Aiming at ensuring the sustainability of frankincense farming, a primary source of livelihood in the Dhofar region, the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) has renewed its partnership with HSBC Oman for the second year. The two organisations have undertaken a four-year innovative scientific research project on frankincense.
Addressing a press conference to announce the partnership, Dr Mehdi Ahmed Jaaffar, vice president, ESO, said the preliminary findings of the research indicate that the manner in which frankincense trees are tapped to harvest frankincense can lead to their degeneration beyond repair.
"The study aims at determining the right frequency of tapping to retrieve a good yield without harming the trees. It will also address the potential impact of climate change on the growth pattern of frankincense trees," Dr Mehdi said.
The study is headed by researcher and ESO board member, Dr Mohsin al Aamery. Its findings and recommendations will be disseminated to farmers, government authorities and the local community for implementation. "The project is expected to bring two major benefits, the first is to revitalise the generations-old business of frankincense farming and the second is to minimise urban sprawl in Dhofar," he said.
Quantitative field work, which includes collecting, recording and analysing data, will continue in the second year of the study. "So far, 180 trees have been sampled in four identified areas in the governorate of Dhofar. The trees have been tagged and classified according to the circumference of the trunk. Three weather stations have been installed that will study the potential impact of climate change," said Dr Aamery.
Commenting on the partnership with HSBC, Dr Mehdi said the bank's support has been instrumental in the success of the study so far. "We hope that our partnership will become a model of how businesses and non-profit organisations can work together to benefit nature conservation," he said.
Manish Sahrawat, chief operating officer, HSBC Oman, said the bank has a long-standing commitment to protecting the environment, and believes it is fundamental to a thriving society and sound economy upon which business depends.
"By respecting environmental limits, investing in local communities and cooperating with non-profit organisations such as ESO, we are able to find solutions and generate real and tangible outcomes for the preservation of not only our environment but also Omani culture," he said.
An integral component of the project is organising field trips for HSBC employees in Dhofar to introduce them to the nature of frankincense trees.
"Staff volunteers will also be nominated to participate in the study. Employees are encouraged to participate in the community projects supported by HSBC. We want them to take pride in what we do as an organisation and ingrain a sense of ownership in this ground-breaking project," Sahrawat said
© Muscat Daily 2011
