Nearly 100 Million Mu of Grassland in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia to Enter Seasonal Grazing Moratorium

According to the Hulunbuir Forestry and Grassland Bureau, in accordance with relevant regulations, the 93.29 million mu of grasslands in the grass-livestock balance zones of Hulunbuir will enter a 45-day grazing moratorium starting April 5, 2026.

Sheep in centralized enclosures during the rest period

The early start to this year's grazing moratorium is attributed to favorable weather conditions, robust forage growth, and an earlier-than-usual green-up period. This will help forage grass regenerate smoothly, improve grassland productivity, and drive the modernization of traditional animal husbandry practices.
The 2025 grazing moratorium yielded remarkable results. The illegal grazing rate dropped from 40.12% to 4.39%. Herders have shifted from passive compliance with grazing bans to actively embracing the rest grazing system, proactively stockpiling forage and spreading awareness of the policy among their communities. The improving grassland ecology brought about by the policy has translated into higher yields and greater income for herders.
2026 is a transition year for grassland subsidy and reward policies. Rest grazing will continue under the same scope as the third round, and will also apply to areas not covered by the subsidy and reward program. The policy combines rewards and penalties: rest grazing incentives will continue in the fourth round, with incentive payments disbursed based on inspection and enforcement outcomes.
In addition, a forage processing workshop in New Barag Left Banner has come into operation, cutting spring cattle feeding costs by 20%. Meanwhile, Hulunbuir has tightened oversight of livestock brought in from outside the region, established a city-wide information-sharing mechanism, and enforced regulations strictly to ensure the orderly conduct of the grazing moratorium.