Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Report

THE ROLE OF THE CONSERVATION BRANCH

The objectives of the branch are:

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To conserve local flora, fauna and natural habitats by offering professional advice on development proposals, planning strategies and environmental impact assessments;
To provide law enforcement, research and implementation of biodiversity conservation plans, as well as identify Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI);
To conduct regular ecological surveys, take inventory and update the status of our biodiversity assets as well as establish an ecological database for Hong Kong;
To monitor the ecology of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and to develop and manage the Hong Kong Wetland Park;
To protect endangered animal and plant species by controlling their international trade; and
To promote public awareness and participation in natural conservation through publicity and educational activities.

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Hong Kong's topography and subtropical climate provides a wide range of habitats to support a rich variety of flora and fauna. Scenically, it has a great deal to offer ﷿ a landscape rising from sandy beaches and rocky foreshores to a height of almost 1,000-metre, woodlands and hilly areas covered by open grassland and a variety of scenic vistas rarely seen in such a small locale.

In Hong Kong, there are more than 3,100 species of vascular plants, of which about 2,100 are native; some 50 species of mammals; 450 species of birds; 160 species of freshwater fish; some 80 species of reptiles and more than 20 amphibian species. Insect diversity is also very high with more than 230 species of butterflies and 110 types of dragonflies.

MAI PO INNER DEEP BAY RAMSAR SITE

Ecological monitoring
Since August 2001, the Department has implemented the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site Ecological Monitoring Programme. The programme aims to collect ecological baseline information on the marine benthic communities, overwintering waterbird counts and the extent of habitation at the Ramsar Site.

The Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Hong Kong has been appointed contractor to carry out the monitoring programme. The ecological data is cross-referenced with environmental data including water quality, sediment quality and the mudflat sedimentation rate for analysis of change and interaction of these parameters. The data collected in the programme serves as a record of the ecological conditions of the Ramsar Site.

Waterbird monitoring
The counting of waterbirds in the Ramsar Site has been carried out on a monthly basis by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society in collaboration with the Department as part of the baseline monitoring programme.

From October 2003 to March 2004, the total peak count of waterbirds at the Ramsar Site was about 51,400, including 4,000 egrets and herons, 16,200 ducks and grebes, 8,700 gulls and terns, 12,700 shorebirds, 360 rails and coots, and 9,000 cormorants.

From October 2004 to March 2005, the highest count of waterbirds at the Ramsar Site slightly increased to about 61,000, including 6,500 egrets and herons, 22,500 ducks and grebes, 9,300 gulls and terns, 9,800 shorebirds, 380 rails and coots, and 9,500 cormorants.

The population of winter waterbirds in the Ramsar Site has been stable in the range of 50,000 to 60,000 over the past eight years.

BLACK-FACED SPOONBILLS

Global census
Black-faced Spoonbills are a globally endangered species that can only be found in the East Asia region. In recent years, some 22 per cent of the global population made the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site their winter or stop-over migration site.

Accordingly, maintaining the Ramsar Site in a favourable condition for the wintering Black-faced Spoonbills in Hong Kong has been an important aspect of the Territory's conservation plan since 2001. Other parts of the plan include safeguarding the site, species and habitat management; monitoring and research; education and training; as well as achieving regional cooperation.

In the East Asia region, the Department has worked with the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, coordinating efforts for a global census on Black-faced Spoonbills. Throughout the winters of 2003-04 and 2004-05 respectively, 1,206 and 1,475 Black-faced Spoonbills were counted in the East Asia region. During the two-year period, the wintering population in Hong Kong reached a peak of 262 birds in December 2003 and a new high of 324 birds in November 2004. The findings indicate that the Ramsar Site has the second largest number of wintering Black-faced Spoonbills in the East Asia region.

GREEN TURTLES

Found at Sham Wan beach on Lamma Island, Green Turtles is the only species of sea turtles that breed regularly in Hong Kong. The Department has implemented a Green Turtle Conservation Programme to protect this endangered species, including designating the Sham Wan beach as a restricted area, during the nesting period from June to October each year. The programme also includes such activities as clearing of climbers and marine garbage that may obstruct Green Turtles from nesting, regular patrols by nature wardens, and public education activities that focus on sea turtle conservation.

In 2003, three green turtles laid nine nests of eggs in Sham Wan from late May to early September ﷿ all of the eggs were left to hatch naturally. In 2004, there was no nesting reported.

In late June 2003, a satellite tracking device was attached to one of the green turtles nesting on Sham Wan beach to trace its migratory routes and feeding grounds. This was the second time that the Department had employed satellite tracking technology since its success in 2002. The device showed that the turtle headed southwest along the South China Sea after laying her seventh nest of eggs in early September. This was a record-breaking number set by one green turtle within a season in Sham Wan. After travelling some 900 kilometres, she reached the coastal waters of Dao Bach Long Via in late September 2003, a small offshore island falling within Vietnam's marine protected zone.

WILD MONKEYS

In 2002 , the first contraceptive treatment of wild monkeys was conducted in Kam Shan Country Park. Twenty female and seventeen male monkeys were captured, treated with a contraceptive vaccine and released back to the same social groups. Initial results indicated that none of the treated female monkeys became pregnant during the birth season and no abnormal behaviour was detected among the treated monkeys.

In 2003, the field trial on wild monkeys was extended to three target groups of 330 animals. Its aim was to treat certain numbers of fertile female monkeys in the target groups; assess the effectiveness of the treatment and develop a beneficial monkey contraception programme. However, the wild monkeys cleverly learned to avoid the traps when the trial continued throughout 2004 and 2005 and the traps are now no longer effective.

