What is a natural community?
A natural community is a group of interacting plant and animal populations that share a common environment. It is distinguished by three characteristics:
each community has a definite plant species composition;each community has a consistent physical structure, such as a grassland, shrubland, or forest;each community has specific physical conditions, such as climate, nutrients, and drainage. Although no two examples are exactly the same, natural communities can, and should, be identified and classified.
The natural communities of Massachusetts
Massachusetts' natural communities have been classified and described by the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Their system, that standard for the state, recognizes 105 communities.Unfortunately, many conservationists are unaware of this classification, and even fewer know how to identify natural communities in the field.
The importance of identifying natural communities
There are four main reasons why conservationists should be able to identify the natural communities of Massachusetts. Communication - By using common terminology, land managers, ecologists, and others may communicate more effectively and reach sound management decisions. Distribution - Information on natural communities helps identify the likely distribution of plants and animals on a property. Conservation - Biodiversity conservation requires the protection of multiple viable examples of every natural community type. Planning - Municipal open space and recreation plans must include information on important plant communities that can be found in the town. 
