Assessor: Sarah Schumann
According to the IUCN Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as this species is threatened with illegal collection of mature individuals for the international trade in ornamental succulents in 2020-21 resulting in low levels of decline (Young, 2022). This species has been highly sought after by collectors and is highly likely to remain so in future. Another threat includes livestock grazing which is causing ongoing degradation and loss of habitat. As of 2019, this genus has become popular in trade and there is a high demand from international and domestic horticultural markets for wild collected plants as indicated by media, police reports and several online marketplace, e-commerce, and auction sites (Friedman, 2021; Trenchard, 2021; Hyman, 2020; Tshuma, 2021). Species of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during a recent criminal prosecution of illegal plant collecting (Majikela, 2020; Myburgh, 2021). There has been several recorded confiscations of the subspecies and others of the genus from illegal plant collection (Confiscation Lists (2019-2021) provided by Cape Nature, SANBI Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden, SANBI Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, SANParks Sendelingsdrift Botanic Garden and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment). This suggests that this species and genus is being targeted and that this species is at risk of over-exploitation.
Friedman, B. 2021. 24 May 2021. South Africa targeted for rare plant poaching placing biodiversity at risk. Cape Talk. Available at: https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/417213/south-africa-targeted-for-rare-plant-poaching-placing-biodiversity-at-risk
Hyman, A. 2020. 1 February 2020. Koreans fined R5m as poachers target SA's succulent treasure chest. Times Live. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-02-01-koreans-fined-r5m-as-poachers-target-sas-succulent-treasure-chest/
Majikela, M. 2020. 31 January 2020. Hefty sentencing for possession of Conophytum plants. Media Statement. South African Police Service Office of the Provincial Commissioner Western Cape. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroommsspeechdetail.php?nid=24491
Myburgh, A. 2021. 20 January 2021. Man behind bars for possession of endangered plants (Conophytum). Media Statement South African Police Service, Office of the Provincial Commissioner North West. Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=24491
Trenchard, T. 2021. 31 July 2021. In South Africa, Poachers Now Traffic in Tiny Succulent Plants. The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/africa/south-africa-poachers-tiny-succulent-plants.html
Tshuma, N. 2021. 20 May 2021. Collectors drive a spike in theft of indigenous plants in the Western Cape. IOL. Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/collectors-drive-a-spike-in-theft-of-indigenous-plants-in-the-western-cape-e120f529-741b-43a7-8454-cb8f69544878
Young A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum bilobum subsp. altum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
There is no formal population size estimate for this species however it is likely to be between 10 000 and 25 000 mature individuals and is declining at low levels due to illegal harvesting. (Young, 2022). The extent of occurrence of the species is 2703 km² and area of occupancy is 80 km² (Young, 2015).
Young, A.J. 2015. Conophytum bilobum (Marloth) N.E.Br. subsp. altum (L.Bolus) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum bilobum subsp. altum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Individuals are removed from the wild as the several confiscation records state.
Regeneration potential for the vast majority of the Conophytum genus is very poor as recruitment is low and dependent on successive, appropriate weather conditions. Seeds are not known to disperse. Regeneration will take decades. (Young, personal communication 2021, 5 October)