Zamia wallisii

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 populations for Zamia species in the country, complemented with conservation actions related to research, monitoring, communication and education, among others.

Zamia wallisii is present within one protected area, but the subpopulations are near private lands with agricultural expansion, therefore their habitat is not well protected. The species has no representation in ex situ collections in botanical gardens in Colombia, and has proven to be difficult to propagate ex situ. A restoration programme has been established for the species since the year 2013, where seedlings are produced at greenhouses near to the original forest habitat and juveniles plants are reintroduced to supplement the local subpopulations. Further urgent 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 there is a species conservation strategy, but the strategy still requires to secure funding for the long term.