Encephalartos arenarius

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 arenarius

Species Authority:

R.A.Dyer

Common Name(s):

English

–

Alexandria Cycad, Dune Cycad

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2acd; B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v); C1 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Date Assessed:

2009-10-31

Assessor(s):

Donaldson, J.S.

Reviewer(s):

Agenbag, L. & Bösenberg, J.D.

Justification:
E. arenarius qualifies as Endangered under criterion A due to continuing decline in the number of plants and the extent of habitat. Repeat photographs indicate a decline of >50% over the past 60 years. It also qualifies under criterion B due to a relatively restricted range (extent of occurrence = 450 km^²; area of occupancy =20 km²), occurrence at less than five locations and ongoing decline. The overall population is <2,500 mature individuals and decline is >20% over two generations so it also qualifies under criterion C.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is distributed in a small area of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. Populations are found from Nanaga in the west to Canon Rocks in the east. The main subpopulations occur near the town of Alexandria. Recorded from 100 to 200 m asl.
Countries:	Native: South Africa (Eastern Cape Province)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population size of E. arenarius is estimated to be 850-1,500 mature individuals. Most plants occur in the dense dune vegetation that is difficult to survey. Scattered individuals occur in agricultural lands and cleared dunes.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Plants occur in densely wooded coastal dune forest and scrub bush. Most of the plants occur on moderate to steep slopes in sandy soil on stabilized dunes.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The major threat to this species is removal by collectors. This has been the main cause of decline over the past 50 years. Some have also been destroyed by habitat destruction (bush clearing to make way for pastures).

Major Threat(s):

The major threat to this species is removal by collectors. This has been the main cause of decline over the past 50 years. Some have also been destroyed by habitat destruction (bush clearing to make way for pastures).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Populations occur within the boundaries of the Addo National Park (formerly the Woody Cape Nature Reserve).

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Populations occur within the boundaries of the Addo National Park (formerly the Woody Cape Nature Reserve).

Citation:	Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos arenarius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 February 2015.
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