Red List Status
EN - Endangered, B1ab(i,iii)+2ab(i,iii) (IUCN version 3.1)

Red List Assessment

Red List Status

Is the reassessment subject to the 5-year rule? (Not specified)

Assessment Information

Date of Assessment: 2023-04-09

Reviewed? (Not specified)

Assessor(s): Braun, K.

Reviewer(s): (Not specified)

Contributor(s): (Not specified)

Facilitators/Compilers: (Not specified)

Institution(s): (Not specified)

Acknowledgements: This species was first published in 2017, (Darbyshire et. al., 2017), and this includes an assesment of this species based on the data available at that time.

"Barleria lebomboensis is here assessed as Endangered EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), followingthe Categories and Criteria of IUCN (2012). Justification for this assessment is the very small extent of occurrence of this species (estimated as a maximum of approximately 80 km2 based upon modelling of its ecology), very small area of occupancy (estimated at less than 1 km2), its occurrence at two locations and an inferred decline in habitat status through overgrazing and an increase in cultivation of summit grasslands within its range. The type locality is in the proposed Mhlumeni Community Conservation Area, an ecotourism initiative within the Lubombo Conservancy. However, this site does not have any formal conservation status at present and it is still heavily grazed. This species may also qualify as Endangered under Criterion C, but more complete population data are needed before this can be confirmed."

Regions: Global

Regional Expert Questions: (Not specified)

Assessment Rationale

Barleria lebomboensis has a very small extent of occurrence, ranging from 24 km2 based on its area of occupancy, with an estimated maximum of 80 km2 based upon modelling of its ecology. Its habitat is restricted, and the majority of the area where it is found is subject to habitat degradation and loss from land use changes. The existence of the threat of habitat loss due to livestock grazing applies to all the locations for this species, with an observed decline in habitat status. Based on this, the species qualifies for Endangered status under Criteria B1 and B2. This species may also qualify as Endangered under Criterion C, but more complete population data are needed before this can be confirmed.
Date last seen: 2023

Red List Index

Red List Index: (Not specified)

Distribution

Geographic Range

Barleria lebomboensis is known from the higher altitude areas in the Lubombo Mountains in eastern Eswatini.

Area of Occupancy (AOO)

Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - in km2	Justification
24	This species has been recorded from a restricted area within the Lubombo mountains in Eswatini. The estimated area of occupancy was calculated using GeoCAT (Bachman et al. 2011), with the standard 2x2 km grid cell being applied.

Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO)	Qualifier	Justification
Unknown	-	There is currently no information on population trends for this species.

Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO)	Justification
Unknown	-

Extent of Occurrence (EOO)

Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO)- in km2	EOO estimate calculated from Minimum Convex Polygon	Justification
24-80	true	This species has been recorded from a restricted area within the Lubombo mountains in Eswatini. The estimated minimum extent of occurrence calculated using GeoCAT (Bachman et al. 2011) is 11.453 km2, and a maximum of 80 km2 based upon modelling of its ecology (Darbyshire et al. 2017).

Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO)	Qualifier	Justification
Yes	Inferred	There is ongoing heavy grazing resulting in habitat decline affecting the majority of the population of this species.

Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): (Not specified)

Locations Information

Number of Locations	Justification
3	The number of locations for this species is estimated as 3, two within unprotected areas, and one within a protected area.

Continuing decline in number of locations	Qualifier	Justification
Unknown	-	-

Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: (Not specified)

Very restricted AOO or number of locations (triggers VU D2)

Very restricted in area of occupancy (AOO) and/or # of locations	Justification
Yes	This species has only been found within a small area in the Lubombo Mountains in Eswatini. Although this plant has been found within conservation areas, there is a threat to all subpopulations from grazing by livestock.

