Comments on Soimakallio et al. (2022) Closing an open balance: The impact of increased tree harvest on forest carbon

Soimakallio et al. (2022) reviewed literature to draw leveraged conclusions on how forest carbon balances are affected by increased harvest rates. The conclusions are based on a carbon balance indicator that is not transparent and loses information when averaged over multiple factors. While potentially useful for comparing fossil fuel displacement by wood in alternative harvest scenarios of a given forest resource, the indicator should not be used to compare scenarios based on different forest and forestry conditions.

Automated summary

Soimakallio et al. (2022) conducted a literature review to examine the impact of increased harvest rates on forest carbon balances. The study found that the carbon balance indicator used in the analysis is not transparent and loses information when averaged across multiple factors. While it may be useful for comparing fossil fuel displacement by wood in alternative harvest scenarios of a specific forest resource, it should not be used to compare scenarios based on different forest and forestry conditions.