Trisyngyne nuda

Nothofagus species typically have poorly dispersed seed making migration slow, particularly in the more climatically sensitive species meaning they may be unable to keep pace with the rate of climate change. The species likely to be most detrimentally affected are those that are already confined to the uppermost altitudes and those with a very restricted distribution (Veblen et al. 1996). Having such a restricted locality and only one known population, prevents this species dispersing its seeds further to increase its range.

Since 1972, 13% of upper montane forests have been lost (Ash et al. 2009). In addition, according to Ash et al. (2009), between 1972 and 2002, a net 15% of Papua New Guinea’s tropical forests were cleared and 8.8% were degraded through logging. The present trend for Nothofagus forest is to be reduced in area through conversion to other land uses (Beehler and Marshall 2012). Since many of the tropical Nothofagus spp. are large trees and are found at lower altitudinal ranges, it is possible to make the assumption that they are used for timber which if harvested unsustainably is a potential threat to the species. This requires confirmation. According to a herbarium specimen which was collected in 1966, the only population known is found living next to a local village. As much land is cleared for agricultural purposes, the close locality to the village is certainly a threat.