These forests may not be protected in the future while the economies of these nations are challenged and while the power of politicians to reduce deforestation remains weak. Tourism may cause further deforestation, but it may also cause a reduction in deforestation if natural landscapes are valuable to tourists. So on some islands, deforestation may continue until all but remote pockets of native forests remain. In other cases, there may be the foresight and political resolve to limit deforestation. Where the forest is destroyed or put to other use, the ecosystem may be able to recover naturally, and will not tend to become a desert.
Tropical ecosystems tend to have the greatest diversity of species.
Islands in particular can be very diverse in species which are usually very different from those found on mainland. In addition, the ecosystems of these islands tend to be vulnerable to species which may be brought by humans from the mainland, and which can dominate the local ecosystem. Aside from the wide range of trees which make rain forests, there tends to be a variety of fruits, spices and flowers. Fruits commonly encountered include citrus, bannana, and mangosteen. Tropical forests are also believed to be rich in medicinal plants and ornamental species.