The importance of maintaining biodiversity and the conversation of wildlife and their habitats in Hong Kong

Maintain stability of ecosystem

The higher the species diversity in an ecosystem is, the more the interactions among species would be, and hence the more stable is the ecosystem. Hence, retaining biodiversity is to keep the equilibrium of ecosystems and continuity of lives.

Provide food and medicine

A large source of the food for human consumption is wildlife, especially seafood. Artificial cultivation and breeding also require genes from wildlife. It is estimated that about 80 thousand species of plant in the wild are edible, and 25% of modern medicines are extracted from the wildlife. Besides food, wildlife also provides us with industrial and economical resources.

Aesthetic and Educational Benefits

In our history, biodiversity has been playing an important role in aesthetics, education, social culture and recreation. Biodiversity is closely related to humans.

Examples

In a system with a large number of species, the loss of one or two species may not cause instant problems. However, the loss of species may lead to extinction of its predators or population explosion of its preys. The structure of ecosystem will then alternated. If the only producer is removed from a ecosystem by disease, the whole ecosystem will be in big trouble.

Example for kids

Biodiversity can be imagined like this:

A castle is built of many bricks. Removal of two bricks from the wall seems nothing to the whole castle, but the wall is already not as strong as it was. By removing more bricks, the castle will become so weak that at a very juncture removal of any more brick will bring down the castle. However, we can never know which brick is the 'critical brick', and when the castle is on the brink of collapsing. Maintaining biodiversity means protecting endangered species (bricks) from extinction (brick removal) in order to keep the ecosystem (castle) stable.

How to manage/maintain biodiversity ?

Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity conservation is to protect threatened species or ecosystems to avoid species extinction. On the basis of the circumstances and traits of the species, tailor-made conservation methods may be applied to protect the threatened species or the habitats of them.

Common conservation concepts are:

1. In situ: Establish and manage habitats of threatened species as a reserve.
2. Ex situ: Preserve organisms or genes in artificial environments (e.g. zoos, botanic gardens and gene banks)
3. Restoration: Actively reconstruct habitats or recovers ecosystems back to what they were in the past, especially in functional terms. Also, rehabitation is applied to raise the biological values of degraded ecosystem.
4. Land use and management: Take biodiversity conservation into account when formulating land use policies.
5. Policy and institutions: financially and legislatively support biodiversity conservation.

b. In situ Conservation

1. Establishment of Natural Reserve

Establishment of Natural Reserve preserves biological diversity and conserves the ecosystem. Natural reserves are usually set up on a special area free from human disturbances and developments. Flora and fauna inside the reserve can propagate and live under protections.

2. Motivations of Reserve Construction

The main motivations of reserve construction are:

1. Preserve large functional ecosystem for "ecosystem service". E.g. water shed, vegetation for preserving water and soil.
2. Preserve biodiversity: high species richness and endemism. E.g. coral reefs
3. Protect species of particular interests. E.g. Giant Panda
4. Perpetuate species for harvest. E.g. ducks for hunting
2. Considerations on Reserve Construction

A. Biological considerations:

1. Distinctiveness
2. Endangerment
3. Utility, etc.

B. Anthropological or cultural effects:

1. The reserves and their surroundings may be occupied by local residents,
2. Reserve may attract visitors; affecting the lifestyle of the locals.

C. Economic and sociopolitical constraints:

1. Reserve boundaries are usually based on legal or political considerations.
2. Government agencies should be responsible for management of reserves.
3. Original economic activities may be terminated while new kinds of activities may evolve, e.g. eco-tourism.
3. Design of Reserves

0. Reserve Size

A larger reserve provides higher habitat diversity and leads to higher species and genetic diversity.

The comparison between a single large reserve and several smaller reserves is as follows:

A. Single Large Reserve:

1. Higher habitat diversity, resulting in higher species diversity.
2. Total area to edge ratio is larger; hence, less edge effects.
3. More likely to accommodate disturbance.

B. Several Small Reserves:

1. As the reserve is larger than a certain size, the increase in species due to size increase is less.
2. several well-placed reserves can achieve higher habitat diversity and more population of rare species.
3. More reserves would minimize the impact of catastrophic events.

1. Heterogeneity within Reserve

There should be spatial and temporal heterogeneity within reserves. Heterogeneity or patches are created by disturbance regime. Higher heterogeneity could support more species.

