Context
Recently, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) declared Borjuli Wetland in Sonitpur district, Assam, as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
About Borjuli Wetland
- Borjuli Wetland, located in Sonitpur district of Assam, is an important habitat of Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa).
- Oryza rufipogon is naturally resistant to pests, diseases, flooding, and saline conditions, making it a valuable genetic resource for breeding climate-resilient rice varieties.
- The species is photosensitive and flowers during the short-day season of November and December.
- Its seeds shatter naturally after maturity, a characteristic feature of wild rice species.
Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)
- A Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) is a well-defined area recognised for its unique biological, ecological, evolutionary, or cultural significance.
- Such sites may include areas with rich biodiversity, high endemism, rare or threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary importance, wild relatives of cultivated plants, fossil beds, or landscapes of cultural, ethical, or aesthetic value.
- Under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government, in consultation with local bodies, may notify an area as a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
- The designation aims to conserve biodiversity through sustainable management while improving the livelihoods of local communities.
- Nallur Tamarind Grove in Karnataka was notified as India’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2007.
