Assessor: Sarah Schumann
According to the IUCN Red List Assessment, this subspecies is Critically Endangered as it is known from a single location that is threatened with illegal collection for international trade in ornamental succulents (Young, 2022). The single location is known for its succulent diversity and richness and has been regularly targeted by poachers in recent years (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; Young 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 genus and species is being targeted and that this subspecies may be threatened.
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.J. & von Staden, L. 2015. Conophytum bolusiae Schwantes subsp. bolusiae. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young, A.J. 2020. Conophytum armianum S.A.Hammer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
This subspecies is restricted to a range of 5 km² with a single known location, is locally abundant, forming large mature clusters and has an estimated population to be more than 20,000 mature individuals (Young & von Staden 2015; Young, 2022). It is declining as a result of illegal harvesting for the succulent ornamental plant trade, with several thousand plants removed illegally in 2021 alone whereby this is highly likely to continue to be targeted in coming years (Young, 2022).
Young, A.J. & von Staden, L. 2015. Conophytum bolusiae Schwantes subsp. bolusiae. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Young A. 2022. (assessment in prep 2022) Conophytum bolusiae subsp. bolusiae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Whole individuals are recorded in confiscations.
The plants are highly range-restricted which makes them susceptible to a rapid decline in number through collection or other adverse events (Young, 2022).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)