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# In the heart of the Amazon, public-square tree palettes look surprisingly un-Amazonian
- URL: https://intelligence.wildlandseco.com/2026-09-14-manaus-urban-tree-biotic-homogenization/
- Published: 2026-09-14T12:04:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T12:04:01.000Z
- Description: A survey of 35 Manaus squares found exotic species dominated urban plantings, including multiple taxa with invasive potential near native forest remnants.
- Author: Benjamin Worlund
- Tags: Manaus, urban forestry, biotic homogenization, native planting, invasive plants, Cities, Land, Wildlife, #ecological-intelligence, #brief-2026-09-14, #landscape-city-watch, #peer-reviewed, #geo-latin-america-caribbean

Evidence

Peer-reviewed

Geography

Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

System

Urban public squares and adjacent Amazonian urban-forest matrix

## WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS

An inventory of 1,218 woody individuals across 35 public squares recorded 88 species, with exotics accounting for 61.4% of species richness. Fifteen exotic species were identified as having invasive potential; exotic taxa dominated 30 of 35 squares and six squares contained no species native to the Amazon domain under the study’s biogeographic definition.

## WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ

Urban planting palettes can create biotic homogenization even inside one of the world’s most diverse regional floras. For tropical cities, nursery supply, procurement and species-selection standards are therefore biodiversity decisions, not just aesthetic ones.

## CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY

The study sampled public squares rather than the entire Manaus urban forest and used a strict definition in which only Amazon-domain taxa were considered native. Invasive potential is a risk indicator, not proof that every planted population has invaded adjacent remnants.

## SOURCE

Biotropica · Original evidence  
[View original evidence ↗](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/btp.70251?ref=intelligence.wildlandseco.com)

From the Morning Brief · 2026-09-14

[Read the full Morning Brief →](https://intelligence.wildlandseco.com/morning-brief-2026-09-14/)