CYCAD PROTECTION

Monteseel is also known for ‘The Cycad’ in the valley which is a National Monument and a Kew Gardens type specimen.  The type specimen (specimen used to describe a new species ) of the Natal Cycad (Encephalartos natalensis,) occurs at the Monteseel Conservation Area; as a result, the site was declared a Provincial Heritage Site in 1951.

The decline of Natal Cycad populations in the wild due to extensive harvesting has resulted in the species classified as Near Threatened. The eThekwini Municipality’s Natural Resources Division (NRD) and the Monteseel Conservancy conduct ongoing monitoring of the clump. This included organising the Cycad specialist Doug Goode to conduct an onsite analysis, we appreciate his time and input. Some of the initiatives have included painting the dry harvested stems with tree sealant. Cutting back the overhanging canopy to assist with light and promote growth.  A wooden support stand was made for the main stem. A future project is to possibly fence of the area or put up security cameras.

The cycad has progressively been destroyed through harvesting of the stem and the digging up of the pups.  Up until now none of the relevant bodies have had the finances or infrastructure to protect it.

The invasion of wattle, lantana, bugweed, gum and bracken fern is getting progressively worse each year in the forest, grassland and on the climbing cliffs.

If there is no intervention the invader situation will continue to get worse and the Cycad and all the vegetation types will be degraded.

These pictures were taken in October 2013. The Cycad was already being harvested but was still very strong.

These pictures were taken in April 2018. This is what the Cycad looks like after being harvested for medicinal purposes. It is of paramount importance that we try everything to protect what is left of this beautiful specimen.

A very interesting article about the Cycad in the early days. Dyer and Verdoon