This study examines the impact of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forest management on mammal biodiversity in western equatorial Africa. Using 1.3 million camera-trap photos from 55 mammal species across 14 logging concessions, the research finds that FSC-certified concessions have higher encounter rates and biomass of mammals compared to non-FSC concessions. The effect is most pronounced for species weighing more than 10 kg and those of high conservation priority, such as the critically endangered forest elephant and western lowland gorilla. Non-FSC concessions contained proportionally more rodents and other small species. The findings suggest that FSC-certified forest management is less damaging to the mammal community than non-FSC management, providing strong evidence that FSC certification should become the norm for timber extraction to avoid forests dominated by rodents and other small species. The study also highlights the importance of maintaining unlogged forests with effective law enforcement for species protection.This study examines the impact of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forest management on mammal biodiversity in western equatorial Africa. Using 1.3 million camera-trap photos from 55 mammal species across 14 logging concessions, the research finds that FSC-certified concessions have higher encounter rates and biomass of mammals compared to non-FSC concessions. The effect is most pronounced for species weighing more than 10 kg and those of high conservation priority, such as the critically endangered forest elephant and western lowland gorilla. Non-FSC concessions contained proportionally more rodents and other small species. The findings suggest that FSC-certified forest management is less damaging to the mammal community than non-FSC management, providing strong evidence that FSC certification should become the norm for timber extraction to avoid forests dominated by rodents and other small species. The study also highlights the importance of maintaining unlogged forests with effective law enforcement for species protection.