Vaccinium cuneifolium is a hemiepiphytic shrub to small tree endemic to Sulawesi, central Indonesia. It can be locally common in primary and secondary montane forest and grassland, often on the edge of craters and ridge lines generally at altitudes of c. 1,000–2,000 m asl. Based on known occurrences, it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of c. 140,408 km², exceeding the threshold value for threatened categories under criterion B1, an area of occupancy (AOO) of 76 km², falling within the Endangered category under criterion B2, and 14 threatened locations. The current population trend is unknown. It is not known if the species is severely fragmented or subject to extreme fluctuations. It is inferred to be experiencing a continuing decline in the area, extent and quality of its habitat driven predominately by small scale agriculture across much of its range. It is also threatened by oil palm, forestry and mining concessions particularly in central and southern Sulawesi. With a restricted AOO, continuing decline in area, extent and quality of habitat, and 14 locations, it is close to qualifying as Vulnerable B2ab(iii); as such it is as assessed as Near Threatened B2ab(iii).

While the species' protologue cites it as occurring on Java (Miquel 1859), Vaccinium cuneifolium has only been collected from, and is understood to be endemic to, Sulawesi (Sleumer 1966-67, POWO 2023). It has been collected from across Sulawesi, generally occurring at altitudes of c. 1,000–2,000 m asl (Sleumer 1966-67), but with collections from c. 660 m asl (Hendrian et al. # 905 (E)). Based on known occurrences, it has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of c. 140,000 km², a minimum area of occupancy (AOO) of 76 km² and 14 locations. The flora of Sulawesi is poorly studied compared with other regions of Indonesia (Brambach et al. 2017), with some of the lowest plant collection rates in Indonesia (Culmsee et al. 2011). When combined with its large EOO, occurrence in secondary forest, and qualitative observations indicating that it is locally common (Sleumer 1966-67), it is suspected that the known AOO is an underestimate.

Vaccinium cuneifolium occurs in secondary habitats and is described as locally common in some sources (Sleumer 1966-67). A recent demographic study suggested a population density of c. 0.035 individuals per km² calculated from the survey data of Brambach et al. (2017) (Appendix E). The current population trend is unknown and no generational data is available. It is not known if it is severely fragmented or subject to extreme fluctuations. Further research on this species' population size and dynamics is recommended.

Vaccinium cuneifolium is a epiphytic or hemiepiphytic shrub to small tree growing up to 8 m (Sleumer 1966-67, Milliken #1070 (L)). It occurs in primary and secondary forest and grassland, often on the edge of craters and ridge lines over volcanic sandy and clay soil (Sleumer 1966-67, Balgooy #3364 (L)).

While rates of deforestation and habitat conversion have not been as pronounced on Sulawesi as other parts of Indonesia, such as Kalimantan and Sumatra (Austin et al. 2019), rates have increased in the recent period (Voigt et al. 2021). Central Sulawesi alone is projected to lose c. 22,000 km² of forest by 2053, equaling a 53% decrease in forest cover area from 2000, with an average 30% decrease across the rest of Sulawesi for the same period (Voigt et al. 2021). While deforestation has been most prominent in the lowlands (Supriatna et al. 2020), there has still been an estimated c. 5% decrease in forest cover within this species' approximate area of habitat since 2000 (Global Forest Watch 2023). Areas lying within the protected area network have undergone significantly lower rates of tree cover loss since 2000, at c. 2% (Global Forest Watch 2023), a trend which is projected into 2053 (Voigt et al. 2021). Outside of the protected area network, habitat loss and conversion are the major threats. The specific drivers of these vary, however, small scale agriculture is the predominate threat across its range (Austin et al. 2019, Supriatna et al. 2020). It is also threatened by commercial forestry, commercial agricultural, and mining operations. It is known to occur in an area designated as a logging concession near Binohoe, with large areas within its EOO in central and southern Sulawesi being listed under forestry, oil palm and mining concessions (Global Forest Watch 2023, EDSM One Map 2023).

This species is not known to be utilized.

Vaccinium cuneifolium is known to occur in Bogani Nani Wartabone, Lore Lindu and Ganda Dewata National Parks (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023). While it is not known if there are any specific conservation measures in place for this species, passive protection is assumed in these areas. It is known to be held in at least one ex situ plant collection (BGCI 2023), but it is not known to be held in any genomic resource banks (National Center for Biotechnology Information 2023). Collection and deposition of genomic data within a genome resource bank is recommended.