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Begonia dregei

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Begoniaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is experiencing population decline due to harvesting for traditional medicine purposes. A small population size with existing threat makes this species 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 experiencing population decline due to harvesting for traditional medicine purposes (Williams et al. 2008). The caudices are utilized and have been recorded at traditional medicine markets in Kwa-Zulu Natal (Von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003).

Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia dregei Otto & A.Dietr. 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 an estimated population size of less than 2500 individuals and 12 small subopulations.

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia dregei Otto & A.Dietr. 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

Caudices are harvested and the population is subsequently declining (Williams et al. 2008; Von Ahlefeldt et al. 2003).

Williams, V.L., Crouch, N.R., McLellan, T. & von Staden, L. 2008. Begonia dregei Otto & A.Dietr. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Von Ahlefeldt, D., Crouch, N.R., Nichols, G., Symmonds, R., McKean, S., Sibiya, H. and Cele, M.P. 2003. Medicinal plants traded on South Africa's eastern seabord. Porcupine Press, Durban.

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

Small subpopulations with ongoing harvesting results in lower chances of recruitment and recovery.

Reference file
Begonia dregei Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf557.75 KB