Myrrh, a key ingredient in some of the world’s most renowned perfumes, is facing increasing pressure as prolonged drought conditions grip parts of the Horn of Africa.
The resin, sourced from trees in eastern Ethiopia, plays a vital role in global fragrance production but is now at risk due to environmental stress.
In Ethiopia’s Somali region, residents say once-thriving forests of myrrh trees are steadily declining.
Severe water shortages and grazing by livestock weakened by hunger have contributed to the deterioration of the trees, raising concerns about their long-term survival.
Earlier this year, a team of researchers backed by the American Herbal Products Association visited harvesting communities in the region.
Their mission focused on improving transparency in the supply chain and ensuring that local harvesters receive a fairer share of the profits, rather than losing value to intermediaries.
Ethiopia remains one of the leading producers of myrrh, a substance historically used in cosmetics, medicine, and religious rituals dating back to ancient Egypt. Harvesting methods in the region have largely remained unchanged over time, a practice that helps preserve tree health while yielding high-quality resin.
Despite its value, the income earned by harvesters remains low. A kilogram of myrrh typically sells for between $3.50 and $10 at the source, a stark contrast to the high-end perfumes it contributes to, which can retail for up to $500 per bottle from major global brands.
Interest in myrrh has grown beyond perfumery, as global demand for natural remedies continues to rise. However, much of the resin produced in eastern Ethiopia is still sold to traders from neighboring Somalia, with little economic benefit returning to the country, as no taxes are collected on the trade.
Community members believe increased awareness and direct market access could improve their situation as climate change intensifies existing challenges. “They expressed hope that a direct market would enable them to secure better prices, ensuring sustainable livelihoods,” said Abdinasir Abdikadir Aweys, senior researcher with the Somali Regional Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Research Institute and a member of the research team.
The research effort was led by Anjanette DeCarlo of the University of Vermont and Stephen Johnson of FairSource Botanicals. Their findings highlighted that local communities rely on traditional harvesting methods, collecting resin from naturally occurring tree wounds rather than making cuts that could expose the trees to pests and disease. “Traditional practice is in balance and protects trees. It should be celebrated,” DeCarlo said.
However, the research team expressed concern over worsening drought conditions. Rainfall has become increasingly unreliable in recent years, with 2023 bringing severe flooding that further disrupted the fragile ecosystem. Experts attribute these extremes to climate change.
The impact on myrrh production is already visible. Mature trees are yielding less resin, while younger trees are struggling to survive. “Unfortunately, many seedlings are uprooted by children who graze their livestock nearby, and the animals often eat the buds of the young trees,” said a local elder, Mohamed Osman Miyir, adding: “We are deeply worried about the declining population of myrrh trees.”
Researchers warn that continued lack of rainfall could lead to the eventual loss of even mature trees. Meanwhile, daily life in affected communities has become increasingly difficult. Residents spend long hours fetching water for both themselves and their animals, while herders travel distances of up to 200 kilometers to reach Sanqotor village, one of the few locations with a reliable water source.
“Guests water animals first, then the villagers,” said local headman Ali Mohamed, describing scenes of large numbers of livestock crowding around the village well.
For many of the poorest households, survival depends entirely on harvesting tree resins like myrrh, making the environmental crisis not only an ecological threat but also a direct risk to livelihoods.
