What threats are there to cycads in China, and worldwide?
The main threats are, one, destruction of native vegetation due to logging, agriculture, and urbanization, and, two, removal of plants from the wild for (generally illegal) sale to collectors worldwide. All cycads are listed by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Most are listed as Appendix I or II. As the CITES website explains, “Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.” Although most trade of wild collected plants is illegal, some collectors continue to buy plants on the black market anyway. Because many cycads are rare and beautiful, they are coveted by collectors. Why is it important to keep this species safe? Why are cycads important? Cycads come from an ancie