Elevation / Depth / Depth Zones

Elevation Lower Limit (in metres above sea level): 370

Elevation Upper Limit (in metres above sea level): 560

Depth Lower Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified)

Depth Upper Limit (in metres below sea level): (Not specified)

Depth Zone: (Not specified)

Map Status

Map Status: (Not specified)

Biogeographic Realms

Biogeographic Realm: Afrotropical

Country	Presence	Origin	Formerly Bred	Seasonality
Eswatini	Extant	Native	-	Resident

Population

This species is known only from bushclump grassveld areas on the summit of the Lubombo Mountains in eastern Eswatini. Two of the records are from the late 1970's, but there is no evidence that the plant no longer occurs in these localities. Investigation of the southern and central extent of its known distribution in 2023 confirmed its presence, but also confirmed habitat degradation in this area, where the bushclump grassveld is becoming thicket, due to prolonged overgrazing by livestock. Observations made in 2023 showed that this species occurs frequently within the bushclump grassveld areas within its known range, but no additional observations were made outside this range.

Population Information

Current Population Trend: Unknown

Number of mature individuals (=population size): (Not specified)

Extreme fluctuations? (in # of mature individuals): (Not specified)

Severely fragmented? (Not specified)

Continuing decline in mature individuals? (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 1 generation or 3 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 2 generations or 5 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Continuing decline % in mature individuals within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer (up to max. of 100 years in the future): (Not specified)

Extreme fluctuations in the number of subpopulations: (Not specified)

Continuing decline in number of subpopulations: (Not specified)

All individuals in one subpopulation: (Not specified)

Number of mature individuals in largest subpopulation: (Not specified)

Number of Subpopulations: (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Past

Percent Change in past: (Not specified)

Past Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction reversible? (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction understood? (Not specified)

Causes of past reduction ceased? (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Future

Percent Change in future: (Not specified)

Future Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Population Reduction - Ongoing

Both: Percent Change over any 10 year or 3 generation period, whichever is longer, and must include both past and future, future can't go beyond 100 years: (Not specified)

Both Population Reduction Basis: (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction reversible? (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction understood? (Not specified)

Causes of both (past and future) reduction ceased? (Not specified)

Quantitative Analysis

Probability of extinction in the wild within 3 generations or 10 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified)

Probability of extinction in the wild within 5 generations or 20 years, whichever is longer, maximum 100 years: (Not specified)

Probability of extinction in the wild within 100 years: (Not specified)

Habitats and Ecology

This species has been found in the Lubombo Mountains in the savanna biome, vegetation type Southern Lebombo Bushveld (SVI16) (Mucina et. al. 2018). The description of this species in Darbyshire et. al., 2017 includes the following information on habitat and ecology:
"The type locality is in a mosaic of short, closed grassland on shallow, gravel soils with numerous low rhyolite outcrops and scattered dense, low evergreen thickets. This is the typical vegetation association on hilltops above 450 m in elevation on the summit of the Lebombo range in Swaziland. The plants grow in grassland in full sun or in partial shade of low shrubs."

IUCN Habitats Classification Scheme

Habitat	Season	Suitability	Major Importance?
2.2. Savanna -> Savanna - Moist	-	Suitable	-

Continuing Decline in Habitat

Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat?	Qualifier	Justification
Yes	Observed	For the majority of the known distribution of this species, there is observed habitat decline due to ongoing overgrazing by livestock.

Life History

Generation Length: (Not specified)

Age at maturity: female or unspecified: (Not specified)

Age at Maturity: Male: (Not specified)

Size at Maturity (in cms): Female: (Not specified)

Size at Maturity (in cms): Male: (Not specified)

Longevity: (Not specified)

Average Reproductive Age: (Not specified)

Maximum Size (in cms): (Not specified)

Size at Birth (in cms): (Not specified)

Gestation Time: (Not specified)

Reproductive Periodicity: (Not specified)

Average Annual Fecundity or Litter Size: (Not specified)

Annual Rate of Population Increase: (Not specified)

Natural Mortality: (Not specified)

Does the species lay eggs? (Not specified)

Does the species give birth to live young: (Not specified)

Does the species exhibit parthenogenesis: (Not specified)

Does the species have a free-living larval stage? (Not specified)

Does the species require water for breeding? (Not specified)

