Musa juwiniana

Across Sarawak, 24% of tree cover has been lost between 2001 and 2018 (GFW 2019). Between 2001 and 2017, 1.85 Mha of industrial plantation was established in Malaysian Borneo and industrial oil palm development has been identified as the major driver of the area's deforestation (Gaveau et al. 2016, Gaveau et al. 2018). Based on land change data, it is suspected that oil palm plantations have encroached upon at least two of the collection localities since the collections of the species were made in 2004 and 2005 (GFW 2019). Also, M. juwiniana is regarded as a lowland species, making it more likely to be affected by plantation expansion than those species preferring steeper topography (Pirker et al. 2016). Other threats include forestry, especially outside the boundaries of protected areas, and, while the conservation outlook for the Gunung Mulu National Park is good, tourism and its infrastructure may represent a possible minor threat in the future (IUCN 2017, GFW 2019). It should be noted, though, that the 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). On account of localised population increases (K. Meekiong pers. obs.), it is suspected that this species may tolerate some disturbance; however, very little is known about its habitat and ecological preferences. As such, research into the threats affecting the species, as well as its ecological requirements, is necessary.

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). This species has been collected in, or within close proximity to, two protected areas: the 107.32 km² Loagan Bunut National Park, and the 553.82 km² Mulu National Park and ASEAN Heritage Park (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019). If it occurs within these boundaries, passive conservation of these subpopulations is presumed; it is unclear whether active management is practised. The species is not known to be represented in ex situ conservation efforts (Ruas et al. 2017, BGCI 2019, 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.