Neotropical forests are influenced by deforestation and degradation. Studies have shown that protected areas – sites designed and managed for conservation purposes – can lessen the likelihood of deforestation. However, it is not known whether protected area status influences forest regrowth after disturbance. Here, we investigate whether forest recovery rates after disturbance differ between forests inside protected areas and unprotected areas. Using a global protected area dataset and remote sensing maps of forest disturbance, we compare environmentally similar inside protected area sites with unprotected area sites to determine whether rates of forest recovery depend on protected area status. Spaceborne satellite imagery is used to track forest greenness, which we use as an index of forest recovery. Our analysis documents the effectiveness of protected areas on post-disturbance forest regeneration. This research can contribute to conservation planning in the Neotropics.