Borjuli Wetland

Borjuli Wetland Latest News

Recently, the Borjuli wetland in Assam‘s Sonitpur district has been declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) by the National Biodiversity Authority.  

About Borjuli Wetland

• Location: It is located in the state of Assam.
• It is known for harbouring a disease and pest-resistant variety of wild rice known as Oryza rufipogon.
  • Oryza rufipogon, is the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, Oryza sativa.
  • It is resistant to pests and diseases and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions, making it a valuable genetic resource for developing climate-resilient crop varieties.
  • It is photosensitive in nature and flowers during short days during the months of November and December.
  • The seeds have a tendency to shatter as soon as they mature.

Key Facts about Biodiversity Heritage Site

• BHS are unique ecosystems having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components:
  • Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
  • High endemism
  • Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, and species of evolutionary significance.
  • Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties.
  • Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
• Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government, in consultation with local bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.
• The purpose of declaring BHS is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through the conservation of such sites.
• In 2007, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was designated as India’s first BHS.

Source: DD News

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