Shatin District has naturally been the main residential area where stray monkeys were reported, as it is right next to the wild monkey habitat. Therefore, the Department deployed staff and traps to catch the wandering animals. To minimise future problems, the Department advised local estate management companies to keep food and rubbish out of reach from stray monkeys and to warn residents not to feed the animals. Strays were also chased back into the woodland habitat.

CONTROL ON TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Drafting of the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Bill which will replace the existing Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance has been completed. The new Bill's aim is to streamline control procedures and strengthen measures for protecting endangered species while at the same time facilitate legal trade. Amendments that were adopted at the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) have also been included. The Bill was scheduled for introduction into the Legislative Council in April 2005.

Efforts to combat illegal trade in endangered species continue. During the 2003 ﷿ 2005 period, more than 1,000 seizures were made, including a shipment of 1,932 kg of ivory tusks; pieces from Tanzania in October 2003 and 3,580 heads of freshwater turtles from Malaysia in June 2004. Four shipments containing a total of 3,365 frozen pangolin carcass heads and 3,301 kg of pangolin scales from Malaysia and Indonesia between September 2004 and March 2005 were also seized.

Greater publicity and better education are helping to boost public awareness about the need to protect endangered species. A series of programmes have been launched, including trade seminars, radio announcements, advertisements on public transportation, articles in magazines, airport displays, posters at border control points, exhibitions at public locations, talks to schools and organisations, and guided tours of the Endangered Species Resource Centre. A drawing contest organised under a joint education and publicity programme between the HKSAR and the Guangdong province was put together to raise awareness as well. Joint efforts were also made with other organisations, such as a sand sculpture and photo competition jointly organised with Reader's Digest Asia and a naming competition for the crocodile caught at Yuen Long organised with RTHK Radio 2.

HONG KONG WETLAND PARK

During the 2003 to 2005 period, a total of 225,000 people visited Phase I exhibition pavilion at the Hong Kong Wetland Park. Guided tours have been arranged for more than 19,000 participants from 567 schools and community organisations. Another 1,000 participants took part in ecotour programmes throughout Tsim Bei Tsui and Nam Sang Wai. From 2004 to 2005, more than 33,000 people participated in the ecotour programmes jointly organised by this Department and external parties including the West Rail, Yuen Long District Office and Yuen Long District Board.

Phase II development of the Park is ongoing. When complete, the Park will have a 10,000-square-metre Visitor Centre and a 60-hectare Outdoor Park. Construction of outdoor habitats are close to completion. Since early 2003, the Department has conducted ecological surveys in the Park, and managed the habitats to improve their ecological functions. The entire project, which will showcase aspects of conservation, education and ecotourism in Hong Kong, is due to open early this year.

The Wetland Park Volunteer Scheme, launched in 2002, has attracted more than 1,000 volunteers who take on services such as guided visits, community education programmes and outdoor conservation work.

THE NEW GREENHOUSE AT TAI TONG NURSERY

The Department's new greenhouse located at the Tai Tong Nursery has been in operation since late 2003. The greenhouse, fully equipped with misting, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, is the first of its kind in Hong Kong that's dedicated to the protection of endangered indigenous plants. The greenhouse is also equipped with several plant growth chambers for conducting propagation experiments on rare, local plants under a controlled environment. A collection of approximately 80 species of plants are now being maintained in the green house with plans to establish a base for exsitu conservation ﷿ paving the way for reintroduction to the wild.

In addition, batches of orchids and other endangered plants confiscated during enforcement activities are kept in the greenhouse for safe-keeping and care. In the past, facilities for detaining confiscated plants were substandard, resulting in a high mortality rate. The new greenhouse provides an optimal environment to accommodate these plants which are of considerable conservation value.

THE FLORA OF HONG KONG PROJECT

The Department commissioned the Flora of Hong Kong Project in 2004. The "Flora" of an area is a botanical reference usually covered in several volumes with description of the plants growing in the area using a systematic manner. The first and second editions of Flora of Hong Kong were published in 1861 and 1912 respectively, and there has been no comprehensive review since then . The current project is a joint venture between the Hong Kong Herbarium, the South China Botanical Garden and botanists from local universities including the renowned Professor S. Y. Hu. The newest edition of Flora will largely be based on plant specimens found at the Hong Kong Herbarium.

The project will include identification keys; descriptions of species; analytical drawings and colour photos to illustrate the characteristics of each species as well as notes about the habitat, distribution and economical importance where appropriate. It will be an essential tool for botanists, researchers, EIA practitioners, teachers and students of plant identification. What's more, it will also serve as useful reference for choosing native species with applications in afforestation, horticulture and landscaping. The Flora will be published in four volumes and the first will appear early this year.

CLEAR MIKANIA EXERCISE

Mikania ( Mikania micrantha ) is an exotic climber which grows rapidly in open and disturbed areas such as roadsides and derelict land. Overgrowth of Mikania causes damage to other plants by cutting out light and smothering them. However, Mikania seldom grows in the shade, and it has not caused an adverse impact on established woodlands with large trees and a closed canopy.

To prevent the proliferation of Mikania in sites of conservation value, the Department has continued to deploy manpower and resources to clear the plant when found in country parks, special areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A joint study carried out by the Department and the Guangdong Forestry Bureau on control of Mikania has ended. The study identified an herbicide known as "Sulfometuron-methyl", which is effective in killing the weed, but not other local plants. The Department has carried out further field trials on the application of this herbicide and thus far, the results are satisfactory. However, there is no method for permanently eliminating Mikania, so the Department will continue to explore effective means to curb its growth.