An Assessment of the Current Status of the Clanwilliam Cedar (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) and the Reasons for its Decline

Abstract

The Clanwilliam cedar is a threatened tree species endemic to the Cederberg range of mountains in the southwestern Cape Province of South Africa. Numbers of individuals have declined in the recent historic past. Evidence is presented to confirm this decline, which appears to be the result of excessive exploitation before this century and high mortality in recent fires.