Freycinetia andajensis

There has been considerable urban expansion in this area of New Guinea since Beccari visited in the 19th century. Andai is now part of the greater Manokwari metropolitan area, as it is located about 4 km south of the airport and is within the continuous built-up area of Manokwari. If the species has persisted in this area since the 19th century, forest loss through the development of settlements and the associated small-scale agriculture is the greatest threat to its persistence (Global Forest Watch 2024). However the lack of information on the exact collection site of this species and its elevational range means that it is not possible to assess the threats to this species in detail. Beccari's route as shown in Vink (1965) stays in the coastal lowlands before turning eastwards up the Andai and Usia rivers. There is very little forest remaining in the coastal lowlands, however there is some riverine forest remaining, particularly along the Usia river, where this species could persist, especially as Freycinetia often favour humid forest near rivers (Sinaga et al. 2010). Surveys targeting Freycinetia in this area are recommended to determine whether this species is found in the forest that remains between Andai and the Prafi river valley.

There are no protected areas that cover the Andai area of New Guinea (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024). However, the Hutan Pendidikan Tuan Wowi (Educational Forest) is about 4 km inland from Andai and while not on Beccari's route he did pass close to the southern border of this area and therefore it would be worth surveying for this species. This type of protected area prioritises forestry education and is not a strict protected area like a nature reserve, however it should be protected from logging. This species is not known to be in any ex situ collections (BGCI 2024).