Understanding how environmental factors influence the growth of secondary forests is crucial for successful afforestation and vegetation restoration. In the southern Taihang Mountains, researchers studied 24 quadrats of natural secondary forest. They found that factors like elevation, soil nutrients, and water gradients significantly impact forest diversity. Topography, especially elevation and slope, plays a bigger role in forest assembly than soil composition. Different environmental factors affect species diversity in various ways. The vegetation in the southern region differs from the central region, indicating early-stage vegetation restoration. To effectively restore and conserve vegetation in this area, attention should be paid to the terrain, particularly elevation and slope.