Hong Kong Ecology and Nature Reserves
FoundationThough called a concrete jungle, Hong Kong has country parks covering about 40 percent of its land, world-class wetlands and a geopark: the Mai Po wetlands are a refuelling stop for migratory birds, and Chinese white dolphins live in the western waters. Reserves, plus everyone following the rules and caring for nature, keep this precious ecology alive.
- About 40 percent of Hong Kong is country parks and special areas, plus a UNESCO Global Geopark.
- Mai Po Inner Deep Bay is a Ramsar wetland welcoming tens of thousands of migrating birds each winter.
- Chinese white dolphins live in western waters, and Romer's tree frog — first found in Hong Kong — is protected by law.
文體小知識：自然保育導覽文章帶讀者遊歷香港的郊野與濕地，一邊看風景一邊認識物種和保育知識。
§Text Passage
1Of Hong Kong's more than 1,100 square kilometres, about 40 percent is designated as country parks and special areas — more than twenty country parks in all, such as Lion Rock, Tai Mo Shan and Shing Mun. The volcanic rocks of Sai Kung and the sedimentary rocks of the northeast New Territories together form a UNESCO Global Geopark. Woodlands, streams, wetlands and rocky shores interweave, giving this small place a rich variety of ecosystems.
2The Mai Po Inner Deep Bay wetlands in the northwest New Territories were listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1995. Every winter tens of thousands of migratory birds fly south from Siberia and northern China to spend the season here; mudflats, gei wai shrimp ponds and mangroves are their refuelling stop. Among them is the black-faced spoonbill, a rare and endangered waterbird that sweeps its spoon-shaped bill through shallow water to feed. The Hong Kong Wetland Park near Tin Shui Wai is a great place for citizens to get close to wetland life.
3Hong Kong's seas and woodlands hide treasures too. Chinese white dolphins appear in the Pearl River Estuary waters off western Lantau — grey as calves and turning pink as adults — while finless porpoises swim in our southern and eastern waters. In the woods lives Romer's tree frog, only about two centimetres long, a tiny frog first discovered in Hong Kong and protected by law. Monkeys, wild boars, bats and more than two hundred species of butterfly live among the trees. Mangrove roots breathe even in salt water, and the pencil-like propagules of Kandelia drop and stand upright in the mud, rooting where they land.
4To guard these natural assets, Hong Kong has laws such as the Country Parks Ordinance, the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance and the Marine Parks Ordinance, and has designated nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Beyond the law, everything depends on self-discipline: hikers carry their rubbish back, observe without picking, never feed wild animals, keep to the trails and speak softly. Enjoying nature without disturbing it is how the ecology can last for generations.
1Summary 重點摘要
Though called a concrete jungle, Hong Kong has country parks covering about 40 percent of its land, world-class wetlands and a geopark: the Mai Po wetlands are a refuelling stop for migratory birds, and Chinese white dolphins live in the western waters. Reserves, plus everyone following the rules and caring for nature, keep this precious ecology alive.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Legally designated uplands for recreation and conservation; Hong Kong has 24 of them.
Land covered by shallow fresh or salt water, such as mudflats, mangroves and gei wai, teeming with life.
An area set aside to protect precious plants, animals and habitats, with human disturbance restricted.
Birds that travel long distances with the seasons, such as the black-faced spoonbill.
Trees growing where fresh and salt water meet, with breathing roots and viviparous seedlings; a natural coastal shield.
Living things so few in number that they face extinction and need special protection.
The natural home where wild animals live and feed, such as mudflats and woodland.
A park themed on unique geological features; the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark holds this title.
A system where living things and their environment depend on each other, such as a wetland or forest.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Take stock of Hong Kong's green wealthExample: about forty percent of Hong Kong's land is country parks and special areas, including Lion Rock, Shing Mun Reservoir and Sai Kung's East Dam. From the top of Lion Rock you can look down on Kowloon; egrets often feed along the banks of Shing Mun Reservoir; and the hexagonal rock columns can be seen up close at the East Dam. All of these are reachable by bus — precious weekend places where citizens can enjoy nature, and well worth cherishing.
