Click here to open feedback window. Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria 32 Boswellia sacra  Burseraceae luban, megerot, mugereh, shajerat alluban, olibanum, mogar, mohor, frankincense, (sheehaz  and beyo refer to the resin) Distribution Oman, Somalia, Yemen (Former South Yemen), also likely to occur in Ethiopia Habitat A tree of dry, sparsely vegetated areas and the lower slopes of wadis. Population status and trends The largest and most widespread occurrence of the species is in northern Somalia. It is also a dominant component of desert-woodland on the escarpment mountains in Dhofar in Oman, extending into Yemen. In Oman the tree is so heavily browsed that it rarely flowers or sets seed. Several trees appear to be dying and regeneration is poor. (Ghazanfar, 1995) In Somalia wild stands belong to local families who extract the resin and take care not to damage or overexploit the trees. It appears to be impossible, however, to prevent overgrazing, especially in times of drought, which in itself affects the trees directly by slowing down growth, hampering regeneration and reducing yields of resin. Tapping is generally confined to two periods of 3-4 months depending on the extent and onset of the rains. It is believed that the size of the natural resource and its productivity significantly outweighs demand for the product (Coppen, 1995). Role of species in the ecosystem Threats Grazing/damage by feral/exotic animals, local use. Utilisation The resinous exudate is used for burning in religious ceremonies. It is also distilled to yield odorous volatile oils for use in the perfumery industry and various forms of the resin and extracts are used as fixatives in perfumes. In China the main use of olibanum is in traditional medicine. The leaves are an important animal fodder, especially in times of drought. Trade The international trade in B. sacra is very difficult to separate from that in other gums, resins and balsams. It is generally known as the Somalian or Middle Eastern olibanum.  B. frereana (Somalia), B. serrata (India) and B. papyrifera (Ethiopia) are also major sources of olibanum. Much unofficial trading also occurs across the borders of producing countries. The demand today is believed to be less than that in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Production is also believed to have declined because of severe droughts. Major consumers are China and the Middle East. China imported over 1000 tonnes of olibanum and myrrh in 1984.  Significantly smaller amounts (50 tonnes) are used in the production of essential oils and extracts in Europe. The Ethiopian olibanum is exported for use as incense in Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches in Europe and Latin America and the chewing grade olibanum from B. frereana is exported in substantial amounts to North Africa and the Middle East. Somalia and Ethiopia are the biggest producers of olibanum. The botanical source for the Ethiopian olibanum is likely to be B. papyrifera as B. sacra is only suspected to occur in Harerge. B. sacra in Somalia produces a higher grade olibanum known as ‘beyo’ but the highest chewing grade is believed to come from B. frereana. World trade in beyo was reported in 1987 to be 200 tonnes. Exports of incense gum from Somalia and their destinations, 1975-1980 (tonnes) Destinat ions 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Saudi Arabia na 156 - 11 67 na United Arab Emirates na - 70 - 22 na China na - - 60 - na Djibouti na - 16 - 29 na France na 16 - - - na Italy na na - 11 - na Total 684 173 86 81 118 373 Source: Frankincense and Gums Trading Agency, Somalia in Coppen, 1995. IUCN Conservation category LR/nt according to Thulin (1997). Conservation measures The species is in cultivation at the Sultan Qaboos University Botanic Garden in Oman. Otherwise the only studies on its domestication were carried out by a Swedish Aid project in the 1980s. Forest management and silviculture References Coppen, J.J.W. 1995. Flavours and fragrances of plant origin. Non-Wood Forest Products 1. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Ghazanfar, S. A. 1995. Plant conservation in Oman. Part 1.  (unpublished). Compiled with Anthony G. Miller, Ian McLeish, Tom A. Cope, Phil Cribb and Salim H. Al Rawahi. 62pp. Thulin, Mats. 1997. Comments on the draft species summaries of trees occurring in Somalia.