Assam’s Borjuli wetland has been officially notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site, strengthening the conservation of India’s valuable wild rice genetic resources and supporting future climate-resilient agriculture.

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• The Borjuli wetland in Assam has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site in recognition of its exceptional ecological importance and its role in conserving India’s rare wild rice genetic resources.
• The wetland is home to Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor of cultivated rice, which possesses natural resistance to pests, diseases, flooding, and saline conditions, making it invaluable for agricultural research.
• Scientists consider the wild rice species a critical genetic resource for developing high-yielding, climate-resilient, disease-resistant, and nutritionally improved rice varieties capable of addressing future food security challenges.
• The recognition follows the implementation of the “In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam” project, which has been underway since 2022.
• The conservation initiative is funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and implemented by ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in collaboration with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
• The National Biodiversity Authority’s recognition is expected to strengthen long-term conservation of India’s wild rice diversity while promoting sustainable agriculture and safeguarding valuable indigenous genetic resources.
• National Rainfed Area Authority Chief Executive Officer Chandra Shekhar Kumar emphasized that wild rice species provide essential genes for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior crop varieties.
• The government also highlighted the need to replicate similar conservation initiatives for other crop wild relatives across India to enhance agricultural sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and long-term national food security.