The term ‘wetland’, covers many inland, coastal and marine habitats, which share common features. They are places where land meets water, supporting specially adapted plants and animals. They are not deeper than six meters at low tide. Wetlands may be natural or man-made.

They provide food to wildlife and are habitats suitable as breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of plants, animals and particularly waterfowl.

Wetland functions can generally be grouped into four types: provision of habitats, regulation, production, and provision of information.

• Wetlands also produce goods that have a significant economic value such as clean water, fisheries, timber, peat, wildlife resources and tourism opportunities

• Wetlands and peat lands represent important carbon stores and contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle

• To create a visitor attraction of international status, catering both for the general public and visitors, and also for those with special interest in wildlife and ecology

• To demonstrate the diversity of Hong Kong's wetland

• To provide an attraction which will diversify the range of visitor experience in Hong Kong for visitors from aboard

• To serve the recreational needs of the residents of the adjoining urban areas in the Northwest New Territories

• To provide a facility that will both complement and supplement those offered at the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve

• To provide opportunities for education and public awareness.

• Basically, it can divided into 3 parts, Ecological, Economical and Hydrological

•To demonstrate the To demonstrate the diversity of Hong diversity of Hong Kong's wetlandKong's wetland

1.Maintenance of biodiversity Biodiversity is short for biological diversity. It includes all organisms, species, and population; the genetic variation among these; and all their complex assemblages of communities and ecosystems.

Usually three levels of biodiversity are discussed-genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.

Ecological Diversity • The functioning of it gives rise to a wide diversity of

species as they support important levels of global biological diversity, including over 10,000 species of fish, over 4,000 of amphibians, and numerous species of waterfowl.

Hydrological Diversity• Wetlands help filter out pollutants in water, regulate

water regime and perform flood mitigation functions.

Genetically Diversity• Wetland biodiversity is a significant reservoir of genes

that has considerable economic potential in the pharmaceutical industry and in commercial crop plants such as rice.

2.As a Stop in Migration of Seasonal Birds

It can act as a refueling station, because:1. they are veritable feeding paradise for migratory

bird –just like a petrol station is for our own vehicles.

2. along their migration route, these water birds have to rely on a number of staging posts where they can rest and feed (refuel), as they cannot fly non-stop on their annual journey which may involve a round trip of 33,000 km! The wetlands in and around the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site are one such important staging post.

3.Ecotourism• There are many wetlands with great recreational

value for which a dollar figure cannot easily be given because visitors use the area without direct payment

• Wetlands offer ideal locations for involving the general public and schoolchildren in hands-on learning experiences, in an essentially recreational atmosphere, to raise awareness of environmental issues.

• One possible means is to develop ecotourism, which in turn creates job opportunities and economic benefits.

4.Environmental Education• Environmental education is an effective way to convey

environmental messages and initiate personal motivation to protect and cherish our invaluable environmental resources.

• Using simple but effective water monitoring kits, the general public and school children are better able to understand environmental concepts through hands-on activities and at the same time contribute significantly to the conservation of their local watershed.

• It also can educate visitors on the functions and values of wetland ecosystems, biodiversity issues, and other environmental matters in an essentially recreational setting

5.OthersMedical Usage Wetland species have also been extensively used in the

medical industry. It is estimated that over 20,000 medicinal plant species are currently in use, some of them from wetlands, and over 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine for their primary health care needs.

Flood Control Wetlands often play a crucial role in flood control. Loss

of floodplains to agriculture and human habitation has reduced this capacity. Construction of levees and dams on rivers to improve flood control have often had the reverse effect.

WATER PURIFICATION• Plants and soils in wetlands play a significant

role in purifying water. High levels of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen, commonly associated with agricultural run-off, are effectively removed by wetlands.

• This is important in preventing eutrophication further downstream, a process that leads to rapid plant and algal growth followed by depleted oxygen levels that affect other species.

• It can also be important in preventing high concentrations of these nutrients reaching groundwater supplies or other water sources that may be used for drinking water.

Economic Benefit• Many components of wetland ecosystems

also provide resources for direct human consumption including: water for drinking, fish and fruit to eat, reeds for thatch roofs, timber for construction, peat and fuel wood for fire.

• The harvesting of wetland goods, while respecting the production rate and the regenerative capacity of each species, can provide significant benefits to society.

Effluent from factory in Pearl Delta

Within Hong Kong, in almost every direction tower blocks rise in the distance. Across the border, the massive urbanization around Shenzhen highlights a wider problem:

1.)development is destroying many semi-natural habitats in Guangdong, such as the paddy field and fish pond wetlands.

a lot of agricultural wastes, especially pig manure, flow into Deep Bay

2.)many factories in Hong Kong and Shenzhen

produce domestic sewage and industrial effluents add to the problem

the local streams have been severely degraded.

Reasons:

2.) Today:2.) Today:• the situation is far worse. • A recent study has shown there are exceed the

assimilative capacity of the bay by up to 20 times.• Cumulative pollution loads are the most likely

cause behind the recent declines in bird numbers.

• 2/3 of water from Deep Bay had less than 50% oxygen saturation.

• Faecal bacteria concentrations were extremely high, and oysters were contaminated with heavy metals.

1.) In 19871.) In 1987

Problems:

Disturbance of tourists

Cranes can be used as flagship species to promote wetland and wildlife conservation if there is a good education program at the site, and the tourist industry will also generate income to the local community in a sustainable way. However, if the sites are not well managed, an influx of visitors will cause considerable disturbance and damage to these sites, and sometimes things will get worse as the result from inappropriate measures to promote tourism.

