The genus Maniltoa has recently been sunk into the pantropical genus Cynometra (Radosavljevic 2019).

The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) for this species exceeds by a considerable margin the values needed for a threatened category under Criterion B. There are collections from 26 known localities for this species and the estimated area of occupancy (AOO) is 100 km², which would categorise this species as Endangered. However, the species is expected to be present in other areas of similar habitat (lowland and montane forest) within the existing range, and probably also beyond it. The estimated AOO is therefore likely to be an underestimate of the real total AOO, and so is not included in this assessment. The populations at all known localities are considered to be probably extant; however, several localities are located near residential, agricultural or logged areas and are likely to be impacted by those activities in the near future. Nothing is known about the population status or trends, and further research is required to establish this data. The species is not known to be utilised by humans. The species is assessed as Least Concern. However, further surveys are required to establish the full range and distribution of the species and population status and trends. Threats to the species are likely to increase in the future, particularly from logging, and this should be monitored.

This species is endemic to New Guinea, extending from the island of Waigeo in the north-west, Adi island in the Kaimana Regency on the southern coast of West Papua, Walwali village in the Sepik District on the north-east coast of Papua New Guinea and Lae in Morobe District in the south-east of Papua New Guinea (Verdcourt 1979; specimen label data). The known elevation range is 0-1500 m ASL (Verdcourt 1979; specimen label data).

No numerical population information. The current population trend is unknown, but suspected to be either stable or slightly decreasing, as the forest around all known localities appears to be either not currently subject to disturbance or subject to minor disturbance. Some specimen labels describe the tree as being rather common, although one label describes the tree as rather scarce.

This large tree which reaches 24 m in height is found in lowland rain forests, montane rain forests, primary forests and is sometimes riverine (Verdcourt 1979). Some specimen labels state that the species is found on limestone or clay. It has been found in eight or nine Ecoregions (Olson et al. 2001): Vogelkop-Aru lowland rain forests, Vogelkop montane rain forests, Central Range montane rain forests, Yapen rain forests, Northern New Guinea lowland rain and freshwater swamp forests, Northern New Guinea montane rain forests, Southeastern Papuan rain forests and Huon Peninsula montane rain forests. The species may also occur in the New Guinea mangroves Ecoregion, however the specimen locality (specimen collected in the Mimika Regency) in this Ecoregion is imprecise, with a large error diameter of 7,500 m, and could therefore be present instead in the Vogelkop-Aru lowland rain forests. As no other specimens were found in mangroves, and most were found in lowland or montane rain forests, it is more likely that this specimen locality occurs in the lowland rain forest.

The forests of New Guinea are subject to multiple threats, including logging, conversion to oil palm plantations, mining, subsistence agriculture and fire. Between 1972 and 2002, a net 15 percent of primary rain forest was cleared and 8.8 percent degraded to secondary forest through logging in Papua New Guinea (Shearman et al. 2009). One of the habitats of this species is lowland rainforest, which is the most threatened forest type in Papua New Guinea, with 30.1 percent of the area cleared or degraded between 1972 and 2002 (Shearman and Bryan 2011). The lowland rainforest has the highest potential of all vegetation types for further losses in the future as it is preferentially targeted for plantation development, commercial logging and subsistence-related clearing. The species also occurs in lower montane rainforest, of which 12.7 percent of the area has been cleared in Papua New Guinea between 1972 and 2002 (Shearman and Bryan 2011). While a total of 8,693,780 ha of the Papua New Guinea forest which is accessible to mechanised logging remains unlogged, 49 percent of this has been allocated to the commercial logging industry (Shearman et al. 2009). Satellite imagery (Google Earth 2023) shows that the specimen locality near Oransbari (collected in 1955) is in intact forest, but is approximately 3 km away from some agricultural and residential areas, the expansion of which could potentially threaten this population in the future. The population on Adi Island (specimens collected in 1961) is likely to be at risk in the future as much of the forest on that island is already degraded or cleared, the island is divided by several roads and several roads. Satellite imagery (Google Earth 2023) shows that two specimen localities near to Jayapura City (specimens collected in 1955 and 1966) occur in residential areas, suggesting these populations no longer exist. However, the error diameters for both of the specimen localities here (1,4000 m and 8000 m) are rather large, and the populations are likely to occur in the forest surrounding the city. These populations are probably extant but are likely to become threatened in the future. The populations near Walwali village in West Sepik (specimens collected in 1937 and 1961) occur in intact forest (satellite imagery from Google Earth 2023). However, the localities are close to (<1 km) patchy, degraded forest, small residential areas and roads, therefore these populations are likely to become threatened in the future. Satellite imagery (Google Earth 2023) shows that a specimen locality collected near Gabensis in 1963 is located approximately 350 m away from a road, and 3.5 km from the town. The locality occurs within forest that still appears to be intact, however the specimen label states that it was collected along a logging road, indicating that this area is subject to logging which is likely to impact the population in the future. Similarly, satellite imagery (Google Earth 2023) shows that one specimen locality is located just 0.7 km from Bulolo Highway Road and cleared forest areas. The specimen label (specimen collected in 1964) states that it was collected in Bumbu logging area, therefore it is highly likely that the population faces future threats from logging. The population at Gnalangumbum (specimen collected in 1964) occurs in an area where the forest has since been cleared (shown by satellite imagery on Google Earth 2023). However, 0.8 km away is an area of apparently intact forest, where the population is also likely to exist. Satellite imagery (Google Earth 2023) shows that the following populations seem to occur in intact forest, with no obvious degradation and no known threats: on Waigeo Island, near Sorong in Sorong City, Kaloal on Salawati, near Ransiki in Manokwari Regency, near Raoena in Fakfak Regency, near Seraran in Kaimana Regency, at Sennen in Nabire Regency, near Aidoea in Mimika Regency, on Japen Island, at the Sidoarsi Mountains in Sarmi Regency, at Bernhard Camp in Central Mamberamo Regency, at Prospect Creek in West Sepik District, and at the Tymne-wago track in Morobe District.

There is no documented use or trade for this species.

The locality of the specimens collected on Waigeo Island is close (approximately 7.5 km) to Waigeo Barat Timur Nature Reserve (IUCN Management Category 1a). It is possible that the species occurs within this protected area, in which case the population may be protected to some extent. The population near Oransbari is located within Pegunungan Arfak Nature Reserve (IUCN Management Category 1a), and another nearby specimen locality near Ransiki is located 3 km from this Nature Reserve. The latter population is likely to also occur within the nature reserve. The population on Japen Island is approximately 6.5 km from Yapen Tengah Nature Reserve (IUCN Management Category 1a), so the population may occur within the Nature Reserve and this be protected to some extent. Two populations occur within Memberamo Foja Wildlife Reserve (at Pionier-bivak and at Bernhard Camp). However, the nature of Wildlife Reserves as protected areas is that they aim to protect particular species or habitats, therefore it cannot be assumed that the nature of the protection afforded is adequate to protect any population of this species; nonetheless, some level of protection may be conferred. The population near Jayapura City is likely to occur in the Pegunungan Cycloops Nature Reserve (IUCN Management Category 1a). The precise locality of this specimen could not be identified and has a large error diameter (14000 m), but is within 2 km of the Nature Reserve and may therefore occur there. The species is not documented as cultivated in any botanic gardens (BGCI 2019).