Culcasia bosii

This species has been collected at four sites in the South Region of Cameroon: Dipikar, south east Massif des Mamelles, Elom, and north of Bipindi. All of this species’ collection localities are within or very near to mining concessions (Global Forest Watch 2020). A particular threat is from a mining concession at Massif des Mamelles (Onana and Cheek 2011, Global Forest Watch 2020). The area has substantial iron ore deposits which have been explored and are set to be exploited (Onana and Cheek 2011). Therefore, the development of an open cast iron-ore mine at this site poses a future threat to this species and is likely to cause the loss and degradation of relatively intact forest (Tchouto et al. 2006, Onana and Cheek 2011, Global Forest Watch 2020). Additionally, the collection at Massif de Mamelles lies within a logging concession (Global Forest Watch 2020). The species has also been collected in the Bipindi area. 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 grown for local consumption, food grown in Bipindi is increasingly being sold to Kribi (Communes et Villes Unies du Cameroun 2020). Additionally, in 2018, an oil palm concession was signed for over 18,000 ha of land near to Bipindi town (Ngeunga 2019). Logging concessions have also previously operated across the Bipindi area (Communes et Villes Unies du Cameroun 2020, Prabhu et al. 1998), and this species was collected near to a current concession (Global Forest Watch 2020).

The collection at Elom was collected near a large rubber plantation (WWF 2018, Global Forest Watch 2020). This collection is also near to Kribi and in this area, large amounts of forest have been lost, mainly due to urban expansion (WWF 2018, Google Earth 2020). A particular threat in this area is from the development of the Kribi Port and Industrial Complex, and the associated urbanisation and extractive industry infrastructure (Onana and Cheek 2011, WWF 2018, Foonde 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 reported to be responsible for forest loss and degradation (Romain et al. 2017, Tichafogwe and Nji 2018). Additionally, the port has led to many roads and paths opening up within Campo Ma'an National Park, where this species has also been collected, and this is making protecting the park increasingly challenging (WWF 2018). Additionally, logging also poses a threat here, with areas of the Campo Ma'an National Park having previously been selectively logged (Tchouto 2004). The area immediately surrounding the park is also currently being, or has previously been, subject to logging (Fotso et al. 2001, Global Forest Watch 2020), with the collection of this species near to a logging concession (Global Forest Watch 2020). Subsistence agriculture is also a considerable threat, with slash and burn agriculture widely practiced across Cameroon, including in the Campo Ma'an area (Tchouto 2004, Onana and Cheek 2011).

There are no targeted conservation actions for this species and there are currently no known ex-situ conservation sites (BGCI 2020). However, the species does occur within the Campo Ma'an National Park (Protected Planet 2020). This locality, at Dipikar, is probably the most secure site for this species (Onana and Cheek 2011). Further research is needed into the species' current distribution. In particular, surveys should focus on the Kribi-Campo area where records are concentrated as this is probably the best prospect for rediscovery and long term preservation of this species (Onana and Cheek 2011). Surveys should also be focused in the Mount Cameroon area and in the Ngounié Province of Gabon where uncertain records of this species exist. Additionally, basic population information for this species should be collected as a baseline for future monitoring, and further research is needed into this species' life history and ecology.