Wetland management has to take account of the nature conservation values and the many human uses of our wetlands.Here are some example for those environmental concerned groups:

Green PowerGreen Power It is a non-profit making green

organization, which aims at promoting a green lifestyle and arouses the public concern on local environmental issues. In recent years, Green Power has dedicated to develop environmental. On the other hand, they have joined hand with Guangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau and Guangzhou Research Institute of Environmental Protection in the establishment of Green Field Ecological Education Centre. It helps to facilitate the interflow of green education between Hong Kong and Mainland China and to arouse the awareness towards sustainable development in China.

The Conservancy The Conservancy AssociationAssociation

The Conservancy Association was

supported by the Hong Kong Bird

Watching Society (HKBWS).

After the discussion with the Agriculture , Fisheries and Conservation department (AFCD).Since December 1997,they have taking a RAMSAR Conservation Programs which is used to promote education on conservation.

World Wild Fund World Wild Fund (WWF)(WWF)WWF Hong Kong is committed to

environmental education in Hong Kong and has considerable experience in producing environmental education materials for local schools - over 100 education materials have been produced donated to school over the past 15 years, this includes posters, books, pamphlets, teachers' packs, slides packs, films and videos.

GreenpeaceGreenpeace Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation, with a presence in 40 countries acr

oss Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Greenpeace has been campaigning against environmental degradation since 1971. They exist to expose environmental criminals, and to challenge government and corporations when they fail to live up to their mandate to safeguard our environment and our future.

                                       

EducationEducation In fact, there are many facilities, no In fact, there are many facilities, no

matter in Hong Kong or in China, for matter in Hong Kong or in China, for education citizens to concern about the education citizens to concern about the environment and conversation provided by environment and conversation provided by some conversation group or the some conversation group or the government.government.

Here are some example of the Here are some example of the organizations to work for this aims:organizations to work for this aims:

1.1. Mai Po Marshes Wildlife Education Mai Po Marshes Wildlife Education Centre Centre

Hong Hong KongKong

Mai Po, though best known for its birds, is truly a wetland of international importance supporting a wide range of habitats and wildlife.

The Mai Po Nature Reserve is a restricted area. Entrance without prior permission from the related Hong Kong SAR Government authorities as well as WWF Hong Kong is strictly prohibited and may lead to your arrest and possible prosecution by Hong Kong SAR government officials.

Education and Public Awareness (EPA) plays a very important role at Mai Po. Different education programmers have been developed for various levels of students.

Mai Po Logo →→

View of Mai Po →→

←← Mai Po’s Map

2. Island House Conversation Studies Centre2. Island House Conversation Studies Centre Island House, located in Tai Po, is a gazette historical

monument built. In 1986, WWF Hong Kong (WWF Hong Kong) was awarded custodianship of Island House, to serve as a Conservation Studies Centre for environmental education.

Facilities:

(1) The grounds of Island House are a mixture of formal gardens and lawns in the English style, with over 140 identified species of plants.

(2) Outdoor classroom for organising plant-themed environmental education activities to help students discover the 'secrets' of plants through a fun-filled learning experience .

1. Guangzhou Green Country Ecological Education 1. Guangzhou Green Country Ecological Education Centre (GGCEEC)Centre (GGCEEC)

ChinaChina

GGCEEC is jointly established by Green Power, Guangzhou Environmental Department and Guangzhou Research Institute of Environmental Protection. The theme of GGCEEC is 'Green, Ecology and Education' and it is aimed at raising environmental awareness in the public through audio-visual and demonstrative education. It also provides opportunities for people to return to nature, to understand natural farming and the ecological cycle. The Centre acts as an interflow center for Guangzhou and the Hong Kong people.

Front door

of GGCEEC →→

←← Surrounding of GGCEEC

LegislationLegislation

Besides education, Hong Kong Besides education, Hong Kong government and many foreign countries government and many foreign countries have also set up many different laws on have also set up many different laws on environmental protection.environmental protection.

Here are some examples of legislation in Here are some examples of legislation in Hong Kong and the rest of world:Hong Kong and the rest of world:

11.) Enforcement of Wild- Animal Protection Ordinance .) Enforcement of Wild- Animal Protection Ordinance (Cap 170) in Mai Po Deep Bay Ramsar Site(Cap 170) in Mai Po Deep Bay Ramsar Site

• Mai Po Marshes and the adjacent mudflats are listed in the Schedule 6 of the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance.

• The area is accessed to restrict, which can have a better conserve the Ramsar site and protect the wildlife inside.

• Punishment: Any person who enters into or be within the Restricted Ar

ea without a special permit issued by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, is liable to a maximum fine of HK$50,000HK$50,000 on conviction.

Hong Hong KongKong

The Ramsar Convention on WetlandsThe Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Ramsar is the first of the modern global intergovern

mental treaties on conservation and wise use of natural resources, but, compared with more recent ones, its provisions are relatively straightforward and general.

• It is an important tool to protect water birds and to ensure the sustainable use of the worlds wetland.

• It also provides internationally agreed methods and goals for protecting listed wetlands.

• The Inner Deep Bay and the Mai Po Marshes are declared Hong Kong’s first Ramsar site in September 1995.

InternationalInternational::

Members(1)(1) Cheung Oi Wa Cheung Oi Wa (03) (03)

(2)(2) Choi Ka Ying Choi Ka Ying (05)(05)

(3)(3) Ip Yi Lam Ip Yi Lam (11)(11)

(4)(4) Lam Shuk Ting Lam Shuk Ting (15)(15)