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Encephalartos hirsutus

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Zamiaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is sensitive as it is threatened with illegal collection of wild individuals, causing population decline and reproductive failure. Only two mature individuals are known to remain, making this species functionally extinct. Evidence shows that the Encephalartos genus is in high demand in international trade for ornamental and horticultural purposes as well as local medicinal purposes. 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

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 over-collecting for ornamental purposes (Donaldson 2009). Unpublished Red List Assessment lists only 2 mature individuals in the wild and these are separated by a distance of 80km. This makes it functionally extinct (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). 

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

Unpublished Red List Assessment lists only 2 mature individuals in the wild and these are separated by a distance of 80km. (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). 

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

Mature individuals are removed from the wild. CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals and seeds. Collection of wild individuals has caused 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 hirsutus P.J.H.Hurter. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

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

Unpublished Red List Assessment lists only 2 mature individuals in the wild and these are separated by a distance of 80km. This makes it functionally extinct (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December). 

Reference file
CITES Trade Database on Encephalartos hirsutus 9.4 KB
South Africa's ancient cycad plants under threat from poachers _ South Africa _ The Guardian-compressed.pdf608.75 KB
Cycad thieves strike again.pdf206.26 KB
Donaldson 2009 Encephalartos hirsutus Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf841.88 KB
[Rakuten Ichiba] Encephalartos mail order.pdf516.29 KB
encephalartos_ Search Result _ eBay.pdf1.49 MB