by Matteo Cavallito<\/p>\n
Protecting the organic layer<\/strong> covering forest soils helps preserve their carbon<\/strong> even after trees are harvested. Removing it, by contrast, causes substantial losses<\/strong> that can persist for many years. This is the main finding of a study published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences<\/em>, based on twenty years of observations at twelve forest sites in British Columbia, Canada.<\/p>\n The research shows that the effects of timber harvesting depend on harvesting practices<\/strong> and how well the soil surface is protected. \u201cProtecting the forest floor from additional harvest disturbance resulted in minimal impact on soil carbon pools\u201d, the authors write<\/a>. When this cover remains intact, soil carbon stocks remain relatively stable<\/strong> even after two decades.<\/p>\n