Assessor: Sarah Schumann
According to the SANBI and IUCN Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as it is a range-restricted endemic that is facing population decline from illegal harvesting at several of its known subpopulations as well as persisting drought (Van Wyk et al. 2020; Young 2022). Collecting pressure is likely to increase in the future as the number of species and volume of plants targeted within the genus since 2019 has increased (Young, 2022). 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; Tshuma 2021; Trenchard 2021; Hyman 2020). Plants of this genus were among those targeted and confiscated during recent criminal prosecutions 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 subspecies is threatened with over-collection.
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-ris
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
Van Wyk, P.C.V., Raimondo, D. & Young, A.J. 2020. Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum maughanii subsp. latum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
This species is widespread and has an extent of occurrence of 545 km² and an area of occupancy of 48 km² (Van Wyk et al. 2020). 8 and 10 known locations are threatened with population decline (Van Wyk et al. 2020). Population size is thought to consist of between 2000-5000 mature individuals and is declining (Young 2022).
Van Wyk, P.C.V., Raimondo, D. & Young, A.J. 2020. Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022)Conophytum maughanii subsp. latum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Mature individuals are removed from the wild and recorded in confiscations (Van Wyk et al. 2020).
Van Wyk, P.C.V., Raimondo, D. & Young, A.J. 2020. Conophytum maughanii N.E.Br. subsp. latum (Tischer) S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
This species has a restricted range which makes it vulnerable to population loss (Hammer, 2002; Young & Desmet, 2016). 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)
Hammer, S. 2002. Dumpling and his wife: New view of the genus Conophytum. EAE Creative Colour, Norwich.
Young, A.J. and Desmet, P.G., 2016. The distribution of the dwarf succulent genus Conophytum NE Br.(Aizoaceae) in southern Africa. Bothalia-African Biodiversity & Conservation, 46(1), pp.1-13.