Experiments under controlled conditions have established that ecosystem functioning is generally positively related to levels of biodiversity but it is unclear how widespread these effects are in real-world settings and whether they can be harnessed for ecosystem restoration. We used a long-term, field-scale tropical restoration experiment to test how the diversity of planted trees affected recovery of a 500-ha area of selectively logged forest measured using multiple sources of satellite data. Replanting using species-rich mixtures of tree seedlings with higher phylogenetic and functional diversity accelerated restoration of remote sensing estimates of aboveground biomass, canopy cover and Leaf Area Index. Our results are consistent with a positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the lowland dipterocarp rainforests of SE Asia and demonstrate that using diverse mixtures of species can enhance their initial recovery after logging. ... : Study system The Sabah Biodiversity Experiment (http://www.sabahbiodiversityexperiment.org) occupies 500 ha in the southern part of the Malua Forest Reserve, in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Malua Forest Reserve is an area of approximately 35,000 ha of predominantly selectively logged forest that is publicly owned through Yayasan Sabah (The Sabah Foundation), which holds a 100-year concession under its goal to increase socioeconomic standards in the state. Within the wider Yayasan Sabah logging concession is the Innoprise-FACE Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation project (INFAPRO), a 25,000-ha area dedicated to promoting the rehabilitation of forests through large-scale enrichment planting within logged areas. To help provide practical recommendations, the Sabah Biodiversity Experiment followed INFAPRO enrichment planting techniques. The region experiences an average temperature of 27°C and an annual rainfall of >3000 mm, distributed between two wet seasons. The Malua Forest Reserve area has been logged ...