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 Vulnerable as it is threatened by illegal over-collecting, habitat loss and alien invasion whereby and the population is declining (Bosenberg 2009; Donaldson 2003). 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 (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1978-2020 for commercial, personal, scientific, travelling exhibition, artificial propagation and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation, taken from the wild. This all suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.
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.
Bosenberg, J.D. 2009. Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2003. Cycads. Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland; Cambridge, UK.
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 3 500- 5000 mature individuals remaining in the wild (Donaldson 2010). The population is known to have declined by up to 30% in the past 50 years and is projected to continue declining. The extent of occurrence is 1917 km² and there are 6 remaining subpopulations known (Bosenberg 2009) (Bösenberg. DW, personal communication 2021, 1 December).
Bosenberg, J.D. 2009. Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos princeps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41922A10598237. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41922A10598237.en
The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, dried plants and seeds. Mature individuals are removed from the wild causing population decline (Bosenberg 2009).
Bosenberg, J.D. 2009. Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
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 & Witowksi 2017). Few remaining subpopulations with existing threat including exploitation (Bosenberg 2009), places the persistence of this species at risk whereby recruitment and recovery may be poor.
Bosenberg, J.D. 2009. Encephalartos princeps R.A.Dyer. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
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.
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.