SOMALILAND, December 21, 2025 (BBC): The world’s supply of frankincense is under serious threat as rising global demand collides with ecological stress and economic inequity. Harvested from wild Boswellia trees in the Horn of Africa, especially Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan, frankincense has been used for millennia in religious ritual and traditional medicine and is now booming in the global wellness market. But excessive tapping, climate change, insect infestations and grazing pressure are damaging trees faster than they can recover. Scientific studies cited in the article suggest many Boswellia populations are no longer regenerating and that frankincense production could fall by half within two decades if current practices continue.

The article also highlights how poverty and weak regulation drive unsustainable harvesting. While frankincense can sell for up to $60–100 per kilogram in Western markets, harvesters often receive only a few dollars, forcing them to over-tap trees to survive. New efforts aim to break this cycle through traceability and sustainability programs, including mobile apps that link resin to specific trees, track tree health and enable direct payment to harvesters. Researchers and advocates argue that better data, fairer pricing and ethical purchasing by major buyers, including religious institutions, could help protect both the trees and the communities that depend on them before an ancient sacred resource is pushed toward collapse.

Source of this very long and detailed report: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251219-why-the-world-is-running-out-of-frankincense

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