Aulotandra kamerunensis

The species has been documented from the Southwest, Central, Littoral and South Regions. In the Southwest Region, the species has been collected from Muyuka, near Mount Cameroun. Agriculture is important in the Mount Cameroon area, where it accounts for about 80% of household incomes in most towns (Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife 2014). The fertile volcanic soils of Mount Cameroon have attracted farmers – both subsistence and agro-industrial – to the area, and this has resulted in much of the forest being lost to farms (Fotso et al. 2001, Awono et al. 2014, Cronin et al. 2014).

In the Central Region, in both areas where the species has been collected, the forests have been subject to intense logging, followed by farming of cocoa and other crops (Onana and Cheek 2011). In the Makak area, there are also a number of smallholder oil palm plantations (Colfer 2010, Google Earth 2020).

In the South Region of Cameroon, the species has been collected near Bipindi, near Kribi, and from the Campo Ma'an National Park. Large amounts of forest have been lost in this area, mainly due to urban development and industrial agriculture surrounding Kribi (WWF 2018, Google Earth 2020). A particular threat is presented by the development of the Kribi Port and Industrial Complex, and the associated urbanisation and extractive industry infrastructure (Onana and Cheek 2011, WWF 2018). The port complex, which includes an industrial zone and a residential area, is being developed on a 26,000 ha site around Kribi, where it is responsible for forest loss and degradation (Romain et al. 2017, Tichafogwe and Nji 2018). Subsistence agriculture is also a threat, with slash and burn agriculture widely practiced across Cameroon, including in this area (Tchouto 2004, Onana and Cheek 2011). The main economic activity of Bipindi is agriculture, with a slash and burn approach used in the area to grow crops including plantain, cassava, macabo, and cocoa (Communes et Villes Unies du Cameroun 2020). Although crops are mainly grown for local consumption, food grown in Bipindi is increasingly being sold to Kribi (Communes et Villes Unies du Cameroun 2020). Agro-industrial plantations also pose a threat to this species, and in 2018, an oil palm concession was signed for over 18,000 ha of land near to Bipindi town (Ngeunga 2019). The Campo Ma’an National Park probably represents a relatively secure site. Subsistence agriculture may pose a threat to this species, with slash and burn agriculture widely practiced across Cameroon, including in the Campo Ma'an area (Tchouto 2004, Onana and Cheek 2011). The area immediately surrounding the national park is currently being, or has previously been, subject to logging and this could potentially impact this species (Fotso et al. 2001, Global Forest Watch 2020).

In the Littoral region, the species has been collected near Edea, which now represents a large urban settlement, and it is likely that urban expansion and associated cultivation impact the species here.

There are currently no known ex situ conservation sites for this species (BGCI 2020). The species occurs within the Campo-Ma'an National Park (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2020). The Mefou proposed NP could represent an important focal point for conservation of this species, should it be gazetted. Conservation action should involve staff at the National Herbarium of Cameroon, who have collected this species, and attempts to locate the species should be made in April, as this is when it flowers and is more conspicuous. It may then be possible to better protect the plant, collect subpopulation data, and investigate multiplication and seed banking possibilities.