Arya News - Every year, Mongolia issues an order regulating the harvesting of pine nuts for household and commercial purposes. This year, however, an order has been issued to completely prohibit pine nut harvesting.
ULAANBAATAR – In response to an increase in brown bear sightings in populated areas, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Ts. Sandag-Ochir convened an emergency meeting on September 10, 2026.
Based on data indicating shortages of natural food sources for wildlife and research into the 2026 pine nut harvest, the meeting resulted in a decision to ban the harvesting of pine nuts for both household and commercial purposes throughout 2026.
T. Baljinnyam, a department head at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, said there had been more than 10 reported cases of brown bears entering human settlements since the beginning of the year. Official directives were being issued to Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Khentii, Khuvsgul, and Uvs provinces.
Brown bears were entering populated areas primarily because of a lack of food. In addition, vehicles and equipment used by people gathering nuts and berries were driving bears out of forest habitats. People also needed to take care with how they disposed of household waste and animal carcasses.
Authorities stated they would take immediate action whenever a bear posed a threat to people or property.
There had also been cases of bears crossing into Mongolia from neighboring regions of Russia. Bears entering populated areas were generally emaciated due to food shortages, or were mother bears accompanied by cubs. Efforts were being made to drive them back into forested areas.
Every year, Mongolia issued an order regulating the harvesting of pine nuts for household and commercial purposes. That year, however, an order had been issued to completely prohibit pine nut harvesting.
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