Many wild and underutilised plants contribute to food and nutrition. However, overexploitation
due to ever increasing demand for wood products has frequently led to declines in populations
of these species. Enhanced knowledge of the status of such species is necessary for livelihood
security and conservation of these valuable species. The present study considers an underutilised
and threatened species of Bangladesh, namely wild mango (Mangifera sylvatica Roxb.). Although
this wild mango is one of the genetically closest species to the common mango (Mangifera indica
L.) research is very limited and mostly focused on wood quality and phylogenetic relationships.
Therefore, this study investigated the conservation potential of wild mango considering its
contribution for food, nutrition and livelihoods. To do so, an assessment was made of the current
and future distribution of the species, which is a crucial first step towards mitigation and
management of future species losses or habitat shifts. The study characterized fruit quality by
profiling morphological, nutritional and medicinal values. Finally, farmers’ preferences, and the
agroforestry potential of this unutilized native fruit species were explored. The study conveyed
five key messages: 1. Wild mango may become extinct under future climate change scenarios so
it is high time to start thinking about conservation initiatives. 2. Wild mango is a small sized
mango with a large kernel in relation to other Mangifera species which provides significant
nutritional and medicinal advantages that can contribute to nutrition and health of local people.
3. Wild mango fruit kernels producing a butter which has the potential to be used as a Cocoa
Butter Alternative (CBA) thus providing new market potential. 4. Wild mango is a considered as
a food for wildlife but local people are also appreciative of the taste and colour of the fruits and
consume them. The unripe fruit is also sold to the pickle industry and can generate income during
the fruiting season. 5. The crown architecture of wild mango is similar to other popular
agroforestry species (M. indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Acacia auriculiformis). Therefore,
urgent conservation initiatives are required to evaluate its potential as a new native agroforestry
tree species. It is concluded that these attractive properties of wild mango could be promoted by
a coalition of land use planners, climate change policy makers, government or non-government
organizations, commercial breeder, potential investors (chocolate, butter, nutraceuticals,
flavourings), food industries, food technologists, minister responsible for foreign direct
investment in Bangladesh and Bangladesh forestry department to promote more widespread
cultivation of this wild fruit species to realise its full potential.