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Encephalartos woodii

Assessor: Sarah Schumann

Sensitive in 2010
No
Family
Zamiaceae
Reason for the sensitivity status
This taxon is deemed not sensitive as it is Extinct in the Wild due to overharvesting for medicinal purposes and cannot be threatened any longer.
Exploitation extent
None - this species and its close relatives are not exploited, collected, traded or utilized in a targeted manner.
Justification and references

This species is Extinct in the Wild. According to the SANBI Red List Assessment and the IUCN Red List, this species was harvested for medicinal use to extinction and no longer occurs in the wild (Donaldson 2009; Donaldson 2010). The last wild specimen was seen in 1916. The species is therefore not sensitive anymore as it only occurs in cultivation currently and is Extinct in the wild.

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos woodii Sander. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 2021/09/03

Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos woodii (errata version published in 2016). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T41881A92750886. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41881A10566412.en

Population vulnerability
Unknown
Justification and references

There are no more mature individuals in the wild (Donaldson 2009). Last wild specimens were seen in 1916. The species is well represented in botanical gardens and cycad collections where 500 individuals exist, propagated from the original plants discovered (Notten 2002). 

Donaldson, J.S. 2009. Encephalartos woodii Sander. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020

Notten, A. 2002. Encephalartos woodii Sander. PlantZAfrica. Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-woodii

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.
Regeneration potential
Unknown
Justification and references

E. woodii is the fastest growing species of Encephalartos however it does not occur in the wild and so cannot recover from exploitation (Notten 2002). 

Notten, A. 2002. Encephalartos woodii Sander. PlantZAfrica. Available at: http://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-woodii

Reference file
Donaldson 2009 Encephalartos woodii Threatened Species Programme _ SANBI Red List of South African Plants.pdf369.76 KB