- Step 2: Know Mai Po's world standingExample: Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay were listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1995, one of the wetlands in China protected by the convention. Every winter tens of thousands of migratory birds fly south from the north to spend the season or rest here, and among them the black-faced spoonbill, an endangered species worldwide, sweeps its spoon-shaped bill through the shallow water to find food. Protecting this wetland protects a lifeline for international migratory birds.
- Step 3: Watch the mangroves' survival tricksExample: mangroves grow on mudflats where fresh and salt water meet, where the mud lacks oxygen, so they push breathing roots above the surface; the fruit of Kandelia develops into a pencil-shaped propagule that hangs on the mother tree, drops when mature, stands upright in the mud and takes root. These tricks let mangroves survive salt water, waves and oxygen-poor mud. Mangrove forests also serve as nurseries for fish, shrimp and crabs and as a natural shield against wind and waves.
- Step 4: Meet the stars of our seasExample: the Chinese white dolphin is grey as a calf, but as an adult the blood vessels under its skin widen to release heat and it looks pink; the dolphins are mainly seen in waters west and south of Lantau, such as off Tai O. They face threats from land reclamation, marine traffic and pollution, and their numbers keep falling. Dolphin-watching boats must slow down, never chase and keep their distance, so the next generation can still meet the pink friends of the sea.
- Step 5: Know our rare little creaturesExample: Romer's tree frog, only about two centimetres long, was first discovered in Hong Kong and named after its discoverer; it is a protected wild animal, and catching, harming or selling it is against the law. The frog is tiny and usually hides among fallen leaves and rock crevices by day, coming out at night. Once a rare species disappears it can never return, so learning about and protecting these little animals is an important lesson in local conservation.
- Step 6: Hike leaving no traceExample: carry orange peels and wrappers back down the hill — in the cool, dim woodland peels decay very slowly and attract wild animals to dig through the rubbish. Never feed wild animals such as monkeys, so they will not depend on human food, lose their foraging instincts or even snatch things from visitors. Keep to the existing trail, pick no flowers and make little noise, so the next hiker can enjoy the woodland as it is.
- Step 7: Support conservation in actionExample: at the Wetland Park, watch birds with binoculars, speak softly and never use a flash, so the birds stay undisturbed; join citizen-science activities to help record the kinds and numbers of birds and butterflies, providing data for research; and share what you know with family and friends. Conservation does not rely on experts alone — every citizen's observation, recording and sharing adds up to a great power that guards nature.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: the class monitor is leading a hike in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve and must brief everyone on 'leave no trace' rules before setting off. Write four rules with reasons, plus one safety arrangement.
- Rule one: carry back every piece of your own rubbish — the cool, damp woodland decomposes litter slowly, and animals may swallow it.
- Rule two: observe only, never pick — a wildflower may be a rare species, and picking it stops it seeding the next generation.
- Rule three: never feed wild animals — animals used to human food lose their ability to forage and may snatch from visitors; feeding monkeys and wild boars is also against the law.
- Rule four: keep to the trail and talk softly — stepping off the path damages plants and soil, and noise disturbs wildlife.
- Safety: check the weather and route beforehand, hike in groups, and tell family the plan and return time.
- Answer: Leave-no-trace rules — carry out rubbish, do not pick, do not feed, keep to the trail and speak softly — keep the woodland undisturbed; checking weather, hiking together and informing family keep safety alongside conservation.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What international status does the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay wetland hold?
Q2What is special about the black-faced spoonbill?
Q3Where are Chinese white dolphins often seen in Hong Kong?
Q4Name two hiking rules that protect nature.
Q5What share of Hong Kong's land is country park, and how many are there?
8Recap Recap
- About 40 percent of Hong Kong is country parks and special areas, plus a UNESCO Global Geopark.
- Mai Po Inner Deep Bay is a Ramsar wetland welcoming tens of thousands of migrating birds each winter.
- Chinese white dolphins live in western waters, and Romer's tree frog — first found in Hong Kong — is protected by law.
- Ordinances on country parks, wild animals and marine parks designate reserves to guard the ecology.
- Follow hiking rules: carry out rubbish, never pick, never feed, keep to the trail, speak softly.