Tropical forest restoration plantings may vary widely in species composition, depending on macroclimate, local site conditions, seedling availability, and landholder aims and management practices. A restoration approach designed for the Queensland Wet Tropics and used globally is the Framework Species Method (FSM), which combines planting of pioneer species that rapidly create a closed canopy with fleshy fruited species to attract seed dispersers and facilitate seed dispersal and succession. This study aims to assess alignment of restoration practices on the Atherton Tablelands with this method. We monitored eight revegetation sites and 18 plots within a year of their establishment, identified the species planted, and evaluated the percentage of stems belonging to different successional and dispersal classifications. In total, 192 species had been planted, and the 13 most common species accounted for 7% of the species and 35% of all stems. Both commonly planted species and individual restoration plots encompassed the full range of successional stages and dispersal strategies. Early successional species comprised on average 17% of the plants per plot, whereas mid- to later-successional species comprised 73% of the plants per plot. A majority of all stems belonged to animal-dispersed species, with birds potentially being the most important dispersers, followed by non-volant mammals and, to a lesser extent, bats. The taxonomic and functional composition of plantings varied along the rainfall gradient, suggesting that species selection was influenced by site conditions, thus preventing biotic homogenisation. The restoration plantings broadly aligned with the FSM approach by maintaining high diversity in species composition, successional strategies and dispersal modes. The combinations used should facilitate rapid canopy closure, suppress weeds, and accelerate succession toward an old-growth forest composition. The high percentage of animal-dispersed species should attract frugivores, enhancing the conservation value of the plantings by promoting seed dispersal and recruitment of new species.

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