Oryzias wolasi (Oryzias wolasi) Case Study

GEF Grant 250538837
Fish

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

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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.

GEF Grant 250538837 - located in Indonesia, Asia