Can spekboom save the planet? Sadly, the claims appear to be misleading

From social media challenges to free plants on Valentine's Day, the spekboom craze has taken over in Mzansi. But are the claims about it 'being more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere' true? Hmm, not so much.

From the social media hype, to the claims and the facts, here's what you need to know.

#SpekboomChallenge

Many social media users have been posting images on social media of them planting spekboom, also known as porkbush, with the hashtag #SpekboomChallenge.

The challenge initially asked each person in the country to plant 10 spekboom plants to help in the fight for climate change.

The claims

The origins of the challenge can be traced to the Boplaas Family Vineyards in Calitzdorp, which pledged to plant a million spekbooms by 2025.

According to Wineland, the plant can capture and store “more than four tons of carbon dioxide a year per hectare planted, making it more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere”.

“Our goal at Boplaas is to escalate plantation of the spekboom through strategic partnerships and as a wider aim to spread awareness. We want to encourage its cultivation in private gardens, on estates and farms,” said Carel Nel, owner of Boplaas.

Nel said the spekboom is also great at adapting to its surroundings and can flourish almost anywhere.

Boplaas said it has more than 2,000ha of veld under conservation where the variety occurs naturally.

“In addition to planting more, this project will actively distribute spekboom cuttings from the Boplaas farm in Calitzdorp and the wine tasting room in Klein Brak River on the Garden Route.”

True or not?

According to African Check, the claims are misleading.

The non-profit fact-checking organisation disputed the claims that spekboom can store more than four tons of carbon dioxide per year per hectare planted.

It also said the claim that spekboom was more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere was incorrect.

“While evidence suggests that spekboom can absorb carbon dioxide at these levels, it is only possible under very specific conditions. The plant must be in its natural environment.

“Available data shows that the Amazon rainforest captures and stores between 23.8 and 38.4 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. This is substantially higher than the available estimates for spekboom,” said Africa Check.