diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 1524d036..b20aac79 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           repository: ZettaScaleLabs/zenoh-flat-jni
-          ref: e4a8ed7a354f6f44ab1e44f70771298dc82c9c67
+          ref: dbb1f8c6509e333f49d1c03ecb84dcf07b7af7b8
           path: zenoh-flat-jni
 
       - name: Check out zenoh-flat
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Config.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Config.kt
index d18977d6..d45049d7 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Config.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Config.kt
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ import java.nio.file.Path
  *
  * A default configuration can be loaded using [Config.loadDefault].
  *
+ * The native configuration a Config wraps is consumed by [Zenoh.open] (or [Zenoh.scout]); a Config that is
+ * never used is released by the garbage-collection backstop.
+ *
  * Visit the [default configuration](https://github.com/eclipse-zenoh/zenoh/blob/main/DEFAULT_CONFIG.json5) for more
  * information on the Zenoh config parameters.
  */
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Session.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Session.kt
index 693af037..1101ece5 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Session.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/Session.kt
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingDeque
  * Sessions are open upon creation and can be closed manually by calling [close]. Alternatively, the session will be
  * automatically closed when used with Java's try-with-resources statement or its Kotlin counterpart, [use].
  *
+ * Native resources held by a session (and by its declarations) that is simply forgotten are released by a
+ * garbage-collection backstop once the objects become unreachable; still, explicit [close] is recommended for
+ * deterministic release.
+ *
  * For optimal performance and adherence to good practices, it is recommended to have only one running session, which
  * is sufficient for most use cases. You should _never_ construct one session per publisher/subscriber, as this will
  * significantly increase the size of your Zenoh network, while preventing potential locality-based optimizations.
@@ -96,7 +100,8 @@ class Session private constructor(private val config: Config) : AutoCloseable {
      * Closing the session invalidates any attempt to perform a declaration or to perform an operation such as Put or Delete.
      * Attempting to do so will result in a failure.
      *
-     * However, any session declaration that was still alive and bound to the session previous to closing it, will still be alive.
+     * Every declaration still bound to the session (subscribers, queryables, publishers, queriers, …) is undeclared
+     * as part of closing it.
      */
     override fun close() {
         strongDeclarations.removeIf {
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/bytes/ZBytes.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/bytes/ZBytes.kt
index 9b91cb24..4d9fab88 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/bytes/ZBytes.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/bytes/ZBytes.kt
@@ -32,6 +32,20 @@ import io.zenoh.jni.bytes.ZBytes as JniZBytes
  * encouraged to use any data format of their choice like JSON, protobuf,
  * flatbuffers, etc.
  *
+ * # Native memory lifecycle
+ *
+ * A ZBytes *created* from user data ([from]) is a plain value — it never
+ * holds native memory. A *received* ZBytes (a sample's payload or
+ * attachment, a query payload, a reply) wraps a native buffer that is
+ * freed automatically on the first [bytes] access (the bytes are copied
+ * out lazily, once). A received ZBytes whose content is **never read**
+ * keeps its native buffer allocated: unlike every other handle-owning
+ * class in this SDK, ZBytes is deliberately NOT covered by the
+ * garbage-collection backstop — payloads are the per-message hot path,
+ * and registering a GC cleaner per message measured −23% throughput at
+ * small payload sizes. In callback-based subscribers/queryables, access
+ * (or discard) payloads and attachments you care about; unread ones on
+ * dropped samples are the one place native memory can be retained.
  */
 class ZBytes private constructor(
     private var eager: ByteArray?,
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/keyexpr/KeyExpr.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/keyexpr/KeyExpr.kt
index 999da47d..f8846b05 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/keyexpr/KeyExpr.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/keyexpr/KeyExpr.kt
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ import io.zenoh.query.Selector
  * A [KeyExpr] is its validated string. A native instance exists ONLY behind a
  * [Session.declareKeyExpr] result — the single case where zenoh attaches a wire
  * declaration (a compact id replacing the string on the wire) worth carrying;
- * such an instance should be [close]d (or `use`d) when no longer needed.
