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 Vulnerable as it is threatened by over-collecting and habitat degradation from overgrazing whereby the population is declining (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2003). Cycad species are in trade demand and at risk from illegal collection (Smith 2014; Yeld 2014). Studies present strong evidence of ongoing and accelerating rates of decline in most cycad species due mainly to illegal removal (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1979-2020 for commercial, personal, scientific, travelling exhibition, artificial propagation and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation. This all suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.
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 trispinosus (Hook.) R.A.Dyer. 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
According to the IUCN Red List, there are 3 500-10 000 mature individuals remaining in the wild (Donaldson 2010). However surveys have only recorded between 300 and 400 individuals and between 5-10 remaining subpopulations. There has been an estimated 30% decline in population since the 1950s and species are found within three nature reserves (Donaldson 2009).
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos trispinosus (Hook.) R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos trispinosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41926A10600535. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41926A10600535.en.
The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals and seeds. Mature individuals are removed from the wild causing population decline (Donaldson 2009).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos trispinosus (Hook.) R.A.Dyer. 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, Donaldson 2003, Cousins & Witkowski 2017).Viable seed production in Encephalartos populations tends to decline with decreasing population size (Cousins & Witkowksi 2017). Few remaining locations with existing threat including exploitation (Donaldson 2009), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.
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 trispinosus (Hook.) R.A.Dyer. 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.