In southeastern Madagascar, some farmland areas left fallow are naturally regenerating, rebuilding tree cover over time. However, researchers report that forest recovery is incomplete because native animals that previously used these habitats have not returned in expected numbers. Across regenerating forest patches, invasive rats are identified as a major barrier to the return of small mammals, including species that play important roles in forest ecosystems. The study links the rats’ presence to reduced movement and recovery of native fauna, which in turn affects how regenerating forests function compared with undisturbed forest. While tree growth occurs as sites revert to woodland, the recolonization of animals appears to lag, leaving recovering areas without full ecological community assembly. The findings suggest that successful habitat restoration in Madagascar requires more than allowing vegetation to regrow; it also depends on controlling invasive species that prevent native wildlife from reestablishing themselves. The research emphasizes that restoring ecosystem function involves both habitat structure and the animals that disperse, feed, and interact within the forest.