The Wild Cycad Conservancy
Protecting the world’s most threatened plant species from extinction in South Africa
OUR NEWS
Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads, Southern African launch
By Vanessa Handley
Chair, Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads
A Conservation Action workshop hosted by the Global Conservation Consortium for Cycads (GCCC) and the Wild Cycad Conservancy (WCC) was held 10-13 January 2023. This event convened 25 stakeholders from South Africa and Zimbabwe to discuss regional cycad conservation and explore ways in which the GCCC can support these efforts.
The GCCC is a joint initiative of Botanic Gardens Conservation International and the IUCN/SSC Cycad Specialist Group, founded with the aim of accelerating global cycad conservation action. Key objectives include establishing effective action networks, ensuring all highly threatened species are represented in ex situ assurance colonies, promoting in situ conservation, raising awareness and enhancing funding.
A priority region for conservation
As a global hotspot for both cycad diversity and conservation action, Southern Africa is a priority region for the GCCC and the workshop served as the formal launch of GCCC Africa. The aim is to get regional conservation practitioners and policymakers involved, to shape GCCC Africa to best support existing strategies and enhance the impact of conservation actions. It is envisioned that the consortium will expand to include stakeholders across the entire region.
The workshop was held at Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg Biosphere
Reserve, an important site for conservation of diverse flora and fauna, including Encephalartos eugene-maraisii. The delegates visited 50 rehabilitated, poached plants, put back into habitat. The next workshop is planned for early 2025 to follow up on the progress achieved.
Our PROJECTS
The Wild Cycad Conservancy (or WCC) takes a three-pronged approach to cycad conservation.