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Press Release
Nature conservation pilot projects show promising results
Members of the Nature Conservation Subcommittee under the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) visited Long Valley and Fung Yuen today (December 7) to see how the pilot scheme for Management Agreements (MA) projects was progressing.
Under the New Nature Conservation Policy, the Government implemented a pilot scheme for MA. Under MA, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) cooperate with landowners to enhance conservation of ecologically sensitive sites.
The Environment and Conservation Fund Committee approved an allocation of $4.62 million to three NGOs to implement three pilot MA projects at Long Valley and Fung Yuen at the end of 2005. Since the implementation of the projects, three NGOs have signed MA with landowners to actively conserve more than 100,000 square metres of land.
In today's visit, the subcommittee members, accompanied by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department officers, visited the three pilot MA sites in Yuen Long and Tai Po.
At the briefing sessions in Long Valley, the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society explained how they had successfully formed partnerships with farmers to increase biodiversity for bird species. The Conservancy Association shared their experience in formulating an agricultural and conservation management strategy in Long Valley. In Fung Yuen, the Tai Po Environmental Association introduced their project, in which the diversity of butterflies was enhanced by conserving a valuable butterfly habitat.
"We are impressed by the success of the projects and the efforts made by NGOs, landowners, farmers and the community in conserving the priority sites. Results of all three pilot projects are promising, suggesting enhanced conservation value of the sites. We are also delighted to note that the community's awareness of conservation is improving," the chairman of the ACE Nature Conservation Subcommittee, Prof Wong Yuk-shan, said.
With support from the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, the EPD will continue to invite applications for Nature Conservation Management Agreement Projects on the 12 priority sites identified for enhanced conservation. Applications are welcome throughout the year. All registered local non-profit-making organisations are eligible to apply. The EPD has received two new applications and will seek the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee's funding support soon.
Details of the applications can be obtained from the EPD website at
www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/boards/ecfc/appl_for_ecf.html.
Ends/Friday, December 7, 2007
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