Red List of South African Species

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Endangered (EN)
Assessors: Gary Bronner

Rationale (Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)

Although recorded from 17 localities in the Eastern Cape, this species is now possibly locally extinct at many sites, and appears to survive only in larger patches of indigenous Afromontane forest on the eastern slopes of the Amathole mountains. Although the historical extent of occurrence is >20,000 km2, it has very specific habitat requirements and its total area of occupancy is estimated to be 272 km2, and is severely fragmented (even if historical records are included as many of these were from small and isolated indigenous forest patches). The species does not occur in commercial forestry plantations which abut, or have replaced, many of the remaining patches of natural habitat. Some of the larger indigenous forests are officially "protected", but management and conservation actions on the ground are often poor. Many of these “protected forests” fall under the jurisdiction of local tribal chiefs, and even in some state-managed forests cattle are allowed to range freely, and trample/degrade the habitat of this species. Recreational hunting by young herdsmen and pack-hunting by domestic/feral dogs pose a threat at some locations, whereas bark-stripping of trees for traditional medicines, collection of firewood and burning of unprotected forest patches degrade their preferred habitats. Ongoing urbanization in the vicinity of East London/Buffalo City, and coastal tourism developments have disturbed many of the coastal forests in which this species may have occurred historically. Given the restricted area of occupancy, probable reduction in number of locations to <10, and the varied and probably increasing threats to this species, it is listed as Endangered.

Distribution

This species is endemic to South Africa. Recorded from indigenous Afromontane forests in Eastern Cape from East London northwards along coast to Port St Johns, and inland to Amathole and Kologha Mountains near King Williams Town and Stutterheim.

Population trend

Trend

Locally common, but with a clumped dispersion.

Threats

Likely major threats include: habitat loss owing to fragmentation of forests, which is ongoing in coastal forests as a result of urbanization (East London / Buffalo City district) and ubiquitous coastal tourist resorts; and degradation of remaining forests as a result of forest clearance, collection of firewood, bark stripping, cutting for construction, allegedly sustainable timber harvesting and livestock overgrazing/trampling. The species may now be locally extinct at many locations where it occurred formerly (even within the Amathole forests they have disappeared at sites where they were collected in the early 1990s).

Conservation

Possibly present in a few small nature reserves in its range, and state-managed forest reserves, but conservation efficacy in such areas appears to be dubious. Field surveys are needed to establish the conservation status and threats faced by populations at the 17 localities this species is known to have occurred at in the past.

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