The effects of forest management on the structure and the understorey vegetation of deciduous forests of the lowlands of Northern Germany is considered under two main topics: - the development of the structure of natural forest reserves (beech forests) in dependency on the duration of the abandonment of forest management, shown on the basis of texture maps; - effects of forest management and soil conditions on the species composition of the herb layer of deciduous forests (Querco-Fagetea). In forest stands which are undisturbed by exogenous influences (e.g. forest management, fire, blow downs) over an adequate period of time the area occupied by different stages of development (e.g. optimal phase, terminal phase) shows a more or less distinct correlation to the duration of each of these stages of development ...