Deforestation due to agricultural activities is a common
practice in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. One way to accelerate natural
succession in abandoned lands is by planting native tree species
that attract animals. This can bring animal-dispersed seeds from
the primary forest into the pasture. To evaluate the effect of
the dispersal syndrome of planted species on the recruitment of
seedlings in agricultural landscapes, twenty-four 30x30m cattle
exclusions were established in 12 ha of active pastures. Eight
exclusions were planted with 12 wind-dispersed species, and
eight with animal-dispersed species (3 pioneers and 9 non-
pioneers); the rest of the exclusions were not planted. Three
censuses have been conducted for an initial assessment of
background immigration before the planted trees reach maturity.
In June 2007, one subplot (12x12m) of each of the 24 exclusions
was evaluated. Results/Conclusions Eighteen woody species were
recruited with a density of 0.03 seedlings/m2, which represent
only 6% of the total richn