Submitted agenda item for SRG54.
Negative advice for import of Encephalartos spp. (A and D) from South Africa to the Netherlands.
15 November 2010
19 October 2010 the Netherlands SA received an application for import of Encephalartos seedlings (D) from
South Africa. It concerned the following species (with IUCN Redlist Status):
21 Encephalartos altensteinii (Vulnerable)
19 Encephalartosarenarius (Endangered)
31 Encephalartos concinnus (Endangered)
7 Encephalartos cupidus (Critically Endangered)
3 Encephalartos ferox (Near Threatened)
17 Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi (Near Threatened)
53 Encephalartos horridus (Endangered)
1 Encephalartos inopinus (Critically Endangered)
22 Encephalartos lanatus (Near Threatened)
16 Encephalartos longifolius (Near Threatened)
34 Encephalartos princeps (Vulnerable)
17 Encephalartos villosus (Least Concern)
All species are narrow endemics of South Africa, except E. concinnus (Zimbabwe) and E. ferox (South Africa
and Mozambique). Five species have status Endangered or Critically Endangered. According to the importer
17 out of 241 seedlings have trunk diameter > 5 cm with a maximum of 12,5 cm. These plants do not fulfill the
maximum size as recommended in the NDF workshop report (Donaldson, 2008
http://www.conabio.gob.mx/institucion/cooperacion_internacional/TallerNDF/LinksDocumentos/Casos%20de%20Estudio/Succulents%20and%20Cycads/WG3%20CS4.pdf).
On 12 November 2010 we received the following information from the Scientific Authority South Africa,
Michele Pfab:
“Last year we undertook a survey of all the provincial Management Authorities in South Africa to determine
how they were assessing whether cycads exported for commercial purposes were artificially propagated. We
determined that the Management Authorities are not in fact complying with the CITES definition of
“artificially propagated” for the following reasons:
 Parental stock is not always present and available for inspection on the nursery premises.
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
NDFs were never undertaken for the establishment of the parental stock. In fact, the establishment of
parental stock for supplying the cycad trade has undoubtedly been detrimental to the survival of wild
populations, with almost 70% of our 39 species now threatened with extinction and 31% Critically
Endangered. Two species have become Extinct in the Wild over the last decade and 7 South African
cycad species have fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild. [For more information, please see
attached press release that was issued at the end of October by Prof. John Donaldson and Michele
Pfab of the South African National Biodiversity Institute http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1029:south-african-cycadsface-extinction-crisis&catid=68:biodiversity-plant-a-program-news&Itemid=138.] I see that ‘Cycads
for Africa’ are trading in most of the Critically Endangered species and one of the species that are
now Extinct in the Wild (Encephalartos nubimontanus).
As all cycad species are listed on Appendix I, all “artificially propagated” specimens are deemed by CITES to
be Appendix II specimens and therefore all exports of “artificially propagated” cycads require an NDF.
To date, no NDFs have been undertaken in South Africa for the export of “artificially propagated” cycads.
The Scientific Authority is however planning to hold a workshop early next year during which NDFs will be
undertaken for all South African cycad species.”
Thus, the South Africa SA cannot make an NDF for this export because establishment of the parental stock
from this nursery has not proved to be non-detrimental. Further, the South Africa SA states they cannot make
an NDF for export of Encephalartos spp. (A or D) in general, since the establishment of parental stocks for
supplying the Encephalartos trade has undoubtedly been detrimental to the survival of wild populations and the
origins of parental stocks cannot be traced.
Therefore, the Netherlands SA considers source A and D of Encephalartos spp. from South Africa not in
conformity with article 56 and Resolution (Conf.) 11.11 and has given a negative advice for the import of all
Encephalartos spp. (A, D) from South Africa in conformity with article 4.1.a.
Considering that no NDF is made yet for any nursery in South Africa, we suggest a negative opinion of the
SRG for import of Encephalartos spp. (A and D) from South Africa.
Picture: http://www.cycadsforafrica.com/shop/maps.php
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Annex: Press release South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), October 2010
South African cycads face
extinction crisis
Cycads are now the most threatened group of organisms. This was
revealed in the latest global conservation assessment for cycads by
the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Cycads are the oldest living seed plants and have survived three
mass extinction events in the earth’s history but they are facing a
growing threat of extinction. The global conservation assessment of
308 cycad species shows that their status has declined from 53%
threatened in 2003 to 62% threatened in 2010.
