There are over 1000 confirmed earth and life science ANSIs totaling over 460,000 hectares in the province of Ontario; most are located on private land.
Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest
Quick Fact
Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) are areas of land and water containing natural landscapes or features that have been identified as having life science or earth science values related to protection, scientific study or education. ANSIs vary in their type and level of significance and protection.
The ANSI program seeks to identify and protect high quality representative examples of the natural landscape and features of Ontario’s natural diversity which are not already contained within regulated protected areas.
ANSIs complement the provincial parks and conservation reserves in Ontario’s protected areas system by conserving significant features through means other than regulation.
There are two kinds of ANSIs:
- Earth Science ANSIs are geological in nature and consist of some of the most significant representative examples of the bedrock, fossil and landforms in Ontario and include examples of ongoing geological processes.
- Life Science ANSIs are significant representative segments of Ontario’s biodiversity and natural landscapes including specific types of forests, valleys, prairies and wetlands, their native plants and animals and their supportive environments. They contain relatively undisturbed vegetation and landforms and their associated species and communities.
Protect your land with the Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program.
