Middelburg Cycad

The discovery of the taxon in the Middelburg district triggered off a serious collector threat during the 1960s. The general accessibility of sites and the proximity of the distribution region to the Pretoria/Witwatersrand urban complex resulted in an extremely heavy exploitation during those years when cycad-collecting became a fashion (Fourie 1984). Although legislation has curbed the activities of collectors, the exploitation by individuals of the taxon is still ongoing today.

The development of semi-intensive agricultural areas within and around the distribution range resulted in increased burning of the habitat and grazing practices. The taxon is extremely vulnerable to fire and not stimulated as is the case with Encephalartos lanatus (Fourie 1984).

Officials from Gauteng Nature Conservation (2005-2010) observed evidence of disease on the stems of some of the few wild plants that remain in Gauteng. Mpumalanga officials observed evidence of intensive poaching in some of the Mpumalanga subpopulations – in many cases, suckers had been removed from the plants. There is also evidence that pollinators are absent from several subpopulations which means that natural regeneration cannot take place.

The taxon is listed as Specially Protected in the provincial conservation ordinances and is included in Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Within Gauteng, individuals of the taxon occur within private nature reserves. The distribution range of the taxon falls within the boundaries of the Dinokeng Game Reserve (formerly known as the NEGI (North Eastern Gauteng Initiative)). Plants occur in the Loskopdam Nature Reserve, the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve (D. MacFadyen pers. comm.) and the Rhenosterpoort Private Nature Reserve. Long-term monitoring of subpopulations will support the conservation of this species.