Cordyceps collectors of Gasa and Wangdue Phodrang will return with more than just their harvest this season. They are now required to bring back the waste they generate during the collection period. Gewog administrations and park authorities have directed collectors not to litter the mountains, which are a vital source of income for highland communities.
The mountains in Bhutan are among the most remote and pristine landscapes in the country. High snow peaks, clear glacial streams, and wide alpine pastures shape the region. Few settlements and limited human activity have helped keep the environment largely untouched.
Every year, however, many collectors travel to these high mountains to harvest cordyceps, one of the most valuable natural resources for highland communities. During the collection season, people set up temporary camps across the mountains. After the collectors return home, officials often find piles of waste left behind in several areas.
Officials say the high mountains do not have waste collection systems like towns. Trash left behind can remain there for years. It can pollute streams that flow into rivers, harm wildlife, and slowly damage the environment that supports cordyceps.
Lunana Gup Kaka said, “This year, we have instructed our people to collect their waste once a week in their respective areas. It was also decided in the Gewog Tshogde that collectors must bring back their waste when the season is over. Forest and park officials have also conducted awareness sessions.”
Laya Mangmi Pema Jamtsho said, “We have briefed our people to manage their waste properly and not to leave any of it in the mountains. We informed them that, as per the rules for cordyceps collection, they are responsible for managing their own waste. Likewise, we visited every chiwog to create awareness and instructed the people to strictly follow waste management practices.”
The Rules and Regulations for Cordyceps Collection 2026 state that anyone who litters at collection sites or along trails will face fines under the Waste Prevention and Management Act and related regulations.
Park officials also say they will strictly enforce a “waste in, waste out” policy. Collectors must declare the waste they bring back when they apply for the certificate of origin for cordyceps after the collection season ends.
As hundreds of collectors begin harvesting cordyceps, authorities hope the new measures will help keep the high mountains clean.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
