Back to search results

Encephalartos laevifolius

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
Yes
Family
Zamiaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is sensitive as it is threatened with illegal collection of wild individuals, causing population decline. Evidence shows that the Encephalartos genus is in high demand in international trade for ornamental and horticultural purposes as well as local medicinal purposes. The species has a small remaining population size with multiple existing threats, making it vulnerable to further population loss. 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, plant pathogens, habitat loss, the fusarium fungus and thus subsequent reproductive failure (Donaldson 2009). 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). 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. The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1983-2019 for commercial, personal, scientific, artificial propagation and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, and taken from the wild.

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 laevifolius Stapf & Burtt Davy. 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).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

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

95 individuals are left in the wild based on the unpublished Red List assessment (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

The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, stems and seeds. There is evidence that mature individuals are removed from the wild and that stem harvesting is also taking place (Donaldson 2009).

CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos laevifolius Stapf & Burtt Davy. 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

Few remaining individuals in the wild with several threats places the persistence of this species whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor were exploitation to continue (Donaldson 2009).

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos laevifolius Stapf & Burtt Davy. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.

Reference file
CITES Trade Database on Encephalartos laevifolius16.7 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 laevifolius Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf865.3 KB
[Rakuten Ichiba] Encephalartos mail order.pdf516.29 KB
encephalartos_ Search Result _ eBay.pdf1.49 MB