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Encephalartos lehmannii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Zamiaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is sensitive as it is threatened with illegal collection of wild individuals, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Encephalartos genus is in high demand in international trade for ornamental and horticultural purposes as well as local medicinal purposes. The species has a small remaining population size with multiple existing threats, making it vulnerable to further population loss. Releasing data on this species can exacerbate threat and vulnerability.
This species is threatened by widespread, unregulated, unsustainable exploitation of wild populations. 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

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 According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, this species is Vulnerable as per the latest unpublished Red List Assessment as is mostly threatened by over-browsing however over-collecting by poachers and the population is declining (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2003). However research shows that this species is among the 25 of 37 Encephalartos species that is being utilised for traditional medicine (Cousins, 2012). In 2015, E. lehmannii individuals were poached on private land in collusion with a cycad syndicate (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Bornman 2015). Removal of 50% of a subpopulation was recorded in 2016 (Okubamichael et al. 2016). Research suggests that this species has declined faster than the IUCN Red List has predicted and its 2010 assessment needs to be re-assessed (Okubamichael et al. 2016). 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 1978-2020 for commercial, personal, scientific, travelling exhibition, artificial propagation, law enforcement/medical forensic and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, taken from the wild and confiscated or seized. This 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., Williams, V.L., & Witkowski, E.T.F. 2012. Uncovering the cycad taxa (Encephalartos species) traded for traditional medicine in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 78, 129–138. DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2011.06.001

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 lehmannii Lehm. 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. 

Bornman, J. 2015. 27 September 2015. Farmer accused in huge cycad bust. Times Live. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2015-09-27-farmer-accused-in-huge-cycad-bust/

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

Population vulnerability
Population is not vulnerable: size is > 2500 mature individuals, AND the number of known subpopulations is > 5 AND range > 100km2
Justification and references

According to the IUCN Red List, there are 5000-7000 mature individuals remaining in the wild and subpopulations are large (Donaldson 2010; Donaldson 2009). This species is found in two nature reserves.

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos lehmannii Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos lehmannii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41934A10604117. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41934A10604117.en

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

The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals and seeds. Mature individuals are removed from the wild and bark harvesting is also taking places (Donaldson 2009; Cousins 2012).

CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.

Cousins, S.R., Williams, V.L., & Witkowski, E.T.F. 2012. Uncovering the cycad taxa (Encephalartos species) traded for traditional medicine in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 78, 129–138. DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2011.06.00

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos lehmannii Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

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

It is not likely that the entire extant population will be removed (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). However few known locations with existing threat of exploitation (Donaldson 2010; Donaldson 2009), places the persistence of this species at risk.

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos lehmannii Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. 

Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos lehmannii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41934A10604117. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41934A10604117.en

Reference file
CITES Trade Database on Encephalartos lehmannii 56.15 KB
South Africa's ancient cycad plants under threat from poachers _ South Africa _ The Guardian-compressed.pdf608.75 KB
Cycad thieves strike again.pdf206.26 KB
Farmer accused in huge cycad bust.pdf139.87 KB
Donaldson 2009 Encephalartos lehmannii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf613.89 KB
[Rakuten Ichiba] Encephalartos mail order.pdf516.29 KB
encephalartos_ Search Result _ eBay.pdf1.49 MB