Litter decomposition is coupled to carbon (C) sequestration through C release to the atmosphere, C transformation and nutrient release to the soil. We investigated if clear-cutting has long-term effects on this vital ecological process and consequently on C dynamics in boreal forests using twelve pairs of previously clear-cut and near-natural forests. This study is part of the EcoForest project: https://ecoforest.no/. This dataset contains data on three decomposition experiments in 12 pairs of forests in South-Eastern Norway. The forests were paired across harvesting history to consist of one previously clear-cut forest and one near-natural forest i.e. never clear-cut.

The litter used in the three experiments were: (I) plant leaf litter, (II) fungal necromass, (III) tea (Tea Bag Index).