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# Black ash wetlands lost carbon after both borer-like dieoff and intervention
- URL: https://intelligence.wildlandseco.com/2026-10-30-black-ash-wetland-carbon-after-borer-and-management/
- Published: 2026-10-30T13:27:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T13:27:23.000Z
- Description: A 12-year Minnesota experiment separates immediate carbon accounting from the long task of replacing an ash canopy.
- Author: Benjamin Worlund
- Tags: ash-mortality, forest-carbon, canopy-transition, Land, Climate, Wildlife, #ecological-intelligence, #brief-2026-10-30, #priority-read, #peer-reviewed, #geo-north-america, #edition-lead

Evidence

Peer-reviewed

Geography

Northern Minnesota, USA

System

Black ash wetland forest; pest disturbance; carbon stocks

## WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS

Across experimental black ash wetlands, scientists compared undisturbed controls with girdling as a proxy for emerald ash borer mortality, clearcuts and group selection of about one-fifth of canopy. Twelve years later, all treatments contained less total ecosystem carbon than controls, with the greatest loss after clearcutting. Girdled sites held about 22% less total carbon and substantial decomposing deadwood. Soil-carbon differences were variable and not statistically detected.

## WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ

The carbon outcome depends on living biomass, stored deadwood, regeneration and time. Neither leaving ash to die nor removing it automatically substitutes for establishing a healthy successor canopy; compare management options with long-term carbon and habitat objectives.

## CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY

Girdling imitates tree mortality but not every mechanism of an actual borer outbreak. The 12-year experiment does not determine eventual soil-carbon trajectories or establish one universal harvesting prescription.

## SOURCE

Ecosystems — Clark et al., 29 October 2026  
[View original evidence ↗](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-026-01120-9?ref=intelligence.wildlandseco.com)

From the Morning Brief · 2026-10-30

[Read the full Morning Brief →](https://intelligence.wildlandseco.com/morning-brief-2026-10-30/)