Clear-cutting effects on components of the carbon balance in a bilberry-type pine forest in southern Karelia

A study on the Virgin Komi Forests reveals that clear-cutting significantly alters the carbon balance of bilberry-type pine forests. The research found that photosynthetic CO2 uptake by deciduous species (such as silver birch and aspen) was 6–10 times higher than their dark respiration in regenerating clear-cut areas, compared to 3–6 times under mature forest canopies. This suggests that young deciduous trees play a crucial role in carbon sequestration post-clear-cutting. The study also highlighted the contribution of soil emissions to atmospheric CO2 flux, which was slightly lower in clear-cut areas (4.6 µmol/m²·s) than under mature stands (5.9 µmol/m²·s). Conducted over three warm seasons (2017–2019), the research underscores the importance of intra-seasonal variability in carbon exchange dynamics, providing critical insights for managing forest ecosystems and their carbon sequestration potential.

Придача, В.Б., & Семин, Д.Е. (2024). Clear-cutting effects on components of the carbon balance in a bilberry-type pine forest in southern Karelia. Ecosystem Transformation, 7(3(26)), 64–83. https://doi.org/10.23859/estr-230505