Musa rubida

In Malaysia, tree cover has decreased by 26% between 2001 and 2018, with a similar loss documented for the state of Selangor where the type collection was made (GFW 2019). Satellite imagery also indicates ongoing urban and infrastructural development in the vicinity of the contemporary collection localities. 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). While Holttum (2012) describes the affinity of the species for disturbed habitat, it should be noted that this observation is based on plants that may have been confused with another similar species (Lim 2012). As the contemporary distribution of Musa rubida remains in doubt, as well as its population status and ecological requirements, it is challenging to evaluate the scale and severity of threat. As a component of the necessary study into this species, research into threats in action 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). The type collection locality and two recently confirmed sites all lie outside protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2019) and it is not known to be conserved ex situ elsewhere (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.