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Forest or shrubland structure is the spatial distribution of vegetation (live
and dead) both vertically and horizontally on the landscape. Prior to European
settlement, forests in the Sierra Nevada were characterized by heterogeneous
spatial patterns replete with individual large trees, gaps, and tree clumps of
various sizes – patterns that were shaped by recurrent fire and other
disturbances. After a century-plus of fire exclusion, timber harvesting,
agricultural development, urbanization, and other land-use practices, the
predominant trend across Californian landscapes is that they have become less
resilient to natural and human-caused disturbances. In many cases some sort of
restoration treatment may be necessary to reverse these trends.

The Forest and Shrubland Structure Element is described by four metrics in the
RRK: large tree density, canopy layer count, canopy vegetation height, and
canopy vegetation cover. One metric was selected to represent resilience for
the forest and shrubland structure element: large tree density (indicated by
an asterisk). Condition scores range from +1 to -1 representing more favorable
to less favorable conditions, respectively. The Element condition score is the
same as the large tree density.

* Metric Name: Element representation: Structure   

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

* Translation: Where is forest and shrubland structure most resilient?