelt.