Recreational functions may be defined as those features of the natural environment which serve as amenity and educational resources for human beings by virtue of their natural characteristics.

This section addresses the recreational aspects of the natural capital stock in terms of those features or resources which are relevant to the understanding and interpretation of natural capital. It therefore does not include the benefits derived from indoor recreational facilities which are not relevant to the interpretation of the natural capital stock of Hong Kong.

Open space and managed areas on land which can be identified as having recreational value include Country Parks and Special Areas, nature reserves, gazetted beaches, urban parks and areas of open space.

Country Parks are particularly important as locations for a range of outdoor recreation pursuits since they provide extensive areas of natural land with mountainous topography and a resource with exceptional landscape and seascape quality. Details of visitor numbers in Country Parks are given in Annex A. Hill walking is very popular throughout the year in Country Parks which have extensive networks of footpaths and designated hiking trails.

Other recreational opportunities provided specifically by the management of Country Parks, open and natural areas include barbecue and picnic sites, gazetted beaches (see Paragraph 3.2.1.20 ), jogging and fitness trails. Outside of Country Parks, urban parks provide locations for passive forms of recreation such as walking, botanical and zoological interests (for example at the Botanical Garden) and as meeting places. Also, some parts of the urban fringe such as Green Belts, can contribute to the stock of recreational resources; many Green Belt areas have been used for informal passive recreation such as 'morning walking' and sitting out, and there is also evidence of more active pursuits such as war games and mountain biking. However, whilst plans were originally set out in the Metroplan Landscape Strategy to develop managed areas in the urban fringe for recreational needs, the lack of an agreed land management authority for these areas means that formal facilities have yet to be developed. As a result, the informal facilities developed over time, particularly by the elderly who make most use of facilities close to their residences, are periodically cleared by the District Lands Offices. There is clearly a demand for recreation in the urban fringe which is currently not being met. This not only represents a missed opportunity in terms of meeting social needs, but the lack of constructive management of recreation in these areas means that their ecological and landscape value is under threat from disturbance such as erosion, littering, damage to vegetation and fire (see Paragraph 4.3.2.9 for further discussion on disturbance and impacts to ecological resources).

Whilst the Mai Po/Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site forms the most important ecological site in Hong Kong, the nature reserve managed by WWF (see Paragraph 3.2.1.16) is an important educational resource and its value for science/education has been reviewed in Section 7.2. In 1997/98 a total of 400 school visits were made to Mai Po, accounting for around 10,000 children or one quarter of the total number of people visiting the reserve during that year.

In addition to the managed areas described above, certain ecological resources, in particular birds, are of interest for recreational purposes. Birdwatching is a popular pastime in Hong Kong, with activities focussed on the Ramsar Site and nature reserve at Mai Po although other popular birdwatching locations include Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve, Long Valley and Starling Inlet.