Musa lanceolata

In the Minahasa regencies, tree cover has decreased by just over 5% between 2001 and 2018 (GFW 2019); however, large tracts of forests, especially further inland, appear to remain relatively intact. 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). As no contemporary populations of Musa lanceolata have been recorded, it is not possible to evaluate the threats it may face. If they are discovered, research into the threats affecting the species will be required.

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). As the historical collection locality is imprecise and no extant wild populations have been documented, it is not known whether the species occurs in any protected areas (Protected Planet 2019). 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 any extant wild plants is a conservation priority.