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Sierra forests evolved with a suite of frequent disturbances: wildfires (both
from lightning and burning by indigenous people), bark beetle-caused
mortality, drought-caused mortality, avalanches, landslides, and windthrow,
all of which created forest heterogeneity across the landscape. This
heterogeneity included variations in surface and ladder fuels, which moderated
fire behavior and spread. The variations in stand density and forest opening
also served as critical habitats for wildlife. Forested areas are now more
homogeneous due to lack of disturbance. The lack of disturbance is evident in
the forest structure.

The Disturbance Element is described in the RRK by six metrics: cumulative
tree cover loss, cumulative shrub cover lost, risk of tree dieoff during
drought, potential climate refugia baseline, MIROC, and MIROC and CNRM-CM5.
Condition scores for this Element were represented by a single metric, risk of
tree dieoff during drought (indicated by asterisk).

* Metric Name: Element representation: Disturbance   

* Unit Of Measure: Condition score, +1 t -1  

* Translation: Where is forest and shrubland disturbance processes resilient?