Download wetland

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
diversity of Hong
Kong'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.Others
Medical 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:
Reasons:
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.
Problems:
1.) In 1987
• 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.
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.
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 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 Association
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 (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.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-profit
organisation, with a presence in 40 countries
across 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.
Education
In fact, there are many facilities, no
matter in Hong Kong or in China, for
education citizens to concern about
the environment and conversation
provided by some conversation group
or the government.
Here are some example of the
organizations to work for this aims:
Hong Kong
Mai Po Logo →
1. Mai Po Marshes Wildlife Education
Centre
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.
View of Mai Po →
← Mai Po’s Map
2. 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 .
China
1. Guangzhou Green Country Ecological Education
Centre (GGCEEC)
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
Legislation
Besides education, Hong Kong
government and many foreign countries
have also set up many different laws on
environmental protection.
Here are some examples of legislation in
Hong Kong and the rest of world:
Hong Kong
1.) Enforcement of Wild- Animal Protection Ordinance
(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
Area without a special permit issued by the Director of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, is liable to a
maximum fine of HK$50,000 on conviction.
International:
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
Ramsar is the first of the modern global
intergovernmental 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.
Members
(1) Cheung Oi Wa
(03)
(2) Choi Ka Ying
(05)
(3) Ip Yi Lam
(11)
(4) Lam Shuk Ting
(15)