A decade of diversity and forest structure: Post-logging patterns across life stages in an Afrotropical forest

• Low-intensity selective logging had negligible effects on basal area. Recently logged (one year since logging) forests more heterogeneous canopy openness. Older (ten years slightly higher sapling diversity. relative liana abundances. Liana removal techniques may be the most effective option for management improvement. Tropical are under threat of increasing pressure from income-generating land uses. Selective is a compromise that allows use while leaving much forest intact across landscape. However, ecological impacts unclear, with evidence positive, negative, and structure We examined impact diversity evergreen tropical in Monts de Cristal region, chain mid-elevation hills northwestern Gabon. For three size classes (seedling, sapling, adult) woody plant species, we tested whether (canopy openness, stem density, area, abundances) were altered been one ten prior, compared to unlogged forest. In general, found no large treatment adult communities, but seedling communities affected. Compared forest, one-year post-logging greater variation openness lower density. Ten-year species evenness, diversity, abundance sapling-sized lianas Our results show key differences between selectively persist understory at least decade after logging. Overall, these contribute an additional data point literature logging, specifically representing very low Central African forests. study highlights value exploring multiple time periods recovery, makes important contribution knowledge managed