2. Edge Effect

Edge determines dynamics of immigration and emigration. Since edges contact with the surroundings, species migrations are affected by edges. Habitats within reserve are affected by geographical and biological factors outside; hence, larger area to edge ratio increases reserve stability.

3. Corridor

Corridors serve the function of habitat reconnection that allows movement and recolonization of habitats. Corridors can be either periodic, for daily or annual migration over habitats for breeding, birthing, feeding or roosting; or permanent, for immigration or emigration in metapopulation dynamics. Corridors could induce increase in species number in small reserves, but poorly designed corridors may serve as "sink" habitat that causes death or even introduces invasive species degrading biodiversity.

4. Landscape Elements

Diversity of natural landscape elements enhances conservation values.

5. Buffer Zone

Buffer zones are established around the core zone of reserves. Buffer zones can reduce the edge effects on core zones and can be utilized for conservation objectives.

c. Ex situ Conservation

1. Captive Breeding

Captive Breeding is the captivity of species in zoos, aquaria, and botanic gardens. Some species that are critically threatened may survive only with captive breeding. This conservation method also serves many other purposes such as allowing more control over breeding in order to avoid inbreeding, increase reproductive rate, provide educational and public awareness programs as well as materials for basic and applied research.

2. Artificial Breeding

Technologies for embryo transfer and artificial insemination have been developed for breeding laboratory animals and farm animals. To conserve endangered species, the technologies are potentially very useful for improving the reproductive potential of captive individuals. Techniques that have been worked out mammals include "Embryo Transfer", "Superovulation" and "Somatic Cell Cloning".

3. Fostering

Many egg-laying animals are capable of producing much more eggs than they can rear. Fostering is collecting the extra eggs and hatching and rearing the animals in captivity, then using them to supplement wild populations. t has worked extremely well with some birds, particularly the peregrine falcon. A major problem with fostering programs is that the young animals learn crucial behaviors in the wild but not in captivity.

4. Gene Preservation

Gene preservation can be applied to both animals and plants. Embryo, seed and other germplasms can be stored for further reproduction and research. For plants, some germplasm banks collect and store plant parts for certain purposes.

5. Reintroduction

Reintroduction is closely related to captive breeding, artificial breeding and fostering. Animals bred under human protections are brought back to their natural habitats to compensate the loss or even extinction in wild of the species.

The protected wildlife in Hong Kong

Vegetations of Hong Kong

Archaeological evidence shows that there were humans in Hong Kong as early as 6000 years ago. In the period before human occupation, most area of Hong Kong was covered with subtropical rainforest. Inside the rainforest was Southeast Asian tropical forest fauna including tigers, elephants, leopards, gibbons, rhinoceroses and hornbills. However, by 1841, all this forest had virtually gone, because of still unknown reasons. The forests left behind, indeed, were the "Fung Shui Woods" near villages and small piece of woodlands on hills.

Large-scale reforestation took place in Hong Kong as from 1841 but the forests were largely destroyed during the Japanese occupation. The early active reforestation was mostly done with exotic species. The reduction in hill fire frequency has led to expansion of shrub lands while decline of agriculture and depopulation of rural areas has created new habitats in abandoned paddy fields and reduced hunting pressure on wild mammals and birds. However, urbanization and pollution have destroyed rivers, ponds and the nearby habitats, and have negative impact on vegetation.

b) The examples of protecting endangered species- Flora and Fauna in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. However, in Hong Kong has more native species of plants, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians than in Britain.

1. Terrestrial Mammals

Monkeys and bats are fairly common in rural areas. Besides, wild pigs can be found in rural areas in Sai Kung, Tai Lam Chung and Sha Tau Kok. Other species, such as Civet Cats, Leopard Cats and Ferret Badger, have become very rare. Barking deer, squirrels, Chinese Porcupines, Chinese Pangolins and Mongooses may still be seen in some remote areas.

2. Amphibians and Reptiles

Over 100 species of amphibians and reptiles inhabit in Hong Kong. The only protected snake in Hong Kong is the Burmese Python (non-venomous) while all turtles, terrapins and tortoises are protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance. Three species of amphibians are considered to be endemic to or have a very restricted range in Hong Kong. They are the Romer's Tree Frog, the Hong Kong Cascade Frog and the Hong Kong Newt.

