Effects of Ips typographus (L.) and sanitation logging disturbance on organic matter decomposition and carbon in the humus layer in boreal Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. stands

Research paper

Key message 

Sanitation logging, aimed at mitigating the spread of European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) outbreaks in boreal stands, was associated with increased decomposition and loss of carbon from the humus layer, measured 10 years post-disturbance. We encourage forest managers to take such ecological side-effects into consideration when planning intervention strategies against bark beetle attacks.

Keywords 
Bark beetle; Soil organic matter; Silviculture; Boreal forest; Tree mortality

Publication 
Kosunen, M., Lyytikäinen-Saarenmaa, P. & Karhu, K. Effects of Ips typographus (L.) and sanitation logging disturbance on organic matter decomposition and carbon in the humus layer in boreal Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. stands. Annals of Forest Science (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-026-01328-8

Handling editor
Erwin Dreyer