Bridging Taxonomic Gaps to Define Conservation Priorities for Sri Lanka’s Wild Oryza Species

Wild rice species are vital to rice breeding programs as they harbour valuable agronomic traits, including resistance and tolerance to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses. However, their natural populations are rapidly declining due to both natural and anthropogenic pressures, creating an urgent need for effective conservation strategies. This study gathered expert opinions on taxonomic gaps and conservation challenges related to Sri Lankan wild rice species from taxonomists, researchers, and conservationists at national and international levels.  Data were collected using an online questionnaire developed using Google Forms and shared with university academics, researchers working on Sri Lankan wild rice, and staff from the Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI), the Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines. It was also distributed to plant taxonomists, ecologists, and conservationists from Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders further enriched the dataset. Results showed strong recognition of the value of wild rice, with 93.8% of respondents rating it as very important, although 61.7% believed the public is largely unaware of its significance. More than half supported integrating wild rice into national biodiversity conservation policies (51.9%) and acknowledged its commercial potential (69.1%). Many respondents viewed the current cultivar-naming system as inadequate (69.1%), emphasized the need for molecular tools to identify desirable traits (69.7%), and highlighted the importance of updating international databases (64.2%). Conservation priorities were strongly supported, with 95% of the participants supported new protected areas and 92% supporting the expansion of existing ones. Overall, the findings underscore the critical need for improved taxonomic resolution, enhanced molecular characterization, strengthened conservation initiatives, and increased public awareness to safeguard Sri Lanka’s wild Oryza species to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of Sri Lanka’s wild Oryza genetic resources.