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 over-collecting for ornamental purposes, reproductive failure and land cover change, causing the population to decline (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2003). This species is scarce and a highly valued species in cycad trade (Donaldson 2009). 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; Smith 2014). Due to its conservation concern status, this species is particularly at risk from trade. In 2014, E. latifrons individuals in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden were stolen (Yeld 2014). This species has a low and decreasing remaining population and cannot sustain ongoing removal from the wild (CITES 2003). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1980-2019 for commercial, personal, scientific, artificial propagation and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, 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. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos latifrons 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.
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-17317990
According to the IUCN Red List, there are between 60-100 mature individuals remaining in the wild and the area of occupancy is an estimated 9 km² (Donaldson 2010; Donaldson 2009). Subpopulations contain 20 individuals which is too low for pollinator support and so too low for recruitment (Donaldson 2009).
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos latifrons Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos latifrons. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41892A10571584. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41892A10571584.en.
The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, stems and seeds. Mature individuals are removed from the wild and its natural pollinators are likely to have gone extinct and with the result that recently no viable seeds have been recorded (Donaldson 2009).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos latifrons Lehm. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Currently, there is an active restoration program at a selected site and this is likely to expand to other sites within the original distribution range of this species (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December).