Oryzias wolasi (Oryzias wolasi) Case Study
Home > Biodiversity Nature & People > Conservation Philanthropy > Grants > GEF Grant 250538837
Continent: Asia
Country: Indonesia
Grant Amount: $4,960
Awarded Date: November 24, 2025
Verawati Lestari
SSRS Indonesia Biodiversity Hub
Dramaga Street
Bogor
West Java
16680
Indonesia
Tel: +62
Mob: +6285789277533
Conservation of Oryzias wolasi in Wolasi River Ecosystem, Southeast Sulawesi Province under threatened by nickel mining and palm oil plantations
Oryzias wolasi is an endemic freshwater fish species from Sulawesi that its found only in the river systems of Wolasi District, Southeast Sulawesi. The IUCN Red List currently classifies the species as Data Deficient (DD), indicating a lack of sufficient data on its population status and threats. Morphologically, O. wolasi has an elongated body reaching up to 28.6 mm SL, with a golden body color and bright orange pigmentation on the olfactory epithelium, especially in females. This species typically inhabits clean, well-oxygenated rivers within the Wolasi forest ecosystem, where organic matter from surrounding vegetation supports its habitat. However, increasing agricultural, plantation, and especially nickel mining activities pose significant threats. These activities contribute to water pollution through runoff, sedimentation, and increased acidity, degrading water quality and threatening fish populations. Therefore, this project aims to complement previous research through the integration of ecological data and threat assessments to provide proposed conservation actions that are appropriate to the dynamics of land use in Southeast Sulawesi spesifically at core habitat of O. wolasi. Were also execute species identification training for undergraduate student local university students on species identification procedures.
This grant is funded as part of our Fonseca Leadership Program which was established by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This fund supports young conservationists from developing countries.
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