As part of Neal’s Yard Remedies’ Project Frankincense – an initiative to propagate, cultivate and care for the sustainable production of frankincense in Oman – the brand has embarked on a partnership with the Environment Society of Oman (ESO).
The link-up gives Neal’s Yard the opportunity to engage with local people on the proper management and protection of the Boswellia sacra trees. The new frankincense community outreach and tree planting campaign in the Sultanate started in Dhofar, where an initial 500 seedlings have been distributed to participating local farmers and harvesters, students and community members. Additional planting will take place in the coming months and the brand hopes this will continue in the future.
Oman has proved to be a great example in agricultural sustainability and our partnership with the ESO serves as a stepping stone to implement more environmentally responsible business practices
“We are working to mobilise local Omani knowledge in order to help protect frankincense trees and harvest this fragrant gold in ways that are beneficial for the environment,” says Susan Curtis, natural health director at Neal’s Yard Remedies. “Oman has proved to be a great example in agricultural sustainability and our partnership with the ESO serves as a stepping stone to implement more environmentally responsible business practices.”
Dr Hamed Al Gheilani, community outreach manager at the ESO, adds: “The Boswellia sacra tree populations are in rapid decline due to exhaustive over-harvesting, livestock grazing, and insect infestation, and we are working to reverse this. We are committed to raising awareness about this cause as well as to Oman’s unique environmental diversity through educating and enabling communities to participate in preservation efforts.”
Neal’s Yard says that the frankincense it buys is the most sustainable source available and is distilled locally in order to support local collectors and businesses.
Pictured: children from the local Dhofar community with some of the first 500 Boswellia sacra seedlings ready to plant
