CR

Widdringtonia cedarbergensis

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Clanwilliam Cedar faces severe threats from increasingly frequent and intense wildfires that prevent natural regeneration, as seedlings cannot survive the shortened fire cycles. Climate change exacerbates this vulnerability by creating hotter, drier conditions that increase fire frequency and intensity. Invasive alien plant species compete for limited water resources in this arid mountain environment, while historical logging and habitat fragmentation have reduced the population to critically small, isolated stands.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa's Western Cape, this ancient conifer grows exclusively on rocky sandstone slopes and cliff faces at elevations between 1,000-2,000 meters. It thrives in the Mediterranean-climate fynbos vegetation, adapted to nutrient-poor soils and the region's characteristic winter rainfall patterns.

Shrubland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Habitat & natural process restorationEx-situ conservation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Widdringtonia cedarbergensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Widdringtonia cedarbergensis is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Clanwilliam Cedar faces severe threats from increasingly frequent and intense wildfires that prevent natural regeneration, as seedlings cannot survive the shortened fire cycles. Climate change exacerbates this vulnerability by creating hotter, drier conditions that increase fire frequency and intensity. Invasive alien plant species compete for limited water resources in this arid mountain environment, while historical logging and habitat fragmentation have reduced the population to critically small, isolated stands.
Where does Widdringtonia cedarbergensis live?
Widdringtonia cedarbergensis occurs in South Africa. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Widdringtonia cedarbergensis?
The main threats to Widdringtonia cedarbergensis are 5.4, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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