That pic is kinda inaccurate. Lichen are indicators of all levels of succession, depending on the species. Many lichen here on the west coast only grow in old growth forests; you can also generally tell how remote an area is by the abundance of lichen, as they are quick to die from pollution from cars etc. I think in most places conifers follow hardwoods, as the former are quicker to grow and die generally.
I don't know if you can really "quick start" such a thing as succession. Maybe you can superficially add species we associate with succession, like trees, but the whole process is a lot more complicated and nuanced. Not that those things hurt per se.
The best thing you can do for forest succession is kill lumber CEOs.
