Oman

Frankincense Garden in Mudam to store rich flora of Dhofar

The garden's first phase saw the planting of 500 frankincense trees
 
The garden's first phase saw the planting of 500 frankincense trees
Muscat: The Frankincense Garden, located in the Mudam area of Salalah, is part of a larger initiative to establish environmental gardens that showcase the rich flora of Dhofar.

Spanning 181,000 square metres, the garden will eventually house over 11,000 trees, making it a vital green space in the region.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Nature Conservation Society (under establishment), and the local community, the garden's first phase saw the planting of 500 frankincense trees. This aligns with broader efforts to cultivate and protect Dhofar’s natural vegetation.

The General Directorate of Environment in Dhofar has also launched a campaign to plant an additional 2,650 frankincense trees, bringing them closer to the 2024 goal of planting 5,000 trees. The campaign is supported by the 'Awareness' initiative and other local stakeholders.

This project is part of the Environment Authority’s national strategy, which aims to plant 10 million trees across Oman. Specific to Dhofar, the focus is on preserving and enhancing the region’s unique biodiversity, which includes approximately 750 species of wild plants.

The garden's development began in 2023, with a protective fence built around the area. By mid-2024, 2,350 trees had been successfully planted, thriving in the region's favourable soil and climate conditions. The initiative reflects broader efforts to protect and propagate the Dhofar Governorate’s native species, with methods ranging from establishing tree nurseries to scattering seeds and protecting mature trees in the wild.