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 due to the historic removal by collectors and the ongoing illegal collecting of the species for ornamental and horticulture purposes as its major threat (Donaldson 2009). This taxon is thought to be protected area in a nature reserve (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). Donaldson (2003) lists reproductive failure as its primary threat with high population decline. 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 1995-2019 for commercial, personal, artificial propagation, scientific, and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, taken from the wild and confiscated or seized. 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). This could bring the species to extinction.
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 dyerianus 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
There are between 350-400 mature individuals remaining in the wild (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). The SANBI Red List Assessment declares only one known location (excluding the isolated individuals which are not reproductive) with an area of occupancy of 0.3 km² (Donaldson 2009). The remaining population is thought to be secure within a private nature reserve.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos dyerianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41886A10568593. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41886A10568593.en.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos dyerianus Lavranos & D.L.Goode. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, stems and seeds. Collection of wild individuals has led to population decline (Donaldson 2009).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos dyerianus Lavranos & D.L.Goode. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
If this species remains in a protected area it should remain stable provided that recruitment is taking place (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). A small population size and known exploitation renders this species highly susceptible to a rapid decline in number through collection.