The species appears to be quite widespread in west tropical Africa and several populations are known to occur within the protected areas network; however, the exploitation of this species for its timber seems to be the main driver for a population decline, but no figures about the over-exploitation of Guibourtia ehie (which may compromise the species status and health in the near future) are available, meaning that the species does not qualify for a threatened category at present. The species is currently rated as Least Concern, but further research and field work is required to make sure that the species does not fall into a threatened category in the near future.

Guibourtia ehie is distributed in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.

G. ehie is a West African timber species which it is known to be common in its natural habitat (Keay 1964, UNEP 2007) and that it is generally found in small groups. It has been described as the commonest Guibortia in Nigeria (Keay 1989), as scattered in Gabon (Aubreville 1968) and as common in Ghana, mainly in the northwest of the country (Hawthorne 1995). But threatened by over-exploitation (Hawthorne 2006), suggesting that its frequency varies in each country and that research on population dynamic should be carried out to make sure of its status and health.

G. ehie is a large tree with buttress which grows in different forest types, from closed rainforest to drier semi-deciduous forest. It occurs in the Western and Eastern Guinean lowland forests, Nigerian lowland forest, Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests and Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests ecoregion. It has been found in high forest with Brachystegia, Strombosia, Entandrophragma. Seed dispersal is mainly by wind. Seedlings are found clustered around the parent tree and often remain gregarious in advanced stages of regeneration. The species regenerates preferably in shade areas (Hall and Swaine 1981).

Exploitation rates of the wood are high and causing population declines. The timber acts as a popular substitute for rosewood. In Ghana the species appears to be highly threatened by over-exploitation (Hawthorne 1995).

Guibourtia ehie is mainly used for timber production. It is used for fine furniture and cabinetwork, turnery, decorative veneers and flooring. Extract of the stem bark were used for the treatment of gastrointestinal related clinical problems in African ethnomedicine.

Guibourtia ehie is currently known to occur in several protected areas in west Africa, such as Akure Ofosun Forest Reserve (Nigeria), Okomu Forest Reserve (Nigeria), Afi River Forest Reserve (Nigeria), The Monts Doudou Wildlife Management Area (Gabon), Lope National Park (Gabon), East Nimba National Park (Liberia), Jimira Extension Forest Reserve (Ghana). The species has been listed as Vulnerable (Criteria A1c; ver 2.3) in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (accessed 2009). The species is not currently listed in the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), meaning that the international trade of the species is not currently regulated; but G. ehie appears to be over-exploited at present and it is therefore believed that the species might need to be included in the CITES list of trade species. At present Ghana is the only country which has banned the log export of G. ehie (Oldfield et al.1988). For Ghana, Hawthorne (1995) has given this species a red star, which means it is common but under pressure from exploitation and conservation measures are necessary.