The impacts of bark harvesting on a population of Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad), in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Bamigboye, Samuel Oloruntoba; Tshisikhawe, M.P.

doi:10.13057/biodiv/d210102

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Once a profit is to be made, harvesters easily overwhelm community mechanisms that may exist to protect and harvest plants sustainably (illicit harvesters may also become organized and powerful enough to overwhelm law enforcement). Such is the situation in Limpopo, where, as Bamigboye and Tshisikhawe have documented (2020), “bark-stripping” (Figure 2) is devastating Encephalartos transvenosus populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Mind-altering Cycads? Preliminary Evidence of Psychoactive Effects in Cycadales

Bonta

2023

Journal of Ethnobiology

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This article examines historical and contemporary evidence for the importance of cycads as sources of psychoactive experiences for ritual and recreational purposes. Methods used include critical analysis and comparison of published and gray literature as well as ethnographic accounts gathered by the author in Mexico and South Africa. The consumption of cycad parts (pollen, coralloid root, and caudex) to derive an intentional psychoactive effect as a drug may implicate the neurotoxic amino acid BMAA, while fermentation and distillation of cycad starch result in intoxication from alcohol. Cycad ingestion is related to medicinal uses, magico-religious practice, and sexual stimulation as an aphrodisiac. Interconnections between these functions, the ceremonial importance of cycads, and conservation implications are discussed. Conclusions include the need to better understand effects on users and on cycad populations, and the potential pitfalls and opportunities psychoactive uses present for community-based conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Mind-altering Cycads? Preliminary Evidence of Psychoactive Effects in Cycadales

Bonta

2023

Journal of Ethnobiology

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“…However, the rangers indicated complete removal of cycads which were easily accessible next to the road and located outside the reserve. This may be associated with the easy transport of the cycads by poachers [21]. Appropriate fencing aids the conservation of cycad species by limiting the access of poachers to them [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distances from roads and the edges of nature reserves have been associated with human access and poaching in the literature [31]. The complete removal of plants has been discussed as threatening their continuous existence, while removal of plant bark disrupts the energy flow within the plants [21,32]. Both have a negative effect on plant life and existence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sample size of 15 respondents for questionnaire administration (Appendix A) was calculated based on Equation (1). The population size of poached cycads was validated by literature [18][19][20][21]. Purposive sampling was combined with rangers' knowledge to locate poaching sites and to establish the distribution of poached cycads.…”

Section: Study Population and Sample Size Determinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Poaching of Encephalartos transvenosus, in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

et al. 2021

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There is an established link between deforestation and negative hydrological effects which may affect watersheds. The number of the cycads Encephalartos transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy in South Africa is drastically reducing, and they are nearly extinct. Additionally, poaching and reduction in the population of cycads in reserves may impact negatively on watersheds in protected and buffer areas since the regeneration of this plant occurs over a long period. This research aimed to study the distributions of poached cycads, evaluate the factors responsible for poaching activity and suggest possible solutions towards conservation of E. transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy in some of the nature reserves in Limpopo province. Field observation was used to ascertain and collect locations of poached cycads. Data was obtained through the use of a questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered to rangers for the collection of data on causes of poaching, parts poached, measures taken and challenges of rangers in the nature reserves. Processing of the collected data was done by simple statistical analysis. The total population of rangers available in the reserves was used for the determination of the sample size of rangers by Slovin’s formula. Unemployment (46%) is the leading cause for poaching in Mphaphuli Nature Reserve, while trade is a leading factor in Modjadji and Lekgalameetse (37% and 60%) respectively. Debarked cycads amount to 14 (54%) while 12 of the total (26 poached cycads) were completely removed (46%). The most effective way of stopping the poaching of cycads as perceived by the rangers is by patrolling the nature reserves. The observed poaching of Encephalartos transvenosus is alarming since this plant has a low population size which is currently confined to the Limpopo Province in South Africa only. If poaching continues in the nature reserves, all cycads have the tendency of being removed. Therefore, there is a need to continually develop strategies for the conservation of cycads. The peculiar nature and challenges of each reserve have been established and unique solutions for these nature reserves in Limpopo Province have been proposed. Better conservation of cycad species can positively impact the hydrological process of the concerned area and better help the watersheds.

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“…The continual use of cycads for traditional medicine increases unsustainable harvesting practices leading to population declines (Bamigboye and Tshisikhawe, 2020) and what we now know as the "cycad extinction crisis." According to Donaldson (2003), 82% of the world's cycads were listed as threatened by the 1997 IUCN red list of threatened plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Encephalartos villosus relies on atmospheric nitrogen than soil derived nitrogen to maintain growth in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils

Motsomane¹,

Suinyuy²,

Magadlela

2023

Preprint

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Background Encephalartos villosus is a forest understory dwarf cycad growing in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils due to their association with plant growth promoting bacteria. This study investigated the effects of soil characteristics (pH, nutrition, total cation, and exchange acidity) on cycad-microbe symbiosis and the nitrogen (N) source preference of E. villosus growing in Rhebu and Oceanview, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods Coralloid roots and leaf material from targeted E. villosus individuals in both locations were analysed for N isotope, total plant N, and total plant phosphorus (P). Results Plant growth promoting bacteria were associated with E. villosus growing in Rhebu and Oceanview. The culturable bacteria strains isolated from the coralloid roots of E. villosus growing in Rhebu and Oceanview with N-fixing traits were Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Rhizobium huautlense, Stenotrophomonas sp., Enterobacter cloacae, and Paenibacillus polymyxa. Encephalartos villosus growing in Rhebu and Oceanview effectively fixed more than 70% of its total N from the atmosphere. Less than 25% of the total N utilized by E. villosus was derived from the soil. There were no significant variations in the leaf number, length, total N, and P in E. villosus growing in Rhebu and Oceanview. Conclusions The findings of this study revealed that E. villosus maintains growth and plant nutrition in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils by establishing symbiotic associations with plant growth-promoting bacteria and relying mostly in atmospheric N.

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The impacts of bark harvesting on a population of Encephalartos transvenosus (Limpopo cycad), in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Cited by 5 publications

References 29 publications

Mind-altering Cycads? Preliminary Evidence of Psychoactive Effects in Cycadales

Mind-altering Cycads? Preliminary Evidence of Psychoactive Effects in Cycadales

Poaching of Encephalartos transvenosus, in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Encephalartos villosus relies on atmospheric nitrogen than soil derived nitrogen to maintain growth in nutrient-deficient and acidic soils

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