Assessor: Sarah Schumann
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 Endangered as it is threatened by removal from collectors, decreasing its population size by 50% as well as its geographic extent declining due to land use change (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2003). 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 and this is especially evident with endangered and critically endangered Encephalartos species (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017).The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1979-2019 for commercial, personal, scientific, botanical garden, artificial propagation, and law enforcement purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, taken from the wild, and confiscated or seized. This all suggests that this species and genus is being targeted and that this species is at risk to over-exploitation.
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
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. 2009. Encephalartos arenarius R.A.Dyer. 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.Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
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
According to the IUCN Red List assessment, between 850-1500 individuals remain in the wild due predominantly to removal by collectors (Donaldson 2010). According to the SANBI Red List Assessment, over the past 40 years the extent of occurrence has decreased to 250 km², and the area of occupancy to 20 km² due to landcover change (Donaldson 2009).
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos arenarius R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos arenarius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41900A10584794. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41900A10584794.en
CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals and seeds. Mature individuals are known to be poached which is causing population decline (Xaba 2008; Donaldson, 2009).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos arenarius R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Xaba, P. 2008. Encephalartos arenarius R.A.Dyer. PlantZAfrica. Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-arenarius
Research shows that cycads are generally long-lived, have slow growth rates, produce low numbers of offspring and have infrequent recruitment (Golding & Hurter 2003, Donaldson 2003, Cousins & Witkowski 2017). Encephalartos species experience population decline from removal of adult plants (Donaldson 1995) .Viable seed production in Encephalartos populations tends to decline with decreasing population size (Cousins & Witkowksi 2017). With its shrinking habitat and sustained loss of species to removal, there is a poor chance of wild populations recovering from exploitation (Donaldson 2009). However with protection and restoration efforts this species could recover and the chances of the entire extant population being removed is fairly slim as the plants occur in very dense thicket (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December)
(van Jaarsveld. E, Helme. N & Peckover. R, personal communication 2021, 14 October)
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., 1995. Understanding cycad life histories, an essential basis for successful conservation. In: Donaldson, J.S. (Ed.), Cycad Conservation in South Africa, Issues, Priorities and Actions. The Cycad Society of South Africa, Stellenbosch, pp. 8–13.
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 arenarius R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Golding, J.S. and Hurter, P.J.H., 2003. A Red List account of Africa's cycads and implications of considering life-history and threats. Biodiversity & Conservation, 12(3), pp.507-528.