The species composition and woody standing crop was determined for two adjacent sites of contrasting management history in the eastern Transvaal Lowveld—a communal land that has been subject to wood harvesting for several decades and an adjacent unharvested site. Results indicated a significant loss of species richness in the harvested site. Total woody standing crop was little altered despite the long history of harvesting pressure. However, the amount of dead wood was significantly reduced in the harvested site. No adverse effects of such biomass removal were detected. Harvesters actively selected or avoided particular species and size classes.