NEWS
Spekboom Challenge warning
Reprinted From: http://bit.ly/2xdYjJv
Aimee Pace
C
apetonians and South Afri-
cans at large have taken up the
Spekboom Challenge to make a
change through planting the wonder
plant and reducing carbon emissions
with its powerful air cleansing benefits,
but while the Spekboom Challenging is
doing a lot of good there are also nega-
tives to be aware of.
Recently residents and those with
knowledge about Cape fynbos and the
sensitive ecosystems they form have
been taking to social media to warn
people about planting Spekboom in ar-
eas where they do not belong.
Local botanist Elzanne Singels posted a
picture of a spekboom cutting she had
found planted in a lowland fynbos area
where it would certainly do more harm
than good.
“Pictured is a spekboom cutting, that
was planted by a well-intentioned Ca-
petonian in one of the last remaining
intact lowland fynbos habitats in Cape
Town (lying on the critically endangered
Diastella proteoides). This is exactly
what I had feared when the Spekboom
challenge started being a thing that
seems to have captivated the minds
of so many South Africans. To be very
clear: Spekboom is not indigenous to
Cape Flats Sand Fynbos, it will colonize
and become invasive in this habitat and
threaten the already extremely threat-
ened habitat and the endangered spe-
cies that grow there,” said Singels in a
Facebook post.
While the wonders of the spekboom
cannot be overlooked it is very impor-
tant that planters are aware of where
they are planting it. The spekboom is
originally found in a rocky area in the
Eastern Cape and it is best to either
plant them in your garden or in pots
around your home.
Those who have joined the Spekboom
Challenge are being urged to never
plant it in natural or wild veld areas
where it could do more harm than good.
“Plant spekboom in your garden by all
means! Cook with it, propagate it and
share among friends to grow in their
gardens and homes, but spekboom
should never be planted in natural veld
without consulting a rehabilitation or
restoration specialist,” adds Singels.
Figure 1: The Spekboom Challenge aims to tackle climate change but should never be planted in natural veld with-
out consulting a specialist (Photo: Elzanne Singels)
33
Grassroots
Vol 20
No 1
March 2020