The growing deforestation of tropical forests requires the implementation of restoration actions capable of assisting the recovery of biodiversity and the functioning of these ecosystems. This research aimed to identify the environmental factors that influence the abundance and diversity of woody plant recruitment in an Andean forest restoration project in Medellin (Colombia). Data from woody plant individuals taller than 80 cm were collected in 22 plots of 200·m⁻². The environmental factors selected were edaphic variables, plantation structure, slope, elevation, prior land use, and landscape forest cover. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyze recruitment densit and Linear Mixed Models (LMM) to assess recruited species richness, diversity, and dominance. Woody plant recruitment attributes in our study area were similar to those of secondary succession in an Andean forest, but planted trees contributed little to recruitment density and diversity. While recruitment density was affected by slope, canopy closure, and landscape forest cover, recruitment diversity was influenced by physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, aluminum, Cation Exchange Capacity) edaphic factors, planted tree diversity (species richness and composition), canopy closure, and the mortality rate of planted trees. We conclude that sites with lower mortality rates of planted trees and denser canopies enhance both recruitment density and diversity, indicating a synergy between active restoration and passive regeneration processes.

The growing deforestation of tropical forests requires the implementation of restoration actions capable of assisting the recovery of biodiversity and functioning of these ecosystems. This research aimed to identify the environmental factors that influence woody plant recruitment abundance and diversity in an Andean forest restoration project in Medellin (Colombia). Data from all individuals taller than 80 cm was collected in 22 plots of 200 m2. The environmental factors selected were edaphic variables, plantation structure, slope, elevation, prior land use and landscape forest cover. A generalized linear model was adjusted for recruitment density, and linear mixed models were built for recruited species richness, diversity and dominance. Woody plant recruitment attributes in our study area were similar to a typical secondary succession in an Andean forest, but planted trees contributed little to these attributes. While recruitment density was affected by slope, canopy closure and landscape forest cover, recruitment diversity was influenced by physical (bulk density) and chemical (pH, aluminum, CEC) edaphic factors, planted trees diversity (species richness and composition), canopy closure and mortality rate of planted trees. We conclude that a good development of planted trees enhances both recruitment attributes, indicating a synergy between active restoration and passive regeneration processes.