Forest trees rely on symbiotic soil fungi to survive, grow, and tolerate harsh environmental conditions. In this webinar we will discuss the current understanding of how fungi can benefit temperate and boreal forest restoration projects. We will address promising restoration plans that actively use a group of fungal symbionts, ectomycorrhizal fungi, in sites contaminated with heavy metals, affected by soil erosion, and degraded due to clearcut logging and wildfire. We will also talk about the limitations, knowledge gaps, and possible undesired outcomes of the use of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest restoration. We will debate about the evidence that shows that considering ectomycorrhizal fungi–host interactions could improve the chances of success of future restoration programs in boreal and temperate forests.