a metaanalysis of effects on soil carbon stocks after harvesting in temperate forests showed that harvesting resulted in decreased carbon stocks of the soil horizon but found no effect for the mineral soil nave et al similar reductions in soil carbon stocks have also been found by studies from boreal forests kolari et al the finding by de wit kvindesland that soil carbon stocks increase with the stand development class related to stand age indicate that soil carbon stocks are not back to their former size within a few decades after harvesting but continue to increase cf also figure studies looking at the effect of changing harvesting rotation length also mostly support the hypothesis that soil carbon is depressed after harvesting for a long time however modelling studies liski et al overall effects of harvesting regime on the input of litter and coarse woody debris will be more important for soil carbon stocks than changes in decomposition rates