3. Insects

Hong Kong is rich in insect fauna. About 200 species of butterflies and over 100 species of dragonflies are in the record of the territory. Among these insects, only Birdwing Butterfly, which is very rare in Hong Kong, is protected under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.

4. Birds

Over 450 species of birds have been recorded in Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and other forest habitats in Hong Kong. Most of them are wintering birds and staying in Hong Kong for short periods. Mai Po marshes and the mudflats in Deep Bay area are the most important habitat, which provide a rich supply of food and shelter for these migratory birds. Besides, many woodland bird species can be found in woodlands or urban areas.

Ways of Conservation of biodiversity in Hong Kong

a. Programmes

1. Governmental Agencies

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, AFCD

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is responsible for biodiversity protections. The Department evaluates impacts of developments on ecosystems and also carries out protection programmes. The following are currently carried out by AFCD:

Flora

1. Enriching our countryside with Native Flora

Afforestation has been carried out in Hong Kong since as early as the 1870s. The major purposes have shifted from amenity reasons, erosion control, production of firewood, improving water supplies at that time into biodiversity enhancement and ecological restoration now.

Early afforestation was mainly done with fast growing species such as the local pine, Pinus massoniana and exotic species Lophostemon confertus and Acacia confusa. In the last 30 years, native species is more often planted. Nowadays, seeds of over 100 native species have been collected to breed seedlings for afforestation. Native species that are good for afforestation include Machius spp., Castanopsis fissa and Schima superba.

2. Conserving the Rare and Endangered Flora
1. Enforcement of legislation

Under the Forests and Countryside Ordinance, Chapter 96, damaging plant in any forest or plantation on Government land is prohibited. Some rare and attractive species that are subject to exploitation are specifically listed in the Forestry Regulations, a subsidiary legislation of Chapter 96, which further controls the sale and possession of the listed species. Orchid is an example.

2. Habitat Protection

Designation of Country Parks, Special Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interests (SSSIs) can protect the habitats of rare and endangered species. About 40% of land in Hong Kong have been designated as Country Parks and Special Areas, covering most of the Hong Kong remaining green hillsides and wooded valleys. These areas play an important role in flora conservation. Many plant species in the parks are protected by law. As for some scientific valuable locations where extension of Country Parks or Reserves is impossible, they may be listed as SSSIs. For example, Mau Ping at Ma On Shan has been listed as a SSSI in recognition of the presence of the largest population of Camellia crapnelliana in Hong Kong.

3. Active Propagation

Rare plants can be propagated artificially by various methods such as, seed collection, cutting, air-layering, etc. In the case of any threats to habitats, threatened species can also be transplanted to new habitats. Successful examples of active propagation include Keteleeria fortunei, Camellia crapnelliana and Camellia granthamiana. Seeds of these species have been collected in the field and seedlings are raised in nursery. The seedlings are then re-planted in the wild. This can successfully establish new populations.

4. Ex-situ Conservation

A base for flora conservation has been established in the Shing Mun Arboretum. More than 270 species, including some locally and globally rare species, have been propagated and established there for conservation and education purposes.

Fauna

3. Conserving the Rare and Endangered Fauna

Enforcement of Legislation

In order to protect the invaluable treasure of the local wildlife and their habitats, the Government enacted the 'Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170)' in 1976 to provide for the conservation of wild animals, and for purposes connected therewith. Wild animals specified in ' Schedule 2 ' of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance are protected by law. Any person who contravenes the regulations of the Ordinance would be liable to conviction to a maximum fine for HK$100,000 and imprisonment for 1 year. Tigers and elephants are examples of animals that are under protection.

2. Non-Government Organizations, NGOs

Some non-government organizations in Hong Kong also work on protecting biodiversity; such as:

World Wide Fund for Nature (HK)
http://www.wwf.org.hk

Their objectives are to conserve biodiversity of Hong Kong and China, motivate people to conserve the natural environment.

The involvement includes:

1. Promoting conservation of nature and natural resources.

2. Lobbying the SAR Government for the development and implementation of conservation policies.

3. Providing support and monitoring on both the legal and illegal trade in threatened plant and animal species and their by-products.

4. Training programmes for China's reserve staff, as well as staff from other parts of Asia, at their Peter Scott Field Studies Center.

5. Managing the internationally recognized Mai Po Marshes Wildlife Education Center and Nature Reserve.