Gei wai #21 de-silting works and gei wai #22 operate as inter-tidal
The management of gei wai 21 was taken over by WWF Hong Kong in 1995 and at that time, the mangroves in the pond were in a poor condition because the previous operator had been managing the pond for fish production and had been keeping the water level high for long periods, so drowning many of the mangroves within the pond. As the gei wai attracted few birds, trials were carried out in the late 1990’s to manage it as an inter-tidal pond in winter to provide feeding site for ducks, egrets and spoonbills. In summer, the gei wai would be flooded to prevent colonization by grasses and climbers.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s when earthmoving works had to be carried out on gei wai 16/17, it was realized there was no alternative high-tide roost for shorebirds in case gei wai 16/17 had to be taken out of operation. As a result, it was suggested that gei wai 21 could be converted as an alternative high tide shorebird roosting site.
The de-silting work in gei wai #21 works would be carried out in two phases due to the enormity of the work. Phase I - clearance of internal vegetation - would be done 2008 summer, and phase II – de-silting – early 2009 summer. During winter 2008/09, the gei wai would be permanently flooded to reduce vegetation regrowth, and therefore it would cease function as an inter-tidal gei wai. Gei wai #22 would operate as inter-tidal during winter 2008/2009 as a compensatory measure for the works at gei wai #21.
Janet Lee
Conservation Officer, Mai Po Projects
Mai Po Nature Reserve
基圍# 21挖掘淤泥工程及基圍# 22操作為潮澗帶
基金會在1995年開始管理基圍# 21。在1995年之前，由於這基圍一直以養殖魚類的模式運作，以致基圍內大部份紅樹長期被高水位浸沒。蘆葦生滿了大部份的河道。由於基圍# 21水鳥數目不多，所以我們試驗性的將這個基圍於冬季操作為潮澗帶以提供水鳥覓食地方，而夏季則會提高基圍水位，減低雜草生長機會。
在1990年代尾，基圍#16/#17被改建為潮漲棲息地。我們計劃仿傚基圍#16/#17，將基圍# 21改建為潮漲棲息地作水鳥棲息之用。這樣若基圍#16/#17在某情況下未能運作，基圍# 21可以作為替代提供潮漲棲息地。
由於基圍# 21工程範圍大，此工程將分為兩個階段。第一階段：清除基圍內雜草，這階段會在2008年夏天進行；第二階段：挖掘基圍內淤泥，這階段會在2009年夏天進行。在2008/2009冬天，基圍# 21將會停止運作為潮澗帶，整個基圍會被水覆蓋以減低雜草再生的機會。基圍# 22將替代基圍# 21運作為潮澗帶提供水鳥覓食地方。
[ Last edited by WWF Mai Po at 15/10/2008 12:39 ]
