Freycinetia lenifolia

The D'Entrecasteaux Island area possesses only a very small percentage of Papua New Guinea's forest cover but had a high proportion of deforestation identified in a study by Shearman and Bryan (2011) and it is suggested that the loss of these forests could impact heavily on the endemic species found in this region. Normanby Island now exports pineapples for the Alotau market and some copra and timber (Encyclopædia Britannica 2016, R. Johns pers. comm. 2016), which suggests that agricultural activity and logging may be impacting on the natural vegetation. There are ongoing habitat losses as a result of shifting agriculture at lower altitudes (BirdLife International 2014). Newly discovered gold deposits were beginning to be exploited in the early 21st century (Encyclopædia Britannica 2016) which may also pose a future threat to habitats on this island. On Goodenough Island forest clearance and conversion to kunai grassland is encroaching further into upland forest annually (James and Mitchell 2007). Kraus et al. (2004) note that the habitat on the island up to 300 m Asl is heavily impacted by cultivation and fires associated with expanding human populations. On Fergusson Island it is impacted by cultivation up to 300–400 m Asl in the east and 700 m Asl in the west. However, it is uncertain whether these threats are having significant impacts on this species as the herbarium specimens found for the islands have altitudes ranging from 700–1,000 m Asl. Steep gradients often make the mountain areas unsuitable for agriculture and less suitable for timber extraction. Volcanic eruptions are a potential future threat on Fergusson Island, and also may impact on Goodenough Island (UN 1998).

There are few protected areas on the islands where this species has been recorded. The specimen localities do not fall within protected areas on Fergusson or Normanby Island. The mountain forest of Goodenough Island has been delineated as a Key Biodiversity Area (James and Mitchell 2007) and Oi Mada Wara was designated as a national wildlife management area in 1981 (Protected Planet 2016) and covers a large part of the centre of the island. It is possible that this species was found within this area as it was recorded from 720 m Asl. Surveys are needed to establish the current distribution of this species and the population and habitat status and trends. Research is needed to provide information about the ecology of this species and any specific threats and actions needed. Monitoring may also be required to detect any population and habitat declines.