Zamia incognita

All subpopulations of the species occur in landscapes threatened with high deforestation rates, caused by agricultural and urban expansion, mostly forest destruction for cattle ranching, crops and mining. The forest patches where most subpopulations remain are small (less than 500 hectares) and they are degraded by human activities like logging and hunting.

Some conservation actions have been intended for the species, as it is listed on a threatened-species resolution in Colombia and in CITES Appendix II, therefore Colombian environmental authorities are required to prevent and mitigate negative impacts of human activities on this threatened species and to regulate its international commerce. In addition, Colombia launched in 2015 a conservation action plan for Cycads, and in the last few years the “Colombian Cycad Society” has been working to promote population and habitat protection and restoration of small subpopulations for Zamia species in the country, complemented with conservation actions related to research, monitoring, communication and education, among others.

Zamia incognita is not present in any protected area. One subpopulation is distributed within a regional reserve (DMI "Cañon del Rio Alicante" in the Antioquia province), but it is not effectively protected in the reserve. The species has ex situ collections in botanical gardens in Colombia (Medellin, Bucaramanga Gardens). More actions are required to improve population and habitat viability in the long term. The conservation action plan for Colombian Cycads has proposed specific conservation actions for the species, and a species conservation strategy has been designed for the species, but the strategy lacks funding to this date.