Assessing the Ecological and Socio-economic Sustainability of Frankincense Harvesting Practices in Northwest Ethiopia

The ecological and financial effects of tapping methods are the main emphasis of this study, which examines the sustainability of frankincense production from Boswellia papyrifera in Ethiopia's Metema District. The region's resin resources, especially those derived from Boswellia, are essential for local livelihoods because Ethiopia's dry woods span 55 million hectares. However, Boswellia populations have significantly declined as a result of unsustainable tapping practices, endangering their ecological viability. Plots measuring 400 m2 were placed in a transect line for the forest inventory. Eighty respondents were chosen using the stratified random sampling technique. The chi-squared test and the independent samples t-test were applied. The demographic structure showed a limited ability for regeneration, as the study reveals. In the Boswelliya forest, the tree densities harvested by private companies and cooperatives were, respectively, 126.57 and 146.6 stems/ha. Data show concerning patterns of over-tapping, with private sector trees frequently undergoing excessive incisions and improper tapping heights, which raises mortality rates. While 53.8% of cooperative members receive formal training, just 42.9% of private sector employees do, indicating a serious knowledge gap among harvesters about sustainable practices, according to the report. Knowledge gaps, cultural resistance, and financial limitations are some of the obstacles to implementing sustainable practices. Cooperatives are essential for training and resource provision, but the commercial sector's emphasis on short-term gains makes sustainability issues worse. In order to guarantee the long-term survival of Boswellia papyrifera, the study emphasizes the critical necessity for focused conservation initiatives and the application of sustainable harvesting practices.