As restoration ecology begins to engage more formally with the role of belowground interactions, we note that there is an even greater gap in knowledge of the role ectomycorrhizae (ECMs) have in ecological restoration in the Neotropical region. Even though there are a few records of ECMs in the Neotropics not much is known about their function. Here we highlight the underestimated importance of ECMs in Neotropical coastal zones, discuss how we could use the vegetation on the coast of the Atlantic Forest, called restinga, as a model to investigate tropical ECMs, and explore further possibilities that can be used in restoration projects.