We attempted to perform an integrated study of the
factors controlling forest herb colonization during secondary
forest succession in a recently reforested valley
landscape dominated by relatively simple structured
poplar plantations. It has long been recognized that
past agricultural land use can have multiple, but very
often correlated, effects on the recolonization of forest
herbs. However, for the first time, a formalized framework
is proposed that quantifies the relative importance
of its direct and indirect effects.