Abstract:
Indigenous knowledge contains valuable information which is often essential to biodiversity and species conservation.
The traditional knowledge of people in local communities can enhance conservation policies and planning and also reveal
local perspectives in relation to endangered species. Cycads as a vascular plant group contain the highest percentage of
threatened plant species, at global, regional, national and community levels. In this study we focused on Encephalartos
transvenosus Stapf & Burtt Davy, a cycad species endemic to Limpopo province in South Africa. Despite every effort to
conserve this highly endangered species the threats keep increasing and the population keep decreasing. Through indigenous
knowledge, we discovered a location of this species not yet conserved within Vhembe district on the Soutpansberg mountain
range in Limpopo province, South Africa. Practices such as bark harvesting, and uprooting of young seedlings were
discovered at this population. All these practices noticed at this location are detrimental to in situ conservation of the cycads.
This study hereby revealed that indigenous knowledge has a great role in cycads’ conservation. Through the local
communities, factors that are threatening cycads existence can be determined and the local community can also be integrated
in effective conservation plan that discourage illegal harvesting of cycads.
