Ecological Responses of African Natural Forests to Different Management Practices: A Systematic Review

African natural forests are critical reservoirs of biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, soil fertility, and water regulation. These forests face increasing threats from deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction, and climate change. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on how different forest management practices influence ecological responses across African natural forests. Using structured searches in Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, studies from 2000 to 2025 were screened. Results indicate that participatory and community-based management often enhances biodiversity, forest structure, and regeneration compared to unmanaged or state-managed forests. However, effectiveness is mediated by governance quality, socio-economic contexts, and environmental gradients. The review also highlights research gaps, including underrepresented dryland forests, long-term monitoring, and functional ecological indicators such as soil microbial communities. These findings emphasize the importance of adaptive, context-specific management strategies that balance conservation and livelihoods across Africa’s diverse forest ecosystems.