Improving Hong Kong: Volume 7, Autumn 2010 p21

Hong Kong Calls For Better Protection of Wetlands

Yin Xueying

In the current protected area system, 40% of Hong Kong has been designated as Country Parks.
Despite this fact, the wetlands have yet to receive adequate protection, causing them to be vulnerable
to pervasive human activities such as waste disposal and port construction.

According to the Ramsar Convention, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance,

wetlands are defined in a broad sense as "areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or
artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including
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areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters." In practice, wetland
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habitats in Hong Kong include primarily wet agricultural or flooded fields and mangrove communities .
Only 0.6% of all area of Hong Kong comprises these wetland habitats, and less than 37% of them are
3,4
within the protected area system .

Wetlands and Our Environment

Wetlands (Fig 1) are vital for maintaining a clean and healthy environment in Hong Kong as they have
various hydrological and ecological functions, as well as recreational and educational roles, most of
which no other ecosystems can provide.

Fig 1: A freshwater wetland in Long Valley

To begin with, wetlands provide water quality improvement, flood protection and shoreline erosion
control via their hydrological interactions with the environment. Wetlands function as natural sponges
that retain and slowly release surface water, groundwater, rain and floodwaters. Meanwhile, wetlands
 Improving Hong Kong: Volume 7, Autumn 2010 p22

also filter surface water runoff and retain excess nutrients, pollutants and suspended sediments. In
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addition, mangroves protect shorelines against erosion by buffering the storm surges from typhoons .

Secondly, wetlands improve the

ecological value of the environment.
By providing food and shelter, they
support numerous forms of wildlife,
including birds, amphibians, reptiles,
fishes and insects. For example, they
serve as a resting and feeding ground
for more than 300 species of migratory
birds, Approximately 20,000 to 30,000
of these birds, including the globally
endangered Black-faced Spoonbill
(Figure 2), migrate to the Hong Kong Fig 2: Hong Kong wetlands serve as an important feeding ground for the
2
wetlands every winter . Black-faced Spoonbill.

In addition, wetlands provide various recreational and educational opportunities for people to have a
better understanding of the environment. For instance, Hong Kong Wetland Park, comprising a 60-
hectare wetland reserve and a 10,000 square meter visitor center, functions in conservation, promotes
education and ecotourism, and provides integral facilities including galleries, theaters and resource
2
centers to convey wetland conservation messages .

Better Protection and Management Required

Lack of management and protection of wetlands has caused severe environmental problems in Hong
Kong. Pervasive human activities, including urbanization, agriculture and aquaculture, have caused
wetland degradation and loss by changing water regime, increasing pollutant inputs and damaging
3
vegetation cover . In the long term, destruction of wetlands increases greenhouse gases emissions
and adds to the trend of global climate change, which may ultimately increase the sea level and lead
to further loss of wetlands. What is more, reckless implementation of projects has led to more
detrimental effects, such as transportation problems, soil contamination, noise pollution, and
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undesirable visual impact .

Prior to any management and planning strategy, comprehensive studies should be conducted to
investigate the ecology of the remaining wetlands, such as distribution, status and conservation value.
Different wetlands may have different ecological characteristics, thus they usually require different
management and protection strategies. On the one hand, wetlands of high conservation value require
vigorous protection. Designation and legislation of these wetlands as natural reserves, protected sites
or equivalents are essential to maintain their physical, chemical and ecological functions. Any
hydrological alternation, pollution input and vegetation damage should be strictly prohibited in these
 Improving Hong Kong: Volume 7, Autumn 2010 p23

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areas . On the other hand, wetlands of high commercial or industrial value require sustainable
development of the environment and the local industry. Impact of any infra-structural developments in
such areas must be thoroughly assessed through detailed environmental impact assessments, and
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adequate mitigation measures must be provided .

The success of the above protection methods depends largely on the publics understanding and
support. A wide variety of education, outreach, and training programs are needed to motivate people
to take action and raise awareness of the importance of wetlands to the environment. The improved
public awareness can encourage the cooperation of various sectors to protect the wetlands in Hong
Kong. Wetland protection is currently of great urgency and calls for cooperation of all sectors in the
local community of Hong Kong.

References
1. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. What are wetlands. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
[online] 2009. Available from: http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-about-faqs-what-are-
wetlands/main/ramsar/1-36-37%5E7713_4000_0__. Accessed 2010 March 3.
2. Hong Kong Wetland Park. Factsheets. Hong Kong Wetland Park [online] 2009. Available
from: http://www.wetlandpark.com/en/download/booklets_education_factsheets.asp. Accessed 2010
March 3.
3. Dudgeon D and Corlett R. The Ecology and Biodiversity of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Joint
Publishing; 2004. 336 p.
4. Tam NFY and Wong YS. Conservation and sustainable exploitation of mangroves in Hong Kong.
Trees 2001; 16:224229.
5. Ornes H. Wetland. The Digital Universe, Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for
Science and the Environment [online] 2008. In: Cleveland CJ, editor. Encyclopedia of Earth.
Available from: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Wetland. Accessed 2010 March 3.
6. Tsui HW. Wetland restoration and port back-up facilities in Kam Tin [Thesis]. Hong Kong:
Univeristy of Hong Kong; 2009. Available from: The University of Hong Kong Libraries. 142 p.
7. Wong S. A critical review of wetland protection in Hong Kong [Thesis]. Hong Kong: Univeristy of
Hong Kong; 2001. Available from: The University of Hong Kong Libraries. 86 p.