Warburgia salutaris often coppices from roots and from slender stems that fall over naturally, forming characteristic coppice subpopulations. In these coppice subpopulations, large clusters of plants are found in close proximity to each other. Population estimates collected throughout its range have used different methodologies to determine what constitutes an "individual" and may overestimate the true population size due to the high number of genetically identical coppice stems. In Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, eight subpopulations of W. salutaris were surveyed in 2020. During the field surveys, 1,116 trees were counted, of which 289 had a harvestable stem diameter of 8 cm or more. During the field survey work, it was not possible to count every tree at some of the larger subpopulations, and in extrapolating the actual counts to the full subpopulation extent (area of occupancy), it was estimated that there are about 2,044 W. salutaris trees within Ehlanzeni District, of which ca. 529 trees have a stem diameter ? 8 cm (Raimondo et al. 2021). In the Soutpansberg area of Limpopo, the trees were planted hundreds of years ago as a hedge around homesteads by a cultural group that lived there before the Vendas, along with the coral and marula trees. Field work was conducted in western Soutpansberg in 2020, where 902 trees were recorded in 30 communities (Hahn 2021). About six communities of W. salutaris are known for the area around Punda Maria in the Kruger National Park. In Kruger National Park, two subpopulations have been identified with approximately 234 individuals.  In 2004, 11 subpopulations were known in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The subpopulation at False Bay consisted of 998 stems, Itala Game Reserve had 54 stems, and Hluhluwe Game Reserve had 382 stems (KZN Nature Conservation Service 2004). Phinda Reserve is the largest natural subpopulation in the province; 21 localities are known across the reserve, with 952 individuals recorded during survey work conducted in November 2020. Dludlu et al. (2017) recorded 18 subpopulations in Eswatini, of which 14 had not been recorded previously, comprised of 700 mature and 764 juvenile W. salutaris trees. Its presence in small, isolated subpopulations represents a severely fragmented population. The subpopulation with the largest number of mature individuals recorded was 155. In Mozambique, it is currently restricted to fragmented patches in the Lebombo Mountains, Tembe River, and Futi Corridor (Senkoro et al. 2020). In southern Mozambique, there are 6-14 localities in Maputo Province. Forty-eight individuals were sampled by Senkoro et al. (2020), and high genetic diversity was found between the three surveyed areas. It is known historically from eastern Zimbabwe (Mutema Highlands), but it is now believed to be extinct in the wild in Zimbabwe (Maroyi 2008). The species is also thought to have gone extinct at many localities in the KwaZulu-Natal province (Cunningham, 1988). It is highly likely that subpopulations have also been lost in Limpopo. Botha et al. (2004) were unable to relocate the species in a protected area in Limpopo, despite an intensive search with an experienced ranger who was familiar with its previous location. Based on the above surveys and research studies, the total population ranges from 4638 to 566 mature individuals. The population has a decreasing trend; however, rates of decline have slowed. Between 1980 and 2010, rates of decline were high; however, a successful conservation intervention involving the distribution of in excess of 20 000 tree samplings to traditional healers in and around Kruger National Park and more recently also in the Ehlanzeni district of Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu Natal has led to in excess of 10 000 plants being grown successfully in home gardens. This has reduced pressure on wild populations, so while there is still decline taking place, it is at a much lower rate.

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