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 Critically Endangered as it is threatened by ongoing over-collection and reproductive failure with more than 80% decline in populations over the past 90 years (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 1996-2019 for commercial, personal, scientific, and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation. Due to its Red List status, this species is particularly at risk from trade. This species has a low and decreasing remaining population and cannot sustain ongoing removal from the wild (CITES 2003).
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. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos dolomiticus Lavranos & D.L.Goode. 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.
PC14 Doc.9.2.2 – Annex 1. 2003. Review of Significant Trade – Cycads. Presented at the 14th Meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, Windhoek, February 2004. Information compiled by TRAFFIC East and Southern Africa (TESA).
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
The most recent survey gives the total population as only 4 medium/large plants and a few suckers that remain in the wild (Unpublished Red List Assessment)
Mature individuals are removed causing population decline (Donaldson 2009). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, stems and seeds.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos dolomiticus Lavranos & D.L.Goode. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
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). Viable seed production in Encephalartos populations tends to decline with decreasing population size (Cousins & Witkowksi 2017). The removal of mature individuals results in reproductive failure and with a small population remaining as well as ongoing decline of populations in the wild, there is a poor chance of recovery from exploitation (Donaldson 2009).
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 dolomiticus Lavranos & D.L.Goode. 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.