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Frankincense, famed as one of the three gifts brought by the wise men on Jesus’ birth, is in danger of extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned on March 27, 2025.
There are five main species of Boswellia from which frankincense is derived. The best known are B. serrata (Indian Frankincense), B. carterii, and B. sacra.
“Today’s update reveals that five species of frankincense (Boswellia) on Socotra Island, Yemen, have moved from Vulnerable to Endangered, one from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered, and three species have been assessed for the first time as Critically Endangered,” the IUCN said in a statement.
It gave several reasons as to why frankincense species were on the wane. “Saplings are grazed on by goats, and struggle to flourish in prolonged droughts. While goats have been part of Socotra’s herder tradition for thousands of years, the decline of traditional rotational grazing and the growing size of herds in the past century have increased foraging pressure. More frequent and intense cyclones, flash floods and landslides, such as those seen in 2015 and 2018, have damaged and uprooted many trees.”
The statement quoted Mohammed Amer, local Boswellia expert, who contributed to the Red List assessments and manages the project to conserve these trees on Socotra.
“Through building fences around young trees, local communities can protect them from goats and produce frankincense honey for additional income. As extreme weather hits the island, local action is essential to secure the future of Socotra’s frankincense trees,” said Amer.
Frankincense, along with gold and myrrh were the three famous gifts from the Magi to the infant Jesus, as written in Matthew 2:11.
The aromatic resin has been used for centuries in perfumes, incense as well as for medicinal purposes.
Research indicates that Frankincense may be beneficial for treating a host of conditions. It has an anti-inflammatory effect in ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, bronchitis and sinusitis. Inhalation and consumption of Boswellia olibanum reduces the risk of asthma.
