Forest soils are important carbon sinks, and their microbial communities play a key role in the stabilisation of organic matter and the provision of essential ecosystem services. This study examined soil properties and microbial activity in 54 forest plantations in Galicia (north‑west Spain) under different vegetation covers, including birch, chestnut, eucalyptus, walnut, pine, oak and shrublands. Overall, the soils were characterised by an acidic pH, high organic matter content and low phosphorus levels, conditions largely driven by the parent material and the region’s humid climate. Soil moisture varied among vegetation types, with the lowest values recorded under eucalyptus and birch plantations and the highest under shrublands. Microbial and enzyme activity also differed according to tree species: soils under walnut showed the highest respiration rates, while the lowest were observed under eucalyptus. No significant differences were found in β‑glucosidase activity. These findings highlight that forest management practices, particularly tree species selection, influence soil microbial respiration and should be considered in forest planning. This is especially relevant under current climate change scenarios, where the capacity of healthy forest soils to sequester carbon is increasingly critical.