Assessment Report - Eumorphia swaziensis

	IUCN Species Information Service (SIS) Toolkit
	Assessment Report

Taxonomy
Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	ASTERALES	ASTERACEAE

Scientific Name:	Eumorphia swaziensis
Species Authority:	Compton
Common Name/s: -
Synonym/s:	-
Taxonomic Notes:	-

Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)
Year Assessed:	2023
Assessor/s:	Braun, K. & Loffler, L.
Reviewer/s:	Raimondo, D.
Contributor/s:
Facilitator/s:
Institutions/s:
Justification: This Eswatini endemic has a very restricted range, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) and an area of occupancy (AOO) of 28 km². It is known from seven locations and is experiencing ongoing habitat decline due to the spread of invasive alien plants, livestock overgrazing and the impacts of urban development. It is therefore assessed as Vulnerable under Criterion B.
History:	-

Geographic Range
Range Description:	This species is known from hilltops in Eswatini, in the Mbabane area and northeast to Sibebe.
Countries:	Native: Eswatini;

Population
Population:	No population surveys have been conducted yet for this species. For the purpose of this assessment, it has been assumed that the plant still exists in the localities recorded on older records, due to its habitat being rocky mountain tops, many of which have survived in spite of urban development. Two additional subpopulations were located in 2023, one covering an area of about 20 by 50 metres, and the other extending around a small valley in a narrow band, estimated at up to 200 metres long. At both subpopulations plants were observed to be localised but abundant. The population trend is unknown.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population

Population:

No population surveys have been conducted yet for this species. For the purpose of this assessment, it has been assumed that the plant still exists in the localities recorded on older records, due to its habitat being rocky mountain tops, many of which have survived in spite of urban development. Two additional subpopulations were located in 2023, one covering an area of about 20 by 50 metres, and the other extending around a small valley in a narrow band, estimated at up to 200 metres long. At both subpopulations plants were observed to be localised but abundant. The population trend is unknown.

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology:	This plant has been found in grassland on hilltops and hillsides in the vicinity of Mbabane and north east to Sibebe, in vegetation type KaNgwane Montane Grassland (Gm16) (Mucina et. al. 2018).
List of Habitats:	4 Grassland 4.7 Grassland - Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude

Threats
Major Threat(s):	Due to the distribution of this species being included within the Mbabane urban area, and the ongoing development of surrounding areas, there is a potential threat to this species from urban development. There is no formal conservation of any areas where this plant is found, and the grassland is subject to heavy grazing. In parts of its range, there is also the threat of habitat loss due to the spread of wattle trees (Acacia spp.). Based on these pressure an ongoing decline in habitat quality is inferred.
List of Threats:	1 Residential & commercial development 1.1 Housing & urban areas 2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.3 Livestock farming & ranching 2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming 8 Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases 8.1 Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases 8.1.2 Named species 8.1.2 Named species 8.1.2 Named species

Threats

Major Threat(s):

Due to the distribution of this species being included within the Mbabane urban area, and the ongoing development of surrounding areas, there is a potential threat to this species from urban development. There is no formal conservation of any areas where this plant is found, and the grassland is subject to heavy grazing. In parts of its range, there is also the threat of habitat loss due to the spread of wattle trees (Acacia spp.). Based on these pressure an ongoing decline in habitat quality is inferred.

List of Threats:

1 Residential & commercial development
1.1 Housing & urban areas
2 Agriculture & aquaculture
2.3 Livestock farming & ranching
2.3.2 Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming
8 Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases
8.1 Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases
8.1.2 Named species
8.1.2 Named species
8.1.2 Named species

Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions:	There is no formal conservation of any areas where this plant is found, although part of its range falls within a proposed conservancy.
List of Conservation Actions:	1 Land/water protection 1.1 Site/area protection 1.2 Resource & habitat protection 3 Species management 3.4 Ex-situ conservation 3.4.2 Genome resource bank

Bibliography
	Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. and Scott, B. 2011. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT geospatial conservation tool. In: Smith V, Penev L (Eds) e-Infrastructure for data publishing in biodiversity science. . ZooKeys 150: 117-126. Mucina, L., Rutherford, M.C. and Powrie, L.W. (Editors). 2018. The Vegetation Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Available at: http://bgis.sanbi.org/Projects/Detail/186.

Bibliography

Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. and Scott, B. 2011. Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT geospatial conservation tool. In: Smith V, Penev L (Eds) e-Infrastructure for data publishing in biodiversity science. . ZooKeys 150: 117-126.
Mucina, L., Rutherford, M.C. and Powrie, L.W. (Editors). 2018. The Vegetation Map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Available at: http://bgis.sanbi.org/Projects/Detail/186.

Citation: