Freycinetia bicolor

There are frequent natural disturbances from tropical storms and landslides and also periodic droughts are a natural event. Climate changes may exacerbate these problems and projections suggest a decreasing number of tropical cyclones but a possible shift to more intense categories and a continuation in sea level rises making coastal areas more susceptible to storm surges (Australian Government et al. 2011).

Areas have been logged and increasing human populations have resulted in expansion of agricultural activities in the Solomon Islands (New Agriculturist 2008, WWF 2016). It is reported that satellite imagery indicates that the area under cultivation doubled between 1972 and 1992 (WWF 2016). The impact of such threats on this species are not known, although one specimen was recorded from dense forest 1.6 km inland from a plantation, which suggests agricultural activity within the vicinity of its area of occupancy. Such threats have the potential to cause slow significant declines associated with loss of habitat. It is not known whether these threats are ongoing in all areas where this species is found, although riverine forest where many species of the family Pandanaceae are found in the Solomon Islands are sensitive to soil compaction from logging and the lowland forests are the most exploited for forestry (USA International Business Publications 2011). However, this species may have some tolerance to disturbance, for example, one specimen is recorded from 'garden lands'.

This species has also been recorded from Mt Gallego and such montane habitats may be less suitable for both logging and agriculture, the report by USA International Business Publications (2011) note that there is little exploitation of such areas.

There are relatively few protected areas within the Solomon Islands group and none of the herbarium specimen collections fall within them. Further research is needed to determine the current population status and trends and identify any specific threats. Habitat monitoring may be required if it is found to be widely and adversely affected by threats identified by further research.