Knema glomerata occurs in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. This species naturally thrives in primary and degraded forests, dipterocarp forest, and mangrove forest at 19 to 850 m above sea level. It has a relatively large extent of occurrence (EOO) of around 1,889,250.99 km² where its prominent geographic distribution indicates its adaptability in various countries. It also considered to have a large total population given its wide distribution. Though its population size is currently not known, it incurs a continuous, slow, but significant decline in area, extent and quality of habitat due to habitat-threatening effects of commodity-driven deforestation, logging activities, shifting agriculture, and urbanization. However, although there is decline in the EOO, AOO, and quality of habitat, the species was still assessed as Least Concern given the large EOO and the threats are not thought to significantly affect the survival of this species. Conservation both, in situ and ex situ would be an essential initiative in preventing the species from being pushed into any threatened category in the future.

Knema glomerata is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The species is found in primary and degraded forests, dipterocarp forest, and mangrove forest of Agusan del Norte, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batangas, Benguet, Biliran, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Isabela, Laguna, Lanao del Sur, Leyte, Marinduque, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sorsogon, Surigao del Norte, Tarlac, Zambales, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay (Malangas), Philippines as well as in Buru, Maluku, Indonesia and Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. It usually grows at an elevation of 19 to 850 m above sea level (de Wilde 2000, GBIF 2022). It has an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 1,889,250.99 km².

In 2019, seven individuals of Knema glomerata were recorded in the Philippines by Pro-Seeds Development Association, Inc. –  four in General Nakar, Quezon and three in Mount Mingan, Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. The total population size remains uncertain due to a lack of research initiatives – which can be addressed by further inventory and documentation. It is expected that there is a continuous population decline due to continuing forest losses within the provinces induced by commodity-driven deforestation, logging activities, shifting agriculture, and urbanization (GFW 2022).

Knema glomerata is a small to large tree species with a height ranging from four to 25 m. It naturally thrives in primary and degraded forests, dipterocarp forest, and mangrove forest at 19 to 850 m above sea level (GBIF 2022). The species flowers throughout the year, while it bears fruits from June to December (de Wilde 2000).

Knema glomerata is primarily threatened by land conversion and habitat degradation caused by commodity-driven deforestation, logging activities, shifting agriculture, and urbanization. Based on analyzed data from the Global Forest Watch, a significant loss of tree cover from 2001 to 2020 is reported across the range (provinces) of the species – 676,686ha in the Philippines.

Knema glomerata is a voucher specimen for anticancer and anti-AIDS screening (GBIF 2022).

The species is not listed on the Philippine Red List and therefore not protected by law against illegal collection or extraction from the wild (DENR-BMB 2017). However, the species is protected in situ because of its presence in declared protected areas (PAs) such as Sta. Praxedes-Claveria Marine Protected Area (SPCMPAN), Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Marcos Highway Watershed Forest Reserve, Casecnan Protected Landscape, Roosevelt Protected Landscape, Mts. Palay-palay-Mataas-na-Gulod Protected Landscape, Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, Quezon Protected Landscape, Alabat Watershed Forest Reserve, Mt. Isarog Natural Park, Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park, Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, Asid Gulf Marine Protected Area Network (AGMPAN), Bulusan Volcano Natural Park, Samar Island Natural Park, Central Cebu Protected Landscape, Mt. Timpoong Hibok-hibok Natural Monument, Lake Lanao Watershed Reservation, Mt. Apo Natural Park, Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape, Dumanquillas Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape, Angat (Pilot) Watershed and Forest Range, Palaui Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, and Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape. It is also recorded in key biodiversity areas (KBAs) such as Babuyanes Islands, Apayao Lowland Forest, Aurora Memorial National Park, Mount Dingalan, Mariveles mountains, Quezon National Park, Ragay Gulf, Puerto Galera, Mount Halcon, Balogo watershed, Cuernos de Negros, San Vicente - Taytay - Roxas Forests, Timpoong and Hibok-hibok Natural Monument, and Mounts Irid-Angilo and Binuang. Although these PAs and KBAs are supported by law, conservation of the species' population is not guaranteed due to several threats which may cause rapid population. Thus, species-specific conservation programmes, including cultivation in botanic gardens for ex situ conservation are recommended to ensure its continuous survival.