The doTERRA Co-Impact Sourcing Initiative in Somalia provides frankincense harvesters with greater opportunities for income, while providing doTERRA with access to skilled harvesters who help accomplish the intricate steps of frankincense resin harvesting.
Frankincense in Somalia
For thousands of years, frankincense resins have been harvested in Somalia from wild Boswellia trees like Carterii and Frereana. Boswellia carterii trees typically grow best in sandy soil, producing small resin tears. The resin tears from the Carterii species are some of the most commonly harvested types of resin, and usually have a very round shape. Unlike the Carterii trees, Frereana trees do not thrive on sandy soil, but need a dry, rocky climate to produce the largest resin of the Boswellia species.