Forest soil is the main source of atmospheric CO_2. Human disturbance (fertilization, cutting, burning, undergrowth management and land use change) would react on soil properties and soil micro climate, and thus significantly affect the production and CO_2 emission of forest soil. A great deal of research on the influence of human disturbance on forest soil respiration had been accumulated. Human disturbance would stimulate, suppress, or show no effect on soil respiration, depending on forest type, soil conditions, and regional environment and climate factors. In this study, publications relevant to forest soil respiration in bibliographic databases were used. This study briefly described the influence of natural factors (soil temperature, soil moisture) and human disturbances on forest soils respiration, and then systematically explained the response of soil respiration to the human disturbances and associated mechanisms. We pointed out some urgent and key directions in future in order to provide some references and enlightenments for forest management practices under the background of climate change.