diff --git a/app/Models/Traits/UsesLinkedFields.php b/app/Models/Traits/UsesLinkedFields.php
index 68be03d2..818fcf3a 100644
--- a/app/Models/Traits/UsesLinkedFields.php
+++ b/app/Models/Traits/UsesLinkedFields.php
@@ -293,8 +293,10 @@ private function syncRelation(string $property, string $inputType, $data, bool $
             if ($model != null) {
                 $model->update($entry);
             } else {
-                // protection against updating a deleted entry
-                unset($entry['uuid']);
+                // protection against clashing with a deleted entry
+                if (! empty($entry['uuid']) && $entity->$property()->onlyTrashed()->where('uuid', $entry['uuid'])->exists()) {
+                    unset($entry['uuid']);
+                }
                 $entity->$property()->create($entry);
             }
         }
diff --git a/app/Models/V2/TreeSpecies/TreeSpecies.php b/app/Models/V2/TreeSpecies/TreeSpecies.php
index ff4dc072..57054278 100644
--- a/app/Models/V2/TreeSpecies/TreeSpecies.php
+++ b/app/Models/V2/TreeSpecies/TreeSpecies.php
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class TreeSpecies extends Model implements EntityRelationModel
     public $table = 'v2_tree_species';
 
     protected $fillable = [
+        'uuid',
         'name',
         'amount',
         'speciesable_type',