Management practices increase the impact of roads on plant communities in forests

► Forest roads are integral component of all landscapes with forests under management. ► Road improvement with limestone gravel damaged acidophiles on road and into stands. ► Skid trails extended road edge effect on plant biodiversity up to 60 m into stands. ► Skid trails were conduits for non-forest species and removed interior forest species. ► We advocate reducing skid trail density and using road material with the same pH.