Permanent forest inventory plots have been randomly established throughout the forests of Nova Scotia. About half of the 3250 plots were established from 1965 to 1970, while the rest were established between 1998 and 2002. They measure a multitude of attributes, from woody vegetation and dead snags to merchantable trees. These plots are revisited every 5 years, which permits the capture of changes over time, for example, growth and mortality. Over 40 years of forest measurements provides a rich database for analysts to look at past and current trends.