Encephalartos heenanii

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	CYCADOPSIDA	CYCADALES	ZAMIACEAE

Scientific Name:

Encephalartos heenanii

Species Authority:

R.A.Dyer

Common Name/s:

English

–

Heenan's Cycad, Woolly Cycad

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B1ab(ii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

Donaldson, J.S.

Reviewer/s:

Agenbag, L. & Bösenberg, J.D.

Contributor/s:

Justification:
The very small number of plants in Swaziland means that the only viable population is in the Songimvelo reserve in South Africa. The population in South Africa and Swaziland has declined in the past 30 years. The extent of occurrence is 300 km², the area of occupancy only 5 km², and the remaining population is severely fragmented hence it qualifies for listing as Critically Endangered under criterion B.

History:

2003	–	Critically Endangered (IUCN 2003)
2003	–	Critically Endangered
1997	–	Endangered (Walter and Gillett 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in the northeastern mountainous areas of Swaziland and in the adjacent areas of the Mpumalanga province in South Africa. Recorded from 750 to 1,750 m asl.
Countries:	Native: South Africa (Mpumalanga); Swaziland
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In Swaziland it is estimated that 20 plants remain in the wild. The estimates for plants in the wild in South African are about 400.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species occurs on very steep slopes in short grassland in deep valleys between indigenous forests. The vegetation type is Montane Grassland.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species is threatened due to over-collecting for ornamental purposes and the few remaining plants could suffer from reproductive failure. Furthermore, habitat destruction as a result of the planting of pine plantations has also affected these plants because fire is prevented in this area and the plants are possibly adapted to a fire cycle.

Major Threat(s):

This species is threatened due to over-collecting for ornamental purposes and the few remaining plants could suffer from reproductive failure. Furthermore, habitat destruction as a result of the planting of pine plantations has also affected these plants because fire is prevented in this area and the plants are possibly adapted to a fire cycle.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Populations are protected in the Somgimvelo Nature Reserve and in the Malolotja Nature Reserve.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Populations are protected in the Somgimvelo Nature Reserve and in the Malolotja Nature Reserve.

Citation:	Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos heenanii. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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