Non-native trees decline as tropical forest canopies return

A new study which was done across tropical countries suggests that non-native trees can become surprisingly common in young regenerating forests, especially where the canopy is still open. But as the forest matures and the canopy closes, their share tends to decline. The study was published in Nature's July 2026 journal.The research analysed 1,561 forest plots across 10 tropical countries, giving scientists a broad look at how forest recovery and tree invasion interact over time. The big takeaway is that early-stage regeneration can be highly vulnerable to non-native species, but the balance can shift as natural forest structure returns.What the study foundIn young moist forests, non-native trees made up 28% of stems. They also accounted for 22% of species in those plots, showing that these trees were not just present in small numbers; they were part of the wider forest community during early succession.The pattern was not identical everywhere.