Cycad Conservation: Zamia encephalartoides in Colombia

amia encephalartoides is a cycad Znative to a network of deep, dry canyons carved into the Eastern Andes of Colombia by the Chicamocha River. The hot, dry, rocky and open landscape where it grows is quite different from that of other Colombian Zamia, which typically grow in humid forests. With tough, leathery leaves and large, colorful cones, Zamia encepha- lartoides is remarkably adapted to this arid environment and superficially resembles Encephalartos, an African genus that typically grows in similar dry, open environments. In fact, the name, “Zamia encephalartoides” means “Encephalartos-like Zamia”. This unique cycad species was described by Dennis Stevenson only a decade ago, and has not been studied extensively. The tropical dry forest eco- Zamia encephalartoides system in which it occurs is one of the most fragmented, degraded and poorly Leadership Programme, Dr. Cristina Garden grant, enables the team to visu- understood ecosystems in Colom- Lopez-Gallego and Alvaro Idárraga of alize the cycad’s distribution in terms of bia—expanding agriculture and other the Universidad de Antioquia (Medel- slope, aspect, and elevation. These data human activities are rapidly reducing lín, Colombia) along with Michael will be used by the team to provide a the number of known plants. Calonje of MBC have started a project detailed assessment of the conservation Supported by a Future Conser- that aims to better understand the dis- status, for the IUCN Cycad Specialist vationist Award of the Conservation tribution, abundance and conservation Group’s Red List of Threatened Species. status of this cycad. Besides gathering information The project involves locating and about wild populations, the team will mapping native Zamia encephalartoides conserve Zamia encephalartoides in ex populations in order to determine the situ collections to support an ongoing full geographical distribution of the spe- reintroduction program led by the local cies, as well as gathering data on plant “Eloy Valenzuela” Botanical Garden survival, growth and reproductive rates (Floridablanca, Santander). Further- from two of the largest populations in more, the project will provide an action order to estimate their viability. Current plan for conservation including poten- mapping technology, with high-resolu- tial management strategies to address tion satellite imagery and GIS software known threats to this species. obtained through a ESRI Botanic We hope that results of this study will increase our knowledge of this poorly known species, and will ben- efit conservation by increasing its numbers in cultivation and in the wild and by providing useful recommenda- tions to local conservation authorities.

Michael Calonje, Cycad Biologist [email protected]

Dr. Cristina Lopez-Gallego, Cristina Lopez-Gallego and Claudia Calonje Tobacco being grown around Kelly Research Fellow, MBC with Zamia encephalartoides in habitat existing Zamia encephalartoides [email protected]

4 Montgomery Botanical News | Spring/Summer 2011