Context
The Borjuli wetland in Sonitpur district of Assam has been officially notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) by the Assam State Government on the recommendation of the Assam State Biodiversity Board (ASBB) and recognition by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). Spread over a mere 0.41 hectare (coordinates: 26.810888°N, 92.623559°E), the wetland harbours a globally significant wild rice population — Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor (progenitor) of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa). This wild rice variety is disease- and pest-resistant and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions — making it invaluable for developing climate-resilient rice varieties. The BHS notification is the outcome of the project “In-situ Conservation and Management of Wild Rice (Oryza rufipogon) in Sonitpur District of Assam” — funded by the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) since 2022 and implemented by the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR) in collaboration with the ASBB. Borjuli is Assam’s 3rd BHS (after Majuli and Hajong Tortoise Lake) and India’s 55th BHS (as of 3 July 2026).
Which BHS is this?
- India’s 55th BHS (as of 3 July 2026).
- Assam’s 3rd BHS — following:
- Majuli BHS — the world’s largest inhabited river island; ~875 sq km.
- Hajong Tortoise Lake BHS — preserves rare freshwater tortoises.
- First BHS specifically for wild rice conservation in India.
What is the Borjuli wetland?
- A biologically unique freshwater swamp and marshy ecosystem.
- Acts as a natural gene sanctuary for crop wild relatives (CWR).
- Nested within the fertile, flood-prone plains of the Brahmaputra river valley.
- Fed by seasonal monsoonal runoff + alluvial water channels.
- Undergoes cycles of intense flooding and waterlogged conditions.
What is Oryza rufipogon?
- The wild ancestor / progenitor of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa).
- Perennial plant; native to marshes and aquatic habitats across eastern and southern Asia.
- Genetic significance: Reservoir of ancient, unaltered rice genes; critical for future crop improvement.
- Natural traits:
- Disease and pest resistance — evolved over millennia in the wild.
- Tolerance to flooding (submergence tolerance).
- Tolerance to saline water conditions.
- Use in crop breeding: Source of genes for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior rice varieties.
What is a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)?
- A legally protected geographic area notified for its unique, ecologically fragile ecosystem.
- Statutory basis: Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- Notified by: State Governments in consultation with local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs).
- What qualifies as a BHS:
- Rich biodiversity — wild or domesticated species.
- Unique crop varieties / crop wild relatives.
- Rare or threatened wildlife.
- Sacred groves.
- Valuable fossil beds.
- Wetlands and other ecosystems outside the National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary network.
- Purpose: Protects fragile ecosystems that would otherwise fall outside the traditional Protected Area (PA) system.
Who governs a BHS?
- Community-led: Managed by Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the panchayat/local level.
- Financing + technical oversight: Guidance from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- Central funding: Can come from agencies like the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) — as seen with Borjuli.
- Ensures conservation supports (rather than replaces) traditional community access + sustainable farming methods.
What is the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)?
- Full form: National Biodiversity Authority.
- Established: 2003 (under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002).
- Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Type: Statutory autonomous body.
- Role: Regulates access to India’s biological resources; provides guidance to State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs); oversees BHS designations.
- Chairperson (2026): Dr. C. Achalender Reddy (since 2024).
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Borjuli wetland, consider the following statements:
- It is located in the Sonitpur district of Assam.
- It has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) for its unique wild rice population.
- It hosts Oryza rufipogon, the wild progenitor of cultivated rice Oryza sativa.
- It covers an area of approximately 1,000 hectares.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the Borjuli wetland covers only ~0.41 hectare — NOT 1,000 hectares. It is a very small but ecologically critical site.)
Q2. With reference to Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) in India, consider the following statements:
- BHSs are notified under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
- They are notified by State Governments in consultation with local Biodiversity Management Committees.
- They are managed under the guidance of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
- The Nallur Tamarind Grove in Karnataka was the first BHS to be notified in India.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(All four statements are correct.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Area is 0.41 ha, not 1,000 ha.
- (d) — All correct.
