Through a partnership with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), tree health has been assessed in permanent forest biodiversity plots along the Escarpment since 1999.

Data are collected in the plots for two quadrats (two 20m x 20m squares) and submitted to CFS for analysis and incorporation into a national forest health database. The same quadrats are monitored year after year. This database allows CFS to report on and predict the health of Canadian forests.

The following data are collected during tree health assessment:

(1) Tree Status: living, recently dead, old dead, cut down

(2) Crown Mortality:

Healthy	<10% crown mortality
Light - Moderate	10-50% crown mortality
Severe Decline	50-99% crown mortality

(3) Crown Class: This is a reflection of how much sunlight reaches the crown and can be used as an indicator of stand density. Crown class can be: dominant, co-dominant, intermediate, suppressed or open grown.

(4) Stem Defects: open/closed wound, fruiting bodies, cankers, frost damage, insect or animal damage. The location of the stem defect (root collar, upper or lower bole, entire stem etc.) is also recorded.