The state of Rio de Janeiro has been degraded mainly in lowlands, where protected areas harboring most remaining forests are located. The present study aimed to assess the application of compensatory measures (CM) to restore the vegetation of the Bosque da Barra Municipal Natural Park. We analyzed the survival of planted specimens by dividing the area into six quadrants with approximately nove hectares each. For the analysis, we used a frequency class method and assessed the success rate per quadrant, where 2,125 seedlings of 73 native restinga species were planted. We found 1,245 seedlings, which corresponded to 59% of the planting. Among those seedlings, 885 were alive, which represented a survival rate of 42%. The average survival per species was 26%. Forty-seven species survived out of 73 planted species. All in all, environmental compensation is an important public policy tool, and this legal device should be used to ensure the restoration of environmental damages, aiming to maintain what establishes the 225th article of the Federal Constitution for present and future generations.