Final answer:
Primary succession in a forest occurs when new land is formed from volcanic activity, starting with the colonization by pioneer species like lichens, which help create soil for other plants to grow.
Step-by-step explanation:
An event that would lead to the primary succession of a forest could be the formation of new land from volcanic activity, such as that occurring on the Big Island of Hawaii. During this process, lava flows into the ocean, cools, and hardens to form new land. At this stage, there is no soil or life from previous ecosystems, and so the first organisms to inhabit this new land are pioneer species, such as lichens and certain hardy plants. These pioneer species play a crucial role in breaking down the mineral-rich substrate to create soil in which other species can take root. Over time, this area will experience a succession of different plant communities, evolving from simple pioneer species to more complex forests.