The Wild Cycad Conservancy
Racing to rescue a
Middelburg Cycad
Encephalartos middelburgensis plant in 2021 – before disaster struck (image on the right).
OUR NEWS
Encephalartos middelburgensis occurs in the upper drainage basin of the Olifants River, at altitudes of 1100 to 1400m, between Middelburg and Loskop Dam. It grows in open grassy, rocky areas on steep slopes on slightly acidic soils. The mean annual rainfall in its distribution area is 600 mm and occurs mainly in summer. E middelburgensis grows well in full sunlight and is frost-hardy. But the species has declined steadily over the past 40 years and populations are still declining due to poaching. Based on the rate of decline, it has an IUCN Red List status of Critically Endangered.
Part of the National Cycad Strategy is to implement a recovery plan with actions that will improve the population numbers and mitigate poaching loss to the species. This report documents one such action where part of a female plant that was situated on a cliff above a river became loose and fell on the rocks in the riverbed. The plant originated from a site about 20m to 30m above the riverbed.
A rescue operation was undertaken through collaboration of private individuals, the landowner and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Park Agency (MTPA) supported by Wild Cycad Conservancy.
Left: Two big stems of around 5m were severely damaged by the fall, and were found lying broken amongst the rocks in the riverbed.
Right: A smaller stem of 1.3m was still intact, but the rescue team had to devise a method to carry it out of the riverbed.
Here’s what happened…
During the first week of November 2024, a member of the farm team reported that he noticed some cycad stems had fallen from the cliffs above a river and landed below in the riverbed on the rocks. The landowner contacted a cycad enthusiast who knows the area and the cycads to assist. On 21 November, he visited the site and reported his observations to the MTPA authorities.
According to his observations, three E. middelburgensis stems were found in the riverbed, after falling from a high cliff. Two big stems – approximately 5m in size – were severely damaged and broken into pieces. However, one stem of 1.3m remained intact.
The smaller stem was partly dragged into the water to rehydrate and some leaves cut back. On 29 November the site was visited by a team consisting of an MTPA official, private individuals, the landowner and five members of his farm team. The two damaged stems were assessed and found to be dead and starting to rot – except for a section of the one stem’s head. This was removed with a piece that could have a chance of survival and planted in a safe area.
The 1.3m stem was also planted at a pre-selected site. The stem was carried with a stretcher to the selected site. Regular monitoring and maintenance will now take place to ensure the best chance of survival.
Our PROJECTS
The Wild Cycad Conservancy (or WCC) takes a three-pronged approach to cycad conservation.