The latter are sites that the Ministry of Natural Resources has "identified and recommended for protection", but have not yet been formally confirmed,[2] and were previously referred to as nominated ANSIs.
[7] An Earth Science area is one in which the representative feature was created by geologic processes and consists of the physical elements of a natural landscape, such as the bedrock, landforms, and fossils.
[2] Current ANSI identification is based on ecoregions and ecodistricts, and finer resolution is used to determine particular features and areas, such as a landform.
[4] The final criterion is consideration for other characteristics, such as the presence of species at risk, unique or important local habitats, atypical features, and its value as an educational or scientific resource.
[9] Confirmation of the site as an ANSI requires notification of affected parties, such as landowners and municipal planning departments, and obtaining approval for the designation.
[14] Municipalities may define adjacent lands to exclude some of these areas, but the development plans must "demonstrate that no negative impacts on the natural features or their ecological functions will occur".
[17] In the Mixedwood Plains ecozone of Southern Ontario, most land is privately owned and hence cannot be protected as a provincial park, nature reserve, or conservation area.