Cycas bougainvilleana

The main threat is deforestation and forest degradation due to logging and subsistence agriculture. According to Shearman et al. (2009), the combined impacts of deforestation and forest degradation are higher on New Britain and Bougainville than other parts of Papua New Guinea with the combined percentage of forest change between 1972 and 2002 calculated as 34-53% for New Britain and 23% for Bougainville. These rates are higher in lowland areas where Cycas bougainvilleana occurs. Other studies indicate much less severe deforestation (e.g. 8.9% between 1990 and 2010 for all Papua New Guinea) but with no specific reference to New Britain and Bougainville. There are similar discrepancies for the Solomon Islands: Global Forest Watch (2023) estimates a 6.5%  decline in primary forest on the Solomon Islands from 2002-2021 whereas a report from Global Witness (2018) records significant impacts of unsustainable logging, and an increase in logging roads in the Solomon Islands, particularly in coastal areas, where such activities are likely to impact C. bougainvilleana.

This species is listed in Appendix II of the CITES Appendices. An education and awareness programme as well as the long-term monitoring of subpopulations will support the conservation of this species.