Levels of exploitation for its timber are moderate and are contributing to the declines in population numbers. The current category applied should be kept under review. Endemic to the Guineo-Congolian region, this timber species is declining in population numbers because of heavy exploitation and habitat loss. It grows in mature little-disturbed lowland rainforest. A gregarious forest species restricted to swampy areas, rivers and also coastal regions.
Regeneration is good in wet areas.
It is able to reproduce vegetatively. Overexploitation of the general-purpose timber and habitat degradation in large parts of its range are causing population declines. Azob is a pioneer species and occurs abundantly in wet evergreen forest, which continues to experience large-scale destruction. Slow growth rate, poor regeneration in less than optimum conditions and over exploitation as a timber species are contributing to the decline in population numbers through most of its range. East Africa was once a major source of the timber, which was used as a teak substitute until supplies became short.