+ * such an instance should be [close]d (or `use`d) when no longer needed —
+ * the declaring session keeps a strong reference to it and undeclares it when
+ * the session closes, with a garbage-collection backstop after that.
  * Every other [KeyExpr] — constructed via [tryFrom]/[autocanonize] or received
  * with a sample — is a plain value: nothing to close, no native resource.
  */
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/liveliness/LivelinessToken.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/liveliness/LivelinessToken.kt
index 8ce31f12..2945208d 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/liveliness/LivelinessToken.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/liveliness/LivelinessToken.kt
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import io.zenoh.session.SessionDeclaration
  * that declared the token has Zenoh connectivity with the Zenoh application
  * that monitors it.
  *
- * Liveliness tokens are automatically undeclared when dropped.
+ * A token whose last reference is dropped is undeclared by the garbage-collection backstop
+ * (non-deterministic — call [undeclare] or [close] to withdraw the liveliness promptly).
  */
 class LivelinessToken internal constructor(private var token: io.zenoh.jni.liveliness.LivelinessToken?): SessionDeclaration, AutoCloseable {
 
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Publisher.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Publisher.kt
index 4aefe6fe..c1400660 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Publisher.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Publisher.kt
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ import kotlin.Throws
  * A Zenoh Publisher.
  *
  * A publisher is automatically dropped when using it with the 'try-with-resources' statement (i.e. 'use' in Kotlin).
- * The session from which it was declared will also keep a reference to it and undeclare it once the session is closed.
+ * The session keeps only a *weak* reference to it: a publisher whose last reference is dropped is undeclared by the
+ * garbage-collection backstop (non-deterministic — call [close] for prompt effect), and closing the session
+ * undeclares any publisher still reachable.
  *
  * In order to declare a publisher, [Session.declarePublisher] must be called.
  *
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Subscriber.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Subscriber.kt
index 5dc69e16..bc536d1c 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Subscriber.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/pubsub/Subscriber.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ import io.zenoh.session.SessionDeclaration
  *
  * Its main purpose is to keep the subscription active as long as it exists.
  *
+ * The declaring session holds a *strong* reference to it: dropping your own reference does NOT stop the
+ * subscription — it stays active until [close] (or `undeclare`) is called or the session is closed, whichever
+ * comes first. Only after that does it become eligible for garbage collection.
+ *
  * Example using the default [BlockingQueueHandler] handler:
  *
  * ```java
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Querier.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Querier.kt
index 51a8ac0d..aa51663f 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Querier.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Querier.kt
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingDeque
 /**
  * A querier that allows to send queries to a [Queryable].
  *
- * Queriers are automatically undeclared when dropped.
+ * A querier whose last reference is dropped is undeclared by the garbage-collection backstop
+ * (non-deterministic — call `close` for prompt effect); closing the session undeclares any querier
+ * still reachable.
  *
  * Example:
  * ```java
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Queryable.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Queryable.kt
index c70a5ce9..5cb9dbf6 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Queryable.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/query/Queryable.kt
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ import io.zenoh.session.SessionDeclaration
  *
  * Its main purpose is to keep the queryable active as long as it exists.
  *
+ * The declaring session holds a *strong* reference to it: dropping your own reference does NOT stop the
+ * queryable — it stays active until [close] (or `undeclare`) is called or the session is closed, whichever
+ * comes first. Only after that does it become eligible for garbage collection.
+ *
  * Example using the default [BlockingQueueHandler] handler:
  * ```java
  * try (Session session = Zenoh.open(config)) {
diff --git a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/scouting/Scout.kt b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/scouting/Scout.kt
index 4a2a4725..fb7af94b 100644
--- a/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/scouting/Scout.kt
+++ b/zenoh-java/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/zenoh/scouting/Scout.kt
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ import io.zenoh.handlers.Callback
  * Scout for routers and/or peers.
  *
  * Scout spawns a task that periodically sends scout messages and waits for Hello replies.
- * Drop the returned Scout to stop the scouting task.
+ * Call `stop` (or `close`) on the returned Scout to stop the scouting task; a Scout whose last
+ * reference is dropped is stopped by the garbage-collection backstop (non-deterministic).
  *
  * To launch a scout, use [io.zenoh.Zenoh.scout]:
  *