Musa cheesmanii

Within the native range of the species, forestry is the dominant driver of tree cover loss (GFW 2019) and the region has witnessed excessive logging historically (Chatterjee 2008). Other drivers of this land use change are shifting cultivation (jhum), encroachment for grazing, and an increase in commercial agricultural plantations (Chatterjee 2008). 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). Little has been documented about the habitat and ecological preferences of M. cheesmanii so it is difficult to infer whether the species is tolerant of disturbed habitat. As such, research into the threats affecting the species, as well as its ecological requirements, is 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). A single M. cheesmanii germplasm accession of wild origin is held by the Bioversity International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC) in Belgium and one botanical garden is listed as a site of ex situ conservation for this species (Ruas et al. 2017, BGCI 2019, Genesys Global Portal on Plant Genetic Resources 2019). It is in ex situ conservation at the Botanical Survey of India, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Center in Itanagar (S. Borah pers. comm. 2021). The species has been collected from the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, so passive conservation is presumed here (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019); it is unclear whether active management is apparent. Joe et al. (2014) recommend that the species be categorised as Least Concern using IUCN Red List Criteria, based on several years of field experience.