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Understanding How Site Factors Shape Forests

NRTG’s MicroCourses provide flexible, practical training designed to deepen your understanding of real-world forest ecosystems. Understanding How Site Factors Shape Forests explores the powerful role that site conditions play in determining which tree species, and forest types grow where. 

Forest vegetation is not random. This foundational concept is key to understanding why different forests occur across the landscape. From broad-scale influences like climate and forest region to local site conditions such as soils, geology, and topography, this course introduces the full range of biophysical factors that shape forest composition and structure. 

Through practical examples, learners will explore how these site factors influence forest development over time, including the concept of climax forest communities (Potential Natural Vegetation). The course also introduces forest ecosites and classification methods used to link forest types to the conditions that support them. 

This course provides a strong foundation for further study in forest health, site recognition, and disturbance ecology. It is ideal for technicians, biologists, land managers, woodlot owners, and outdoor enthusiasts who want to better understand the “why” behind forest patterns on the landscape. 

Learners unfamiliar with forest tree species or structure are encouraged to complete the Applied Tree Identification and Introduction to Forest Composition and Structure MicroCourses prior to taking this module. 

Key Learning Outcomes: 

  • Understand the concept of a forest ecosite 
  • Identify the biophysical factors that influence forest composition and growth 
  • Explore the concept of ecological amplitude—why tree species don’t grow just anywhere 
  • Learn what climax forests are and how site factors influence them 
  • Examine methods for classifying forests based on site conditions 
  • Build transferable skills to support further learning in forest health, site factors, and dynamics 

Format: 2 x 2-hour sessions

Instructor Profile 

Scott Maston BScF, RPF 

Hi, I’m Scott Maston, a Registered Professional Forester.  I was born and raised in Nova Scotia, later attending the University of New Brunswick and obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry (Forest/Wildlife Management) with Honours in 1987.   

Since then I have spent most of my nearly 40 years career working  in Nova Scotia in several roles: with woodlot owners’ groups, as a business owner and forester of a consulting and contracting company, a forest ecosystem research professional for the provincial government , and most recently with a not-for-profit group that administers province-wide silviculture and woodlot management assistance and training programs.  

My core professional assets include:  

  • Forest management/silviculture planning and operations, 
  • Forest management/silviculture certification and auditing, 
  • Forest ecosystem classification, ecosystem and natural disturbance research, 
  • Landscape-level planning (strategic planning processes and implementation/evaluation procedures),   
  • Applying research to practical operational procedures for both ecosystem-based management and intensive management regimes, 
  • Professional and technical training. 

I love to travel and use it to broaden my love and understanding of forest ecosystems and dynamic processes. 

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