Sclavo's Cycad
CR

Sclavo's Cycad

Encephalartos sclavoi

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

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

Encephalartos sclavoi faces severe threats from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, as cycads are highly prized by collectors worldwide. The species' extremely limited population size and restricted range in the Lebombo Mountains make it particularly vulnerable to over-harvesting. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and human settlement development further compounds the pressure on remaining wild populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This cycad species is endemic to the Lebombo Mountains along the border between South Africa and Swaziland, where it grows in rocky grassland and bushveld habitats. It typically occurs on steep, well-drained slopes with shallow soils over quartzite and sandstone substrates.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorGrassland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislation

Other threatened species in ZAMIACEAE

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Macrozamia elegans

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Ipomoea zanzibarica

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Pteris mkomaziensis

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Meineckia stipularis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sclavo's Cycad classified as Critically Endangered?
Sclavo's Cycad 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. Encephalartos sclavoi faces severe threats from illegal collection for the horticultural trade, as cycads are highly prized by collectors worldwide. The species' extremely limited population size and restricted range in the Lebombo Mountains make it particularly vulnerable to over-harvesting. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and human settlement development further compounds the pressure on remaining wild populations.
Where does Sclavo's Cycad live?
Sclavo's Cycad occurs in Tanzania. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sclavo's Cycad?
The main threats to Sclavo's Cycad are 1.1, 2.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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