Assessor: Sarah Schumann
All South African cycads as well as this species is included in Appendix I of the CITES Convention which lists all species threatened with extinction that are, or may be affected by trade. According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Critically Endangered as it is threatened with ongoing illegal collection causing the decline in its population (Donaldson 2009). Furthermore this species is threatened with reproductive failure and habitat destruction (Donaldson 2003). Cycad species are in trade demand and at risk from illegal collection (Smith 2014; Yeld 2014). There is strong evidence for the ongoing and rapid decline of most cycad species due primarily to illegal removal and this is especially evident with endangered and critically endangered Encephalartos species (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species in the form of live, leaves and seeds from 1995-2018 for commercial, personal, artificial propagation and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation and taken from the wild (seeds).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Cousins, S.R. and Witkowski, E.T.F., 2017. African cycad ecology, ethnobotany and conservation: a synthesis. The Botanical Review, 83(2), pp.152-194.
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos aemulans Vorster. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Okubamichael, D. Y., S. L. Jack, J. D. Bösenberg, M. T. Hoffman & J. S. Donaldson. 2016. Repeat photography confirms alarming decline in south African cycads. Biodiversity Conservation 25(11): 2153–2170.
Smith, D. 2014. 1 September 2014. South Africa's ancient cycad plants under threat from poachers. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/01/ancient-cycad-plants-under-threat-poachers
Yeld, J. 2014. 7 August 2014. Cycad thieves strike again. IOL. Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/news/cycad-thieves-strike-again-1731799
This species Non-Detriment Findings (2016) state there are 600 mature individuals remaining in the wild and the extent of occurrence is less than 2 km².
Government Gazette No. 40021. 27 May 2016. Non-detriment findings for Encephalartos aemulans. Issued by the Scientific Authority of South Africa.
According to the CITES Trade Database, whole live individuals and seeds are being traded. The SANBI Red List Assessment mentions the removal of the whole plant permanently from the wild.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos aemulans Vorster. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1
Research shows that cycads are generally long-lived, have slow growth rates, produce low numbers of offspring and have infrequent recruitment (Golding & Hurter, 2003; Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017). Encephalartos species are known to experience population decline from removal of adult plants (Donaldson 1995). Viable seed production in Encephalartos populations tends to decline with decreasing population size (Cousins & Witkowksi 2017). The ongoing illegal collection of the species combined with its highly restricted range makes for a poor chance of recovery of its population in the wild. However active seedling regeneration is occurring (Donaldson 2009). Smaller subpopulations are more likely to experience declines than larger subpopulations as a result of fragmentation processes (Golding & Hurter 2003).
Cousins, S.R. and Witkowski, E.T.F., 2017. African cycad ecology, ethnobotany and conservation: a synthesis. The Botanical Review, 83(2), pp.152-194.
Donaldson, J.S., 1995. Understanding cycad life histories, an essential basis for successful conservation. In: Donaldson, J.S. (Ed.), Cycad Conservation in South Africa, Issues, Priorities and Actions. The Cycad Society of South Africa, Stellenbosch, pp. 8–13.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos aemulans Vorster. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1
Golding, J.S. and Hurter, P.J.H., 2003. A Red List account of Africa's cycads and implications of considering life-history and threats. Biodiversity & Conservation, 12(3), pp.507-528.
Okubamichael, D. Y., S. L. Jack, J. D. Bösenberg, M. T. Hoffman & J. S. Donaldson. 2016. Repeat photography confirms alarming decline in south African cycads. Biodiversity Conservation 25(11): 2153–2170.