Culcasia rotundifolia

Within the Monts de Cristal in Gabon, Culcasia rotundifolia is mostly threatened by a hydroelectric project and logging. Indeed, nine occurrences are expected to disappear in the near future because they are located within the construction site and the projected inundated area of a planned hydro-electric project. Moreover, deforestation for the construction of infrastructures is already ongoing where the species is known. Outside the Monts de Cristal, the species is threatened by logging.

Culcasia rotundifolia is known from the Monts de Cristal National Park in Gabon and the species is subject to ex-situ conservation as part of the Biodiversity Action Plan of the hydroelectric dam project in Kinguélé in Gabon. Indeed, 25 individuals have been cultivated within the Kinguélé nursery with a survival rate of 88%.

Since the species is threatened by hydroelectric dam projects and logging, various conservation measures should be considered. First, it should be sought in the Equato-Guinean portion of the Monts de Cristal range, as well as other places, to increase knowledge of its full distribution. Second, it should be regarded as an HCV1 species (High Conservation Value), and as a consequence should be included in the management plan of the industrial concessions within which it occurs. Finally, a public awareness campaign must be conducted targeting industrial companies and other private actors, NGOs, scientific institutions, and the governments of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to ensure that C. rotundifolia is taken into consideration when decisions are made that could impact its conservation.