Frugivores play a critical role in enhancing carbon recovery in fragmented landscapes by dispersing seeds that contribute to forest regeneration. In tropical forests, animals, particularly frugivores, are essential for seed dispersal, with >70% of tree species relying on them. However, the contribution of frugivores to forest recovery is limited in landscapes with <40% forest cover, as large birds, which disperse seeds of late-successional species with high carbon storage potential, have restricted movement. This reduces potential biomass in future forests by 38%. Maintaining forest cover above 40% is essential for optimizing animal contributions to restoration success. Active restoration, such as planting trees, is required in more fragmented landscapes to achieve carbon and biodiversity targets. Natural climate solutions (NCS) offer opportunities to address climate change while promoting biodiversity conservation and human well-being. Forest restoration is a key component of NCS, with the potential to remove and store around 10 GtCO₂ annually. However, forest restoration remains a complex challenge, particularly in tropical regions. Natural forest regeneration is often more ecologically responsible and cost-effective than active planting, but this is not always possible in degraded areas. Identifying where animals can contribute to natural recovery and where active management is needed is crucial for restoration ecology. Evidence suggests that animals can underpin the carbon cycle, making them vital for carbon recovery in tropical restoration projects. Seed arrival at degraded sites is a key step limiting ecological recovery in many tropical forests. Frugivorous animals are responsible for dispersing 70-90% of tree species, so their movement restrictions can hinder natural recovery. However, their contributions to seed rain vary based on animal composition, diets, traits, and movement barriers. Understanding these factors is essential for predicting frugivore-mediated seed rain in degraded regions. In the Atlantic Forest, a study quantified seed dispersal by birds and its impact on natural forest recovery across a fragmentation gradient. The study found that seed deposition and potential biomass increased nonlinearly with increasing forest cover and decreased with increasing isolation. Seed deposition and biomass were significantly reduced in landscapes with approximately 40% forest cover. The study also found that small birds dispersed more seeds, especially in highly fragmented landscapes, but primarily dispersed species with lower carbon storage capacity. Large birds, which disperse seeds of late-successional species, were more effective in promoting carbon storage but had restricted movement in fragmented landscapes. The study highlights that maintaining forest cover above 40% is crucial for restoring key ecosystem functions performed by animals, such as seed dispersal. Restoration policies should integrate this threshold to optimize restoration planning. In areas with >40% forest cover and fragments separated by <133 m, natural regeneration can be effective. However, in more fragmented areas, active restoration strategies are needed to enable forest recovery and promote carbon stock restoration. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering management strategies to restore diverse plant-frFrugivores play a critical role in enhancing carbon recovery in fragmented landscapes by dispersing seeds that contribute to forest regeneration. In tropical forests, animals, particularly frugivores, are essential for seed dispersal, with >70% of tree species relying on them. However, the contribution of frugivores to forest recovery is limited in landscapes with <40% forest cover, as large birds, which disperse seeds of late-successional species with high carbon storage potential, have restricted movement. This reduces potential biomass in future forests by 38%. Maintaining forest cover above 40% is essential for optimizing animal contributions to restoration success. Active restoration, such as planting trees, is required in more fragmented landscapes to achieve carbon and biodiversity targets. Natural climate solutions (NCS) offer opportunities to address climate change while promoting biodiversity conservation and human well-being. Forest restoration is a key component of NCS, with the potential to remove and store around 10 GtCO₂ annually. However, forest restoration remains a complex challenge, particularly in tropical regions. Natural forest regeneration is often more ecologically responsible and cost-effective than active planting, but this is not always possible in degraded areas. Identifying where animals can contribute to natural recovery and where active management is needed is crucial for restoration ecology. Evidence suggests that animals can underpin the carbon cycle, making them vital for carbon recovery in tropical restoration projects. Seed arrival at degraded sites is a key step limiting ecological recovery in many tropical forests. Frugivorous animals are responsible for dispersing 70-90% of tree species, so their movement restrictions can hinder natural recovery. However, their contributions to seed rain vary based on animal composition, diets, traits, and movement barriers. Understanding these factors is essential for predicting frugivore-mediated seed rain in degraded regions. In the Atlantic Forest, a study quantified seed dispersal by birds and its impact on natural forest recovery across a fragmentation gradient. The study found that seed deposition and potential biomass increased nonlinearly with increasing forest cover and decreased with increasing isolation. Seed deposition and biomass were significantly reduced in landscapes with approximately 40% forest cover. The study also found that small birds dispersed more seeds, especially in highly fragmented landscapes, but primarily dispersed species with lower carbon storage capacity. Large birds, which disperse seeds of late-successional species, were more effective in promoting carbon storage but had restricted movement in fragmented landscapes. The study highlights that maintaining forest cover above 40% is crucial for restoring key ecosystem functions performed by animals, such as seed dispersal. Restoration policies should integrate this threshold to optimize restoration planning. In areas with >40% forest cover and fragments separated by <133 m, natural regeneration can be effective. However, in more fragmented areas, active restoration strategies are needed to enable forest recovery and promote carbon stock restoration. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering management strategies to restore diverse plant-fr