Natural disturbances serve as a driver of change, creating complexity and heterogeneity across the landscape. Ecological patterns and processes that arise from the impacts of disturbance determine the plant and animal species a landscape supports and the ecosystem services it provides. These disturbances are a natural part of the landscape, and are important ecological processes. However, when disturbances occur more frequently, less frequently or at significantly different intensities than historically, negative impacts can be seen within the affected landscapes. These impacts, which can affect large areas, include loss of forests and biodiversity. A growing body of research is focusing on areas within ecosystems that are less impacted by disturbance. These disturbance refugia are patches within a landscape that are disturbed less frequently than surrounding areas; they can occur under various conditions, in various locations, and may persist at different timescales.