Drought threatens myrrh trees crucial for luxury perfumes and African incomes
via Tadias3 min read
Myrrh, a tree resin from the Horn of Africa used in luxury perfumes and traditional practices, is facing severe threats due to a historic drought in Ethiopia's Somali region. Experts and locals report that the trees, once forming dense forests, are under pressure from lack of water and foraging livestock. Researchers from the American Herbal Products Association and Born Global visited the region to ensure harvesters receive a larger share of profits from the opaque supply chain. Ethiopia is a major source of myrrh, with traditional hand-harvesting methods producing high-quality resin and protecting the trees. However, harvesters earn as little as $3.50 to $10 per kilogram, a stark contrast to the hundreds of dollars perfumes containing myrrh sell for. The annual rains have failed for several years, interrupted by devastating flooding in 2023, and the changing climate is blamed for the historic drought. While adult trees are generally healthy, they are producing less resin, and fewer young trees are surviving due to lack of rain and being eaten by livestock. Villagers, some of whom rely solely on myrrh for survival, are deeply worried about the declining myrrh tree population and hope for direct market access to secure better prices and sustainable livelihoods.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tadias.
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