Every forest carries in its structure traces of exploitation and resilience, but how interpret this narrative? This study investigated whether different disturbance histories lead to distinct functional strategies in fragments of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest. We analyzed specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, wood density, diameter at breast height, biomass, and carbon using community-weighted means, multivariate and statistical analyses. Conserved fragments showed significantly higher diameter, biomass, and carbon stocks (t-test, p < 0.05), indicating conservative strategies, whereas selectively logged fragments exhibited higher wood density and leaf dry matter content (t-test, p < 0.05), revealing unexpected patterns. Pearson correlations were stronger and more homogeneous in conserved fragments, while selectively logged forests displayed more variable association patterns among functional attributes. These findings suggest that selectively logged forests may follow distinct functional trajectories shaped by logging legacies and regeneration processes, highlighting the value of functional traits for understanding forest recovery and ecosystem dynamics.