Global restoration initiatives like the U.N. Decade on Ecosystem Restoration have emphasized large-scale tree planting, but success depends on more than just the number of trees planted. Ensuring tree survival, resilience, and adaptation to climate change requires place-based knowledge that Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) have accumulated over generations. In Southeast Asia, where forests are vital for livelihoods, IPLCs' familiarity with local species and ecological rhythms makes them crucial partners in seed collection, storage, and propagation.