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 of Least Concern as it is threatened by removal from the wild for collecting purposes as well as habitat loss however the abundance and large range of the species makes the species less vulnerable (Donaldson 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 and this is especially evident with endangered and critically endangered Encephalartos species (Okubamichael et al. 2016; Cousins & Witkowski 2017). Research shows that this species is among the 25 of 37 Encephalartos species that is being utilised for traditional medicine (Cousins, 2012). The species is found within several provincial nature reserves and private conservancies however research shows that this species is utilised within and outside of its protected areas (Ravele & Makhado 2010). According to Ravele & Makhado (2010) the species is harvested by local communities for income generation and subsistence purposes and is also threatened by illegal collection, habitat destruction, fire and grazing. (Ravele & Makhado 2010). This species is used for medicinal purposes, decoration, cultural activities and food (Ravele & Makhado 2010). Research shows that this species is experiencing bark harvesting and the uprooting of young seedlings (Bamigboye et al. 2017). Another research paper quantified the threats to a subpopulation of this species and found 47% of the plants were damaged by bark harvesting for traditional medicine and the population had a mortality rate of 9% (Bamigboye & Tshisikhawe 2020). Repeat photography shows the impacts of bark harvesting on the decline of the species too (Okubamichael et al. 2016). The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of the species from 1979-2020 for commercial, personal, scientific, educational, artificial propagation, and botanical garden purposes. Sourced from artificial propagation and taken from the wild. This all suggests that this genus is being targeted and that this species may be at risk.
Bamigboye, S., Tshisikhawe, M.P., and Taylor, P.J., 2017. Detecting threats to Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad) in Limpopo province, South Africa through indigenous knowledge. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, ITJK Vol. 16, NISCAIR-CSIR.
Bamigboye, S. and Tshisikhawe, M.P., 2020. The impacts of bark harvesting on a population of Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad), in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 21(1).
CITES trade statistics derived from the CITES Trade Database, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.
Cousins, S.R., Williams, V.L., & Witkowski, E.T.F. 2012. Uncovering the cycad taxa (Encephalartos species) traded for traditional medicine in Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany, 78, 129–138. DOI:10.1016/j.sajb.2011.06.001
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 transvenosus 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.
Ravele, A.M. and Makhado, R.A., 2010. Exploitation of Encephalartos transvenosus outside and inside Mphaphuli cycads nature reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal of Ecology, 48(1), pp.105-110.
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 20 000- 50 000 mature individuals remaining in the wild and the population is decreasing (Donaldson 2010). The abundance at several locations of the species makes it less vulnerable (Donaldson 2009).
Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1.
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos transvenosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41945A10607974. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41945A10607974.en
The CITES Trade Database has recorded the trade of live individuals, stems, and seeds. A study including this species found 47% of the plants were damaged by bark harvesting for traditional medicine and the population had a mortality rate of 9% (Bamigboye & Tshisikhawe 2020).
Bamigboye, S. and Tshisikhawe, M.P., 2020. The impacts of bark harvesting on a population of Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad), in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 21(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 & Witkowksi 2017). As this species has a large population size (Donaldson 2009), recruitment and recovery from exploitation may be possible.
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 transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy. 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.