Environment Society of Oman research stresses need to protect frankincense trees

Muscat: After four years of research the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) has presented its findings on how to sustainably harvest Oman's frankincense trees which face a number of threats to their existence. 

The ESO's frankincense project, which was funded by HSBC, aimed to protect and preserve the famous trees for future generations. The frankincense tree is a symbol of Oman's cultural heritage and has been a main source of income for the Dhofari people for centuries, so protecting it is imperative, said Lamees Daar, Executive Director of the ESO.

Lamees Daar

"We are very proud of the work we have achieved through this work. Now the challenge because how do we pass on these results and this information to frankincense farmers so we can ensure correct harvesting of the trees," said Daar.

Frankincense trees are prized for their resin which is harvested by cutting the trunk and branches of the tree every 14 to 28 days from November to May. Project Leader Dr Mohsin Al Aamri said the number of trees has been significantly reduced over the years by over-harvesting practices, gravel mining, overgrazing by camels, and insects. 

Dr Mohsin Al Aamri

 "Raysut used to be a forest but now there are no more trees," he said, giving an example of the damage done to the trees. 

Al Aamri said the research revealed optimal harvesting cycles for trees in four different locations in Dhofar which he hopes will help preserve the trees. He described the best ways to tap the trees and how often this should be done, according to his findings. 

The ESO is also keen on spreading awareness of the threats the trees face, especially among the harvesters, most of whom are not Omani since the young generation of Dhofaris is not interested in working with the trees.

Now that the research has been completed the ESO will embark on a campaign to spread awareness about the findings and encourage all stakeholders to work together to protect the frankincense trees. Dr Hamed Al Gheilani, ESO's Community Outreach Manager, said there will be workshops in Dhofar and visits by the ESO at least four times a year to schools, NGOs, and frankincense harvesters. 

Dr Hamed Al Gheilani

Dr. Mehdi Jaafar, former vice-president of the ESO who helped initiate the frankincense project, said there is a need for awareness because there is an indifference to what is happening to the frankincense trees and the land where the trees grow is considered barren and used for mining, ignoring the needs of the trees. He described the harm to the trees as a "betrayal of natural heritage."

"The need is pressing for decision-makers for a multi-stakeholder kind of approach to address the tree unless it will transform into something nostalgic that we cry about, that we have lost it and it's only available in museums and small protected areas," Jaafar commented.

Al Aamri said it's also important to encourage Dhofaris to think of the many ways frankincense trees can contribute to their incomes, not just from selling the resin to burn as incense, but by using it for essential oils, gum, honey and other products. 

Fawziya Al Khanjari, Deputy General Manager and Head of Government Relations and CSR at HSBC, thanked the ESO for letting HSBC support the worthwhile initiative which is so relevant to Oman. 

Fawziya Al Khanjari

"HSBC is always there to support programs and projects that are of important to the environments where it operates. This is one of the major projects we've been with for the past four years and we're very happy with the results we have seen and observed," Al Khanjari said.