Harvesting Of Old-Growth Boreal Forest Decrease Soil Carbon Stock

• Main Author: Lundmark, Tomas
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Morressier 2017
• Subjects: envir; geo; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.26226/morressier.5d5fdb2aea7c83e515cbf5c1; https://openresearchlibrary.org/ext/api/media/c7ada190-92b4-4277-9406-bd5400d4eacd/assets/external_content.pdf; https://openresearchlibrary.org/viewer/c7ada190-92b4-4277-9406-bd5400d4eacd

The boreal forest is a vast region, consisting of diverse ecosystem types with different carbon dynamics and vulnerability to climate change, exposed to various intensities of forest management. There are large uncertainties among scientists on the contribution of boreal forest management to climate change mitigation, and disagreements among stakeholders whether bio-economy or conservation is the winning concept. The most appropriate mitigation actions will be decided by current forest conditions and climate change impacts, socio-economic state and regional policy for mitigation actions. Therefore, mitigation strategies need to be adapted to regional conditions to meet objectives regarding carbon as well as other forest management objectives. This study focus on the effects on soil carbon in old-growth boreal forests in northern Sweden after a first regeneration cut. This was done by empirically quantifying soil carbon stock in the humus layer and down to 20 cm in the mineral soil at 14 paired sites of adjacent old-growth and younger stands. The younger stands had been established after clear cutting of old-growth forests similar to the one at the adjacent site 15-55 years ago. Results indicate a reduction of soil carbon after a final harvest. This temporary or permanent carbon debt needs to be considered when assessing the climate benefit of turning old growth forests into managed forests.