The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T41937A10605143
Encephalartos natalensis, Natal Giant Cycad
Assessment by: Donaldson, J.S.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos natalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2010: e.T41937A10605143. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Cycadopsida
Cycadales
Zamiaceae
Taxon Name: Encephalartos natalensis R.A.Dyer & I.Verd.
Common Name(s):
• English:
Natal Cycad, Natal Giant Cycad
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Published:
2010
Date Assessed:
October 31, 2009
Justification:
This species has declined in certain parts of its range. The overall population decline is estimated to be
<30% over the past 60 years based on repeat photographs and visits to subpopulations. It could be listed
as Vulnerable if overall population numbers drop below 10,000 (C1) or if the extent of decline increases
from the current level up to 30% or higher.
Previously Published Red List Assessments
2003 – Near Threatened (NT)
1998 – Rare (R)
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species occurs from the Qumbu and Tabankulu areas of the northern part of the Eastern Cape,
through most of KwaZulu-Natal up to the upper catchment areas of the Mkuze and Umfolozi rivers near
Vryheid in South Africa. Has a wide altitudinal range being recorded from 200 up to 1,200 m asl.
Country Occurrence:
Native: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Encephalartos natalensis – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
1
Population
There are numerous subpopulations scattered throughout its range, with numbers of mature individuals
though to be between 8,300 and 12,000.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
This species occurs on cliffs and steep, hot and dry slopes in scarp forests. Plants grow on cool southfacing cliff faces, in forest or are exposed. E. natalensis occurs close to the coast in certain areas, but
more commonly further inland.
Systems: Terrestrial
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
Some subpopulations have been impacted by collecting and bark harvesting for medicinal purposes. For
example, the plants at the type locality at Monteseel have been debarked resulting in mortality.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Populations occur in the following reserves:
Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, Krantzkloof
Nature Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iGwala-Gwala (Natural Heritage Site), Rendsburg Cycad Colony
(Natural Heritage Site), Mgwahumbe (Natural Heritage Site) and Hope Valley (Natural Heritage Site).
Credits
Assessor(s):
Donaldson, J.S.
Reviewer(s):
Agenbag, L. & Bösenberg, J.D.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Encephalartos natalensis – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
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Bibliography
Goode, D. 1989. Cycads of Africa. Struik Winchester, Cape Town.
Goode, D. 2001. Cycads of Africa. D & E Cycads of Africa, Gallo Manor, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Grobbelaar, N. 2002. CYCADS - with special reference to the southern African species. Privately published
by Nat Grobbelaar, Pretoria, South Africa.
IUCN. 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2010.3). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 2 September 2010).
Scott-Shaw, C.R. 1999. Rare and Threatened Plants of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring regions.
KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services, Pietermaritzburg.
Citation
Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos natalensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010:
e.T41937A10605143. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Encephalartos natalensis – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
3
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry
-
Suitable
-
0. Root -> 6. Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks)
-
Suitable
-
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
3. Energy production & mining -> 3.2. Mining &
quarrying
Ongoing
-
-
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
5. Biological resource use -> 5.2. Gathering terrestrial
plants -> 5.2.1. Intentional use (species is the target)
-
-
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
In-Place Education
Included in international legislation: Yes
Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Encephalartos natalensis – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
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Research Needed
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 50390
Number of Locations: 10-12
Lower elevation limit (m): 200
Upper elevation limit (m): 1200
Population
Number of mature individuals: 8300-12000
Population severely fragmented: No
Habitats and Ecology
Generation Length (years): 70
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Encephalartos natalensis – published in 2010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T41937A10605143.en
5
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™