South Africa is a global hotspot for threatened cycads
South Africa is one of the world centres of cycad diversity, with 39 species. It is also one of the global hotspots
for threatened cycads: 68% of South Africa’s cycads are threatened with extinction compared to the global
average of 62%. 31% from South Africa are classified as Critically Endangered, compared to the global
average of 17%. South Africa also has three of the four species classified as Extinct in the Wild, two of which
have become Extinct in the wild in the period between 2003 and 2010.
Removal for private collections is the main threat
The main threat in South Africa is removal from the wild for private collections and this is certainly the
pressure that resulted in two species becoming Extinct in the Wild. Habitat loss, which is the main cause of
decline in other parts of the world, is a lesser problem for South African cycads. More recently, bark
harvesting for the medicinal trade has increased in South Africa and has also resulted in declines in cycad
populations. It has even resulted in the complete loss of populations in KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape.
South Africa currently has seven cycad species that have fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild. Professor
John Donaldson of SANBI warns that South Africa risks losing these cycad species within the next 10 years
unless effective measures are put in place to stop the flow of cycads from wild populations to private gardens.
“We have seen dramatic declines in some species over ten years, one of them from ca. 700 plants to fewer than
100, and this is going to result in extinctions,” he said.
NEMBA Act makes provision for species management plans
The National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), which came into force in 2004, makes
provision for species management plans as one tool to manage species like cycads. SANBI has worked
together with the Department of Environmental Affairs and stakeholders in
the Eastern Cape to develop a management plan for the Albany cycad, one of
the species with fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild. This is the first
species management plan developed so far and provides incentives to
landowners if they manage their cycads effectively.
Scientific Authority advises government on the sustainable use of cycads
The Scientific Authority established by the Minister of Environmental Affairs
in 2008 to advise government on the sustainable use of wildlife in trade, has
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Annex: Press release South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), October 2010
submitted a crisis management plan for cycads to the Dept. The proposals in this plan are currently being
evaluated. South Africa’s legislation allows the Scientific Authority to withhold authorisation for trade if there
is evidence that trade has a detrimental impact on wild populations of threatened species. The Scientific
Authority is planning a workshop for January or February 2011 to assess whether the current trade in cycads is
detrimental to the survival of wild cycad populations.
Examples
Encephalartos brevifoliolatus: This cycad was only discovered in 1996 when a small population was found in
a remote mountainous area in Limpopo Province. The only known population comprised 5-7 plants. Several of
these plants were removed by poachers and conservation officials then removed the last stems to a safe
location in 2004.
Encephalartos inopinus: This is an unusual species with very distinctive leaves that resemble cycads from
Mexico. Conservation authorities in Limpopo have been monitoring this species since 1992 and the population
declined from 677 in 1992 to only 81 in 2004. There are unconfirmed reports that the species has declined even
further since 2004 and may even be extinct in the wild.
Encephalartos latifrons: This cycad, commonly known as the Albany cycad has declined to the point where
fewer than 60 plants exist in the wild. Some farmers have been protecting this plant on their own land and it is
due to their efforts that the cycad still occurs on private land. A species management plan developed for the
Albany cycad recognises this positive role and supports use of seeds derived from these well managed
populations to propagate seedlings. One of the most important aspects of the management plan is that it
includes all the main stakeholders involved with the wild populations.
More about IUCN threat categories
IUCN Threat status: the IUCN threat status is based on a rigorous assessment of different criteria (e.g.
population decline, area of distribution, population size) to determine the likelihood that a species will become
extinct. The IUCN threatened categories comprise Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable. The
IUCN system also identifies species that are Extinct (no individuals exist anymore) or Extinct in the Wild (no
specimens occur in the wild), but these are not included in the number of threatened species. It further
classifies species that are Near Threatened, or Least Concern, or have insufficient data to complete a threat
assessment (DD).
For more information, please contact:
Ms Michele Pfab (Tel: 012 843-5025)
Professor John Donaldson (Tel: 021 799-8771/ 083-290-1170). Professor Donaldson is travelling on the 27th
and will only be contactable in South Africa on 28 October 2010.
http://www.sanbi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1029:south-african-cycads-faceextinction-crisis&catid=68:biodiversity-plant-a-program-news&Itemid=138
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