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Edinburgh Reporter
10-08-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Reporter
Botanics form innovative link up with The HALO Trust
A part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was transformed into a 'minefield' to highlight a new collaboration to restore nature and rebuild lives in war-torn regions across the world. In a global first, RBGE and world leading humanitarian mine action charity The HALO Trust will work together to tackle devastating environmental and economic consequences of war by boosting the resilience of vulnerable communities in conflict zones. The unique partnership brings together a wealth of international experience, with both organisations active across five continents. It will focus on the many conflict-affected areas where the Dumfries-based HALO Trust operates, which are also biodiversity hotspots where local communities depend heavily on plant resources for food security and trade. The collaboration was formally launched at the RBGE, where the Rock Garden – one of the most vulnerable areas of the attraction because of the rare plants it contains – was transformed into a 'minefield' complete with made-safe mines and signage. James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, said: 'War leaves behind a legacy of devastation, splintering the lives of people and destroying the fragile environments upon which they depend. 'By fusing our respective expertise, passion and knowledge, our shared vision of helping people to recover and thrive after conflict while restoring the natural world is brought to life. 'Together, we envision a future rooted in peace – where both the land and its people can flourish again.' The initiative has already begun in the Horn of Africa, where HALO explosives experts have cleared landmines and other dangerous remnants of war in parts of Puntland and South-West Somalia. The work has allowed safe access for ecological surveys on rare, income-generating frankincense trees (Boswellia sacra) to take place. An economically and culturally important species under increasing threat from environmental pressures, frankincense resin has a wide range of uses, primarily in aromatherapy, skincare, and traditional medicine. Using specialist locally adapted methods developed by the RBGE, the project is investigating tree health, supporting tree nurseries and replanting initiatives, and promoting sustainable harvesting practices. In the future, new joint projects are expected to develop across the world, including in Ethiopia, Yemen, Kenya, West Africa, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. Particular focus will be on post-conflict regions where gums and resins such as frankincense, myrrh, gum Arabic and Aloe species offer sustainable trade and development opportunities. Simon Milne, Regius Keeper of the RBGE, said: 'This marks a truly remarkable milestone – a partnership between two institutions united by a powerful vision to help communities recover from conflict while restoring and benefiting from the natural world. 'At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, our mission has always been to protect the incredible diversity of plants and, through them, the communities that depend on these vital organisms across the globe. Our work spans continents and climates, but at its heart, it is about preserving the foundations of life itself. 'I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact conflict can have — not only on human lives and livelihoods but also on the natural environment… 'Yet, in the face of such hardship, there is hope. Nature has an extraordinary ability to reclaim and regenerate, even in the most shattered landscapes. Once land is made safe from residual hazards of war, it can be returned to sustainable use, restoring degraded ecosystems, supporting climate adaptation, and enabling local livelihoods through conservation and sustainable plant-based trade.' He added: 'This partnership represents an innovative alignment of missions. By combining HALO's deep field knowledge and community networks with our expertise in plant science and conservation horticulture, we can support some of the world's most vulnerable regions with practical solutions to strengthen ecosystems and livelihoods alike.' The HALO Trust is the world's oldest humanitarian mine clearance organisation, founded in 1988 in Afghanistan, where it has operated consistently since. It employs more than 8500 women and men in over 30 countries in landmine and munition clearance, risk education and weapons and ammunition management. The organisation recently cleared its two millionth landmine worldwide. Saeeda Gouhari, a former RBGE project lead, added: 'In Afghanistan, our work supporting the sustainable use of natural resources provided communities with much-needed hope and agency. 'This partnership with HALO offers a new opportunity to blend recovery with regeneration – healing landscapes and lives together.' Simon Milne, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and (Left) James Cowan, CEO The HALO Trust Picture Alan Simpson 7/8/2025 Picture Alan Simpson 7/8/2025 Simon Milne, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and (Left) James Cowan, CEO The HALO Trust Picture Alan Simpson 7/8/2025 Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
08-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway landmine clearing charity to help protect frankincense trees in Somalia
The HALO Trust will remove the landmines to allow the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to carry out vital environmental work on the economically important species. The HALO Trust has joined forces with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to protect frankincense trees in war-torn Somalia. The Thornhill-based charity signed an agreement yesterday to clear landmines which standing in the way of vital environmental work. The trees are an economically and culturally important species under increasing threat from environmental pressures. Frankincense resin has a wide range of uses, including in aromatherapy, skincare and traditional medicine. CEO of The HALO Trust, James Cowan, said: 'War leaves behind a legacy of devastation, splintering the lives of people and destroying the fragile environments upon which they depend. 'By fusing our respective expertise, passion and knowledge, our shared vision of helping people to recover and thrive after conflict while restoring the natural world is brought to life. 'Together, we envision a future rooted in peace — where both the land and its people can flourish again.' Explosives experts from the charity have already been busy clearing landmines from parts of Puntland and south-west Somalia. That will allow experts from RBGE safe access to carry out ecological studies, looking at tree health and how they can support tree nurseries. Similar projects could be carried out in other parts of Africa and the Middle East in the future. Regius keeper of RBGE, Simon Milne, said: 'This partnership represents an innovative alignment of missions. 'By combining HALO's deep field knowledge and community networks with our expertise in plant science and conservation horticulture, we can support some of the world's most vulnerable regions with practical solutions to strengthen ecosystems and livelihoods alike.'
STV News
07-08-2025
- Health
- STV News
Charity to clear landmines to help frankincense tree project in war-torn Somalia
Two Scottish charities are teaming up to help precious frankincense trees in war-torn Somalia by clearing landmines which stand in the way of the work. The Halo Trust, the world's largest landmine-clearing charity, is signing a partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE) to tackle the environmental consequences of war. The two organisations will sign the agreement at the gardens on Thursday. Kicking off the initiative in the Horn of Africa, Halo Trust explosives experts have cleared landmines and other dangerous remnants of war in parts of Puntland and south-west Somalia. This will allow safe access for ecological surveys on rare, income-generating frankincense trees to take place. The trees – also known as Boswellia sacra – are an economically and culturally important species under increasing threat from environmental pressures. Frankincense resin has a wide range of uses, primarily in aromatherapy, skincare and traditional medicine. Using methods developed by the RBGE, a project is investigating tree health, supporting tree nurseries and replanting initiatives. Somalia has been wracked by a number of wars in recent decades which have blighted its economy. James Cowan, CEO of the Dumfries-based Halo Trust, said: 'War leaves behind a legacy of devastation, splintering the lives of people and destroying the fragile environments upon which they depend. 'By fusing our respective expertise, passion and knowledge, our shared vision of helping people to recover and thrive after conflict while restoring the natural world is brought to life. 'Together, we envision a future rooted in peace – where both the land and its people can flourish again.' Simon Milne, regius keeper of RBGE, said: 'This partnership represents an innovative alignment of missions. 'By combining Halo's deep field knowledge and community networks with our expertise in plant science and conservation horticulture, we can support some of the world's most vulnerable regions with practical solutions to strengthen ecosystems and livelihoods alike.' The charities hope to carry out similar projects in other parts of Africa and the Middle East, where conflicts have affected natural resources. Last month Harry, the Duke of Sussex, visited an Angolan minefield with the Halo Trust – 28 years after his mother's famous visit in the same country. As a patron of the landmine clearance charity, he spoke to families in a remote village near Africa's largest minefield. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
