Highlights
Mangroves are resilient ecosystems, but forest recovery may need planting sometimes.
We compare tree development of an area planted with mangrove and other self-recovered.
Planted trees showed higher development, but lower diversity than self-recovered ones.
Brachyurans resettle suggest return of some ecological processes at restored area.
Planting Rhizophora mangle is useful in restoring Neotropical mangals despite monospecificity.