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 over-collecting for ornamental purposes and habitat loss, with a declining population trend (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2003). The species is now extinct in some areas of its historic geographical range (Donaldson 2009). Population numbers have decreased by 50% in the past 50 years due to over-collecting and urban development. 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). In 2016, 50% of one subpopulation was removed and 100% of another was removed (Okubamichael et al. 2016). Research suggests that this species is declining faster than the IUCN Red List suggests and needs to be re-assessed (Okubamichael et al. 2016). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1979-2019 for commercial, personal, scientific, educational, travelling exhibition and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, and confiscated or seized.
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 horridus (Jacq.) Lehm. 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.
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, there are between 3000-7000 mature individuals remaining in the wild (Donaldson 2010). There are more than 5 subpopulations remaining (Donaldson 2009).
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos horridus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41905A10587904. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41905A10587904.en
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos horridus (Jacq.) Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Mature individuals are removed from the wild causing population decline (Donaldson 2009). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals and seeds.
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos horridus (Jacq.) Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
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). Smaller subpopulations are more likely to experience declines than larger subpopulations as a result of fragmentation processes (Golding & Hurter 2003).
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 horridus (Jacq.) Lehm. 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.