Why in News?
- The Borjuli site in Sonitpur district, Assam, was notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site for conservation of wild rice.
Key Details
- The site supports a viable population of Oryza rufipogon, the wild progenitor of cultivated rice.
- Conservation work is being carried out under an NRAA-funded project implemented by ICAR-NBPGR with the Assam State Biodiversity Board.
- Wild rice is valuable because it carries genetic traits that can support crop improvement, including tolerance to environmental stresses.
Exam Connect
- Biodiversity Heritage Site → Area of biodiversity importance notified under the Biological Diversity framework.
- Oryza rufipogon → Wild relative of cultivated rice.