The landscape function of the natural capital stock may be defined as those environmental features which provide scenic or aesthetic values. This section provides a brief review of landscape character and quality in Hong Kong and examines the importance of elements of the natural capital stock which contribute to landscape value.

Hong Kong has a great diversity of landscapes which have developed as a result of the interplay among various geological, topological, ecological, climatic and human influences. It is the interaction among these factors which influences landscape character and quality, and whilst a number of elements of capital stock can be identified as having specific landscape value (see below), it is the combination of many elements of capital stock which defines the landscape.

A number of elements of the natural capital stock have been identified in Figure 2.1a?s having particular landscape value. These are effectively special features which contribute to landscape:

• Areas of Countryside. Elements of the natural resource reviewed in Section 3 of the report, in particular large areas such as country parks, the undeveloped coastline and marine parks, have a significant influence on landscape character due to their natural features and undeveloped character.
• Habitats and Species. These factors are a combination of the ecological character of the landscape (see Section 4.2 - Terrestrial Habitats and Species) resulting in particular habitats and vegetative cover together with the type of human management applied (for example ecological succession ensures that in an otherwise undisturbed situation, many habitats in the territory would evolve to forests).
• Other Capital Stock Elements and Features. These might include aspects of environmental quality which contribute to landscape value (eg air and water quality) and features of historical and cultural significance such as historical monuments which can enhance landscape quality.

As part of the study on habitat mapping undertaken to support SUSDEV 21, a number of sources of information on landscape in Hong Kong have been reviewed. In the Technical Memorandum to the EAIO Ordinance for example, the following criteria are suggested as defining areas of high landscape value:

• Presence of a distinctive landscape character defined as characteristic patterns or combinations of landform and land coverage creating a sense of place; or
• Presence of a valued landscape such as protected coastline, forest, scenic spots; or
• Presence of specific and relatively rare landscape elements such as hilltops, ridgelines, coastlines, river valleys, forests and ponds.