The relatively slow recovery of species richness in our site compared
with the proximate mature forests reflects limited availability of propagules
(seeds, live stumps or roots) that are crucial to initiate the succession process
on swidden fallows (Schmidt-Vogt, 2001).
Most of the species found in fallows are represented by few
individuals while few species are dominant. The dominant species,
e.g. M. laccifera and P. dasyrachis, are prolific sprouters that can
establish easily compared with seed-origin individuals. Likewise
the stem density for commercial timber species recovered rapidly
compared to their species richness and basal area.