Musa muluensis

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). It is suspected that Musa muluensis is a lowland species making it more likely to be affected by plantation expansion than those species preferring steeper topography (Pirker et al. 2016). 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). As the habitat and ecological requirements for the species have not been documented in any detail, and distribution records are rather imprecise, it is challenging to evaluate the threats it may face. As such, research into the scale and severity of threats affecting the species 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). One botanical garden is listed as a site of ex situ conservation for this species (BGCI 2020), but no germplasm accessions are held (Ruas et al. 2017, Genesys Global Portal on Plant Genetic Resources 2020). The species has been recorded from multiple protected areas, including the 553.82 km² Mulu National Park and ASEAN heritage park, so passive conservation is presumed in these areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2020); it is unclear whether active management is practised. As the species is not represented in ex situ conservation, gathering of wild germplasm material for seed banking is recommended.