Aframomum submontanum

There has been approximately 15% loss of tree cover in the area where this species occurs (GFW 2018) due to expanding agriculture and logging, including for charcoal production. Some of the known historic localities for this species coincide with areas of high loss in tree cover so this species has almost certainly been impacted. The area has also been impacted by civil conflict and military activities and refugees from the conflict would also have impacted the habitat. Mining is also a threat at some localities – at the Bamps, where the specimens come from near Mwongbalu, whole hillsides have been washed away to extract gold.

The species has been recorded from the Virunga National Park, but if the species occurs where trees are being logged for charcoal production in the park, then the national park will not be providing any protection. The species is not known to occur in ex situ conservation (BGCI 2018).

When it is feasible to conducts surveys again in the area, this would be a key species to look for to determine its full extent of occurrence, population size and trends so that it can be properly assessed. Plants and seed should also be collected for ex situ conservation.