In a solemn afternoon with Rovers already relegated neither side seemed to come out of first gear in a less than entertaining match.
Rovers came close to taking the lead after three minutes, Lewis Haldane shot on the turn, but Canvey keeper Danny Potter did well to parry the ball away.
Twelve minutes later Michael Green's cross was flicked on by Robert Gill with Stuart Roberts' first-time drive dipping just over the crossbar.
In the 22nd minute a dreadful mistake allowed Canvey to break the deadlock which summed up Rovers season, Damon Searle gave the ball away in defence and the ball was played through for Neil Gregory whose shot was blocked but Jeff Minton headed the loose ball into the right-hand corner.
Eleven minutes before half-time Forest Green were back on level terms, Andy Harris' stinging long-range shot was dropped by Potter and Searle fired in the loose ball to make amends for his earlier mistake.
The second half was a drab affair with Canvey looking the more likely to score, however Rovers looked to have snatched the points three minutes from the end with Harris firing in from close range.
But the win which would have suited Rovers final bow out of the Conference did not come with Canvey's Mario Noto firing a rocket into the back of the net deep into injury time.