Oman Frankincense

TRANSCRIPT
Oman Frankincense

NARRATOR:
In southern Oman, the Boswellia tree grows. Its sap is called frankincense. The sap comes out when the bark is cut. It then dries and becomes hard. Frankincense has been used for thousands of years. You can smell it in markets like this one. People often burn it in small pots. Some people also drink it as tea. They believe it can help with health problems. 

But there is a problem. People are taking too much sap from the trees. Also, animals and building work are putting the trees in danger. The government and UNESCO want to stop the trees from disappearing. They have made a special park to look after the trees.

SOUNDBITE - Ali al-Khathiri:
"The trees are rare. In order to protect them, we collected trees from many places in the Dhofar province and we protect them at this reserve."

NARRATOR:
Frankincense was very important in the past, so people are also saving the places that show its history. At al-Baleed, an old port city, experts are digging and studying the past. Long ago, frankincense was traded here for other things, like silk. Items from China, Africa, and other countries have been found here. This shows how far frankincense travelled. The frankincense trade helped Oman become rich and important in history. But now, if the trees die, part of that story could be lost. That’s why protecting frankincense is not just about the past. It’s about the future too.