Tropical deciduous forest is highly threatened and transformed by agricultural activities in Chiapas; however, little is known about its successional dynamics and regeneration potential. The objective of this research was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of secondary forests through changes in richness, diversity, composition, and structure in a forest reserve in the Central Depression of Chiapas. Twenty sampling units (SU) of 1,000 m² were established in forests with different ages of abandonment (C10, C19, C35 and >C40, representing 10 years, 19 years, 35 years and 40 years, respectively), in which all individuals ≥5 cm normal diameter (ND) were measured. Attributes of structure and diversity were compared in each condition by analysis of variance and Tukey mean comparison test (p < 0.05) and floristic composition by ordination and classification analysis. A total of 142 species grouped in 96 genera and 41 families were recorded. Leguminosae was the family with the most species and individuals. The species with the highest relative abundances were Montanoa tomentosa (5.1%) and Tecoma stans (5%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in cumulative richness, diversity (Shannon-Weiner H’ and 1D), density of individuals (ind ha^-1), maximum height (m), basal area (m² ha^-1) and aboveground biomass (Mg ha^-1). The multivariate analysis of variance procedure with permutations indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in species composition between early (C10 and C19) and later (C35–C40) conditions. It was concluded that the structure and floristic composition of the secondary forest is recovering slowly (low resilience), so it is necessary to implement activities conducive to its conservation in the short term.

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