diff --git a/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/recovery/RecoveryModule.java b/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/recovery/RecoveryModule.java
index cd59566..fadf0ea 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/recovery/RecoveryModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/recovery/RecoveryModule.java
@@ -46,9 +46,10 @@ public final class RecoveryModule implements SimulationModule {
     /** Extra recovery progress per point of ecosystemHealth above 50. */
     private static final double HEALTH_PROGRESS_BONUS   = 0.02;
     /** Damage accumulated per tick when conditions are badly violated. */
-    private static final double DAMAGE_PER_BAD_TICK     = 3.0;
-    /** Damage decays this fraction per tick when conditions are OK. */
-    private static final double DAMAGE_DECAY_RATE       = 0.05;
+    private static final double DAMAGE_PER_BAD_TICK     = 5.0;
+    /** Damage decays this fraction per tick when conditions are OK.
+     *  Kept low so damage sticks around during oscillating conditions. */
+    private static final double DAMAGE_DECAY_RATE       = 0.03;
     private static final double CHANGE_THRESHOLD        = 0.01;
 
     private static final ModuleMetadata METADATA = new ModuleMetadata(
@@ -112,10 +113,12 @@ public final class RecoveryModule implements SimulationModule {
 
             // Damage decays passively when conditions are good (bypass accumulateDamage
             // to avoid triggering regression with a zero-damage call that might fire at 70+).
+            // Use 4-arg constructor to preserve the dynamic succession cap.
             data = new RecoveryRegionData(
                     data.getSuccessionStage(),
                     data.getRecoveryProgress(),
-                    Math.max(0.0, data.getDamageAccumulation() * (1.0 - DAMAGE_DECAY_RATE)));
+                    Math.max(0.0, data.getDamageAccumulation() * (1.0 - DAMAGE_DECAY_RATE)),
+                    data.getMaxSuccessionStage());
 
         } else if (data.getSuccessionStage().conditionsMissedForRegression(soil, poll, veg)) {
             // Conditions are bad: accumulate damage toward regression.
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/vegetation/VegetationModule.java b/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/vegetation/VegetationModule.java
index c978aea..d28e24d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/vegetation/VegetationModule.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/livingworld/modules/vegetation/VegetationModule.java
@@ -53,8 +53,15 @@ public final class VegetationModule implements SimulationModule {
     // --- die-off thresholds ---
     private static final double DIEOFF_SOIL_THRESHOLD       = 20.0;
     private static final double DIEOFF_POLLUTION_THRESHOLD  = 30.0;
-    private static final double GRASS_DIEOFF_RATE           = 0.30;
-    private static final double DEAD_ACCUMULATION_RATE      = 0.20;
+    // All living tiers die in bad conditions; trees die slowest.
+    private static final double GRASS_DIEOFF_RATE           = 1.00;
+    private static final double FLOWER_DIEOFF_RATE          = 0.50;
+    private static final double SHRUB_DIEOFF_RATE           = 0.25;
+    private static final double TREE_DIEOFF_RATE            = 0.10;
+    private static final double DEAD_ACCUMULATION_RATE      = 0.50;
+    // Trees also die-off when conditions are severe (heavy pollution or near-zero soil).
+    private static final double TREE_SEVERE_POLLUTION       = 60.0;
+    private static final double TREE_SEVERE_SOIL            = 10.0;
 
     // --- decomposition ---
     private static final double DEAD_DECOMPOSITION_RATE     = 0.01;
@@ -131,6 +138,13 @@ public final class VegetationModule implements SimulationModule {
 
         if (badConditions) {
             data.setGrassPressure(data.getGrassPressure()   - GRASS_DIEOFF_RATE);
+            data.setFlowerPressure(data.getFlowerPressure() - FLOWER_DIEOFF_RATE);
+            data.setShrubPressure(data.getShrubPressure()   - SHRUB_DIEOFF_RATE);
+            // Trees die only under severe stress to reflect their resilience.
+            if (metrics.getPollutionScore() > TREE_SEVERE_POLLUTION
+                    || metrics.getSoilQuality() < TREE_SEVERE_SOIL) {
+                data.setTreePressure(data.getTreePressure() - TREE_DIEOFF_RATE);
+            }
             data.setDeadVegetation(data.getDeadVegetation() + DEAD_ACCUMULATION_RATE);
         }