Mapania longiflora

Borneo lowland to submontane forests have been very heavily logged in the last thirty years. Extensive areas have been cleared for commercial logging, industrial timber for pulp and plywood, or cut and burned for oil palm / rubber plantations and agriculture. Extensive fires, due to droughts following severe El Niño events, have contributed to the loss and fragmentation of forest habitats. The overall deforestation of the island has been massive. Exploration for oil and coal, drainage of wetlands, pollution and expanding urbanization constitute other threats in the region. However, specimen data indicate that this species is resilient to some anthropogenic disturbances as it occurs in disturbed forests, logged areas, forest fragments, secondary forest and along roadsides. Simpson (1992), describes the taxon as a robust, rhizomatous sedge and it is likely to show good regeneration capacities (Simpson 1992, Fuller et al. 2004).

This species occurs in protected areas in part of its range; however, existing protected areas can be subject to illegal logging and burning activities leading to habitat disturbance. Immediate interventions and alternative conservation strategies, such as timber certification and improved monitoring and enforcement are needed to preserve remaining forest habitats. The taxon does not benefit from any legal protection in Indonesia or Malaysia. Considering the number and ongoing nature of threats in the region, subpopulations of this taxon should be monitored to detect any severe declines (Jarvie et al. 2002, Fuller et al. 2004).