Warburgia salutaris | SANBI Sensitive Species

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010

Yes

Family

Canellaceae

Reason for the sensitivity status

This species is experiencing high levels of bark harvesting for traditional medicine. This species was among those targeted and confiscated from illegal plant collecting. As this taxon has lost an estimated 50% of its population with local extinctions of small subpopulations occurring, it is vulnerable to further population loss. Recruitment and recovery from harvesting may be poor. Releasing data on this species could exacerbate threat and vulnerability.

This species is extremely rare in the wild and is known to be exploited, utilised or traded. The localities of remaining populations need to be protected to avoid any further exploitation, which is likely to drive it to extinction.

Exploitation extent

Significant - wild individuals of the species are known to be exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner, and utilisation is widespread, affects the majority of wild populations and/or is causing rapid decline of the wild population.

Justification and references

According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Endangered as it is has lost at least 50% of its population to high levels of bark harvesting for traditional medicine (Williams et al. 2008; Botha et al. 2004). Extinctions and low numbers of individuals in subpopulations have been recorded (Williams et al. 2008). The bark is considered to be popular and scarce at traditional medicine markets (Williams et al. 2008). This species was among those targeted and confiscated from illegal plant collecting (Confiscation List (2010) provided by Cape Nature). This suggests that this genus may be targeted and that this species of this species may be at risk of over-exploitation.

Botha, J., Witkowski, E.T.F. and Shackleton, C.M., 2004. The impact of commercial harvesting on Warburgia salutaris (‘pepper-bark tree’) in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Biodiversity & Conservation, 13(9), pp.1675-1698.

Williams, V.L., Geldenhuys, C.J., Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Population vulnerability

Population is vulnerable: size is <= 2500 mature individuals OR the number of known subpopulations is <= 5 OR range is <= 100km² OR species at risk of localised extinctions

Justification and references

This taxon has lost an estimated 50% of its population and local extinctions of small subpopulations are occurring (Williams et al. 2008).

Williams, V.L., Geldenhuys, C.J., Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Targeted demographics

Mature (breeding) individuals are killed, significantly weakened or are permanently removed from the wild, OR immature individuals are targeted and this significantly impacts mature (breeding) individuals.

Justification and references

Bark is harvested and individuals are cut down to their base causing its population to decrease (Williams et al. 2008).

Williams, V.L., Geldenhuys, C.J., Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Regeneration potential

This species has a slow population growth rate, or the growth rate varies depending on habitat, and there is a poor chance the wild populations will recover from exploitation OR a collector might feasibly harvest the entire extant population removing the chance of subsequent recruitment.

Justification and references

Harvesting levels are thought to be unsustainable whereby small subpopulations are becoming extinct and chances of recovery and recruitment have lowered (Williams et al. 2008).

Williams, V.L., Geldenhuys, C.J., Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. 2008. Warburgia salutaris (G.Bertol.) Chiov. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file

Warburgia salutaris Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf645.67 KB