Musa bauensis

Within a 5 km radius of the type collection at Gunung Doya, nearly 20% of forest cover has been lost between 2001 and 2018 (GFW 2019). However, the specific impact of deforestation on members of the Musa genus is somewhat difficult to quantify: while clear-felling or land conversion is likely to be detrimental to the species, wild bananas spring up in transient, often man-made, habitats and thus may benefit from human disturbance to some extent (Simmonds 1962). In fact, Häkkinen and Meekiong (2004) hypothesise that the plants at the type locality may have germinated as a result of forest clearing, and that the species may not be able to germinate beneath a closed canopy. Without a better understanding of the life history of the species, though, significant proximal deforestation must be considered a threat. Certainly, conversion of forested land to an agricultural land use would not permit growth of the species. Satellite imagery shows that on limestone hills of similar topography, mining operations cover whole slopes and the establishment of similar operations at Kampung Seromah and Plaman Raso is a plausible future threat. However, the threat of this occurring at the type locality has lessened as it now lies within the boundaries of the Dered Krian National Park (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019). Natural forest fires also present a plausible future threat; an area of Gunung Doya (type locality) was recently burnt off as a result of natural forest fire, and the regeneration rate of limestone vegetation is very slow (K. Meekiong pers. comm. 2021). Finally, landslides may also threaten the species as these are frequent on the steep limestone slopes of the Bau region (Suhaimi and Selaman 2013). Given the highly restricted distribution and population for this species, any ongoing threat could significantly contribute to its extinction risk, and research into threats is therefore urgently recommended.

The genus Musa is listed in Annex I of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) which aims to guarantee sustainable agriculture and food security through the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use (FAO 2009). Three botanical gardens are listed as sites of ex situ conservation (BGCI 2019). Since the type collection was made, the Gunung Doya area has been gazetted as part of the Dered Krian National Park (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019); passive conservation is presumed here, but it is not known whether active management is practised. There are no germplasm accessions held (Ruas et al. 2017, Genesys Global Portal on Plant Genetic Resources 2019). As such, gathering of wild germplasm material for ex situ conservation from extant wild plants is a conservation priority.