How do we know whether a tropical forest is truly functioning? Is monitoring biodiversity and forest cover enough, or should we also be measuring the ecological processes that keep forests alive? These were among the important questions explored at the SCIENCE+ Meeting, “Safeguarding Anthropocene Tropical Forests,” held on 5–6 October 2026 at the Royal Society, London, UK. Our lab member, Dr Li Yuen, had the opportunity to present her research and contribute to discussions al