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Aloe brevifolia

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Asphodelaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This species is thought to be horticulturally sought after and is being subjected to illegal collection. Several others of the genus are known to be targeted, exploited and illegally removed from the wild, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Aloe genus is in high demand in international horticultural trade. A small and disjunct population makes this species highly vulnerable to population loss. Releasing data on this species can 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 consists of a small and fragmented remaining population that has lost more than 80% of its habitat to crop cultivation and is experiencing ongoing threat from habitat degradation and alien invasive plants (von Staden et al. 2019). This species is thought to be horticulturally sought after (Personal communication, S. Molteno, 5 August 2022). This genus is in demand and of popular interest in horticultural trade, as indicated by several online marketplace, e-commerce and auction sites. This species and others of the genus were among those targeted and confiscated during a criminal prosecution of illegal plant collecting. There has been several recorded confiscations of this species and others of the genus from illegal collection (Confiscation Lists (2018-2022) provided by Cape Nature, SANBI Karoo Desert Botanical Garden and Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden). Aloe species are widely utilised for traditional and medicinal purposes and are also popular in domestic and international horticulture trade (Grace, 2011). Many wild aloe species are threatened by over-exploitation for the succulent plant trade as well as over-utilisation for cosmetics and natural products which makes rare, endemic and utility taxa conservation priority (Grace, 2011). It is believed that the most sought after and so potentially vulnerable species among plant collectors, are rare endemics and difficult to grow species (Cousins & Witkowski, 2012).

Cousins, S.R. and Witkowski, E.T.F., 2012. African aloe ecology: a review. Journal of Arid Environments, 85, pp.1-17.

Grace, O.M., 2011. Current perspectives on the economic botany of the genus Aloe L.(Xanthorrhoeaceae). South African Journal of Botany, 77(4), pp.980-987.

von Staden, L., Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2019. Aloe brevifolia Mill. 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 area of occupancy of 52-76 km² and has an estimated population size of less than 2000 mature individuals (von Staden et al. 2019). This species is thought to be rare with a disjunct population (Personal communication, S. Molteno, 5 August 2022).

von Staden, L., Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2019. Aloe brevifolia Mill. 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

Whole individuals are recorded in confiscations.

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

A small and fragmented subpopulation with existing threats including harvesting of wild individuals (von Staden et al. 2019), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.

von Staden, L., Raimondo, D. & Helme, N.A. 2019. Aloe brevifolia Mill. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
Aloe Aucfan.pdf468.22 KB
aloe _ eBay.pdf643.68 KB
Aloe brevifolia Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf783.4 KB