In 1984, 38 sites were identified as critical natural areas in a study by the identification sub-committee of Carolinian Canada. These sites total 40,800 acres hectares in area. Since 1984, conservation efforts in Carolinian Canada have been directed towards securing these sites through a number of mechanisms that included purchase, municipal designation, landowner contact and private stewardship, and education and public awareness.

A land acquisition and stewardship program from 1987-1992 secured over 15,000 acres through voluntary agreements with landowners. This landowner contact program was an innovative, ground-breaking program that spawned many subsequent such initiatives. A further ~2,000 acres was purchased for conservation. Today a total of 14,500 acres of the sites is owned by conservation groups. These sites are managed by different conservation organizations and by private landowners for conservation purposes.

Under a new Community Marking Program, Carolinian Canada is honouring efforts to conserve these sites by placing permanent plaques to celebrate these conservation efforts.

Carolinian Canada is celebrating conservation efforts at many of the 38 Carolinian Canada sites by erecting distinctive permanent plaques at these locations. The Carolinian Canada sites were identified for their natural values but it is really thanks to human efforts that these sites have persisted. Through this Community Marking Project we are honouring people who have protected this legacy and providing an enduring reminder of conservation success.

Through the Big Picture Project Carolinian Canada has adopted a new conservation vision of an integrated natural heritage network that connects and enhances these islands of green.

1. Rouge River Valley
2. Iroquois Shoreline Woods
3. Sassafras Woods
4. Beverly Swamp
5. Dundas Valley
6. Grimsby-Winona Escarpment and Beamer Valley
7. Jordan Escarpment Valley
8. Caistor-Canborough Slough Forest
9. Fonthill Sandhill Valley
10. Willoughby Clay Plain
11. Point Abino Peninsula Sandland Forest
12. Sudden Bog
13. Grand River Valley Forests and Spotiswood Lakes
14. Six Nations Forests
15. Embro Upland Forest
16. Oriskany Sandstone and Woodlands
17. Delhi Big Creek Valley
18. St.Williams Dwarf Oak Forest
19. Big Creek Valley - South Walsingham Sand Ridges

20. Dorchester Swamp
21. Skunk's Misery
22. Catfish Creek Slope and Floodplain Forest
23. Port Franks Wetlands and Forested Dunes
24. Ausable River Valley
25. Plum Creek Upland Woodlots
26. Shetland Kentucky Coffeetree Woods
27. Sydenham River Corridor
28. Walpole Island
29. Lake St. Clair Marshes
30. Sinclair's Bush
31. Ojibway Prairie Remnants
32. Canard River Kentucky Coffee-tree Woods
33. Big Creek Marsh
34. Oxley Poison Sumac Marsh
35. Cedar Creek
36. Middle Point Woods
37. Stone Road Alvar
38. Middle Island