Around the world, we are losing our medicinal and aromatic plants at an ever-increasing pace while our demand for essential oils, aromatic, cosmetic and therapeutic plant materials continues to grow. We are caught in a loop of unsustainable practices and poor resource management that has only one final destination. The decline and demise of many of the natural resources we have come to rely on.

We know the population of Frankincense trees is diminishing quickly and that some Frankincense species will be extinct in mere decades. The question is what can we as individuals do about it? For the most part, concerned citizens, consumers, and even those involved in the Frankincense chain of supply have little power to effect meaningful change on their own.

That is, until now. The survey and workshops below are rare opportunities for every reader, consumer, retailer, formulator, wholesaler, harvester and middleman of Frankincense and Myrrh to make a meaningful contribution towards creating an effective, long term, sustainable and fairly traded market chain for these precious resources. Someone needs to save the day. And why not us?

Though Frankincense is only 1 of thousands of plants disappearing due to our own shortsightedness, this is a step in the right direction, and if you are reading this, you can make a difference. Join me and many others. Let your voice be heard.

The Global Frankincense Alliance

Along with many partners, on March 15/17/18th the Global Frankincense Alliance is creating a free online participatory workshop to answer the question: “What are the most important questions that need to be answered and actions that need to be taken to ensure the long-term future of Frankincense trees and the communities that harvest them?” A short survey is included below that everyone should fill out. Each survey answered is one small step towards responsible global resource management and a much brighter future.

I hope you will take this opportunity to make a difference and pass it along to others.

Dan