Frankincense has a warm and special smell. People use it at festivals, in churches, and for meditation. Today, many people around the world love frankincense. But now, this precious resin is slowly disappearing.
Salaban Salad Muse lives in a small town called Dayaha. Dayaha is in the Sanaag region of Somaliland. For Salad Muse, frankincense is not just a product. It is his life.
Every year, he leaves his home for three to six months. He lives near the Boswellia trees in the dry mountains. These trees belong to his family for many generations. Each morning, he walks from tree to tree.
He checks the bark carefully. He looks for insects and cleans away sand. He also cares for young trees he planted before. He knows every tree like a close friend.
Frankincense comes from Boswellia trees. Harvesters cut the bark very gently. White resin comes out slowly. After some weeks, it becomes hard “tears”.
Trees Under Pressure
In the past, harvesters worked slowly and carefully. They gave trees time to rest. But today, many trees are cut too often. This causes serious damage.
A 2022 report says a Boswellia tree needs over 10 years to recover. But many trees do not get this time. Global demand is rising fast. Harvesters feel strong pressure to collect more resin.
Climate change also hurts the trees. The weather is hotter and drier than before. Insects, like wood-boring beetles, attack the trees. Young trees cannot grow easily.
A 2019 Nature study shows a big problem. Over 75% of some Boswellia forests have no young trees. In some places, new trees have not grown for decades. Experts warn production may fall by half in 20 years.
Frankincense mainly comes from Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Most resin still comes from wild trees, not farms. This makes the future very uncertain.
Value, People, and Hope
Frankincense is very valuable in the world market. In Western countries, it sells for $60 to $100 per kilogram. But harvesters in Somaliland earn only $2 to $5 per kilogram. This is about 3% of the final price.
The global frankincense market was worth $363 million in 2023. Experts say it may reach over $700 million by 2032. Somaliland exports about 1,000 tonnes each year. One type, Boswellia frereana, is called “the king of frankincense”.
Because money is low, harvesters cut more trees to survive. This makes the problem worse. But some people are trying to help.
Stephen Johnson works with Dayaxa Frankincense Export Company (DFEC). Since 2021, the company uses mobile apps to track resin and trees. Harvesters register their trees and get fairer payments. Tree health is checked and recorded.
More than 8,000 harvesters have joined this program. Over 3,000 trees are now registered and protected. Experts say this gives hope for the future.
Frankincense trees matter. The people who protect them matter too. If the world wants frankincense, it must care for both.
Source: bbc.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Frankincense – a natural resin with a strong smell
Frankincense smells very nice.
Resin – a sticky substance from a tree
The resin comes from the tree bark.
Harvester – a person who collects plants or products
The harvester works in the mountains.
Bark – the outer skin of a tree
He cuts the bark carefully.
Tear – a small hard piece of resin
The resin dries and becomes a tear.
Protect – to keep safe
We must protect the trees.
Damage – harm
Too much cutting causes damage.
Recover – to become healthy again
The tree needs time to recover.
Pressure – strong need to do something
Harvesters feel pressure to earn money.
Climate – the usual weather in a place
The climate is hot and dry.
Insect – a small animal like a beetle
Insects attack the trees.
Valuable – worth a lot of money
Frankincense is very valuable.
Market – a system where people buy and sell
The market price is high.
Export – to sell goods to another country
Somaliland exports frankincense.
Survive – to stay alive
Harvesters cut more trees to survive.
Future – time after now
We must think about the future.
Generation – people in a family born around the same time
The land stayed in the family for generations.
Track – to follow or watch carefully
The app tracks the trees.
Program – a planned set of actions
Many harvesters joined the program.
Hope – a good feeling about the future
There is hope for the trees.
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