Movement Patterns

Movement Patterns: (Not specified)

Congregatory: (Not specified)

Systems

System: Terrestrial

Plant / Fungi Specific

Wild relative of a crop? (Not specified)

Plant and Fungal Growth Forms: (Not specified)

Use and Trade

General Use and Trade Information

Species not utilized: (Not specified)

No use/trade information for this species: true

General notes regarding trade and use of this species: (Not specified)

Local Livelihood: (Not specified)

National Commercial Value: (Not specified)

International Commercial Value: (Not specified)

End Use: (Not specified)

Is there harvest from captive/cultivated sources of this species? (Not specified)

Trend in level of total offtake from wild sources: (Not specified)

Trend in level of total offtake from domesticated sources: (Not specified)

Harvest Trend Comments: (Not specified)

Non- Consumptive Use

Non-consumptive use of the species? (Not specified)

Explanation of non-consumptive use: (Not specified)

Livelihoods

Livelihoods: (Not specified)

Threats

One of the locations for this species falls within Mlawula Nature Reserve, which is affected by livestock grazing from time to time, although as at March 2023, the area was observed to be in good condition. The other two locations are in areas which are subject to ongoing heavy grazing by livestock, one location within the proposed Mhlumeni community conservation area, the other unprotected.

Threats Classification Scheme

No past, ongoing, or future threats exist to this species. (Not specified)

The threats to this species are unknown. (Not specified)

Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity
2.1.2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> Annual & perennial non-timber crops -> Small-holder farming	Ongoing	Minority (<50%)	Rapid Declines
2.3.2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> Livestock farming & ranching -> Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing	Majority (50-90%)	Slow, Significant Declines

Conservation

This species is known from within Mlawula Nature Reserve, within the proposed Mhlumeni community conservation area, an ecotourism initiative within the Lubombo Conservancy, and unprotected community land in the Mhlumeni area. At the time of the assessment, the Mhlumeni community conservation area does not have any formal conservation status and is still heavily grazed.

Conservation Actions In- Place

Action Recovery Plan	Note
No	-

Systematic monitoring scheme	Note
No	-

Conservation sites identified	Note
Yes, over part of range	This species has been found within Mlawula Nature Reserve and the Mhlumeni community conservation area.

Occur in at least one PA	Note
Yes	This species has been found within Mlawula Nature Reserve and the Mhlumeni community conservation area.

Percentage of population protected by PAs (0-100)	Note
41-50	Although the plant has been found within the Mhlumeni community conservation area, it is not yet protected from heavy grazing.

Area based regional management plan	Note
No	-

Invasive species control or prevention: (Not specified)

Harvest management plan	Note
No	-

Successfully reintroduced or introduced benignly	Note
No	-

Subject to ex-situ conservation	Note
No	-

Subject to recent education and awareness programmes	Note
No	-

Included in international legislation	Note
No	-

Subject to any international management/trade controls	Note
No	-

Important Conservation Actions Needed

Conservation Actions	Note
1.1. Land/water protection -> Site/area protection	Although part of the distribution falls within Mlawula Nature Reserve, the remaining populations are subject to threats from the current land use. The formal protection of the Mhlumeni community conservation area would enhance the potential survival of this species.
3.4.2. Species management -> Ex-situ conservation -> Genome resource bank	This species has not yet been conserved ex-situ. If this is carried out, it would enhance the potential survival of this species.

Research Needed

Research	Note
1.2. Research -> Population size, distribution & trends	In order to better determine the status of this species, it would be necessary to conduct surveys of the population size and trends, as well as to determine whether there are any additional populations of this species.
1.3. Research -> Life history & ecology	There is currently very little known on the life history and ecology of this species.
2.2. Conservation Planning -> Area-based Management Plan	This species is currently found within one formal conservation area and one conservation area without formal protection, as well as in community grazing areas. The establishment of a management plan for this area would enhance the likelihood of survival of this plant.

Barleria lebomboensis - I.Darbysh., McCleland & Froneman