WWF Mai Po

Dear Birdwatchers/Photographers,
  
Every year since 1985, WWF has cleared mangrove seedlings from the area of inter tidal mudflat in front of the floating bird-watching hides. This is necessary to maintain the area as a valuable feeding habitat for waterbirds as well as to promote ecological research, education and birdwatching (Refer to the figure).

WWF staff and contractors commenced the 2009 clearance works on 18 August and will continue through to October. Our work is monitored by AFCD, who together with Districts Lands Office, give us their consent each year upon approval of a WWF impact assessment report.

Our staff and contractors will only work during periods of low tide when the waterbirds in front of the hides are very few in number. Please do not mistake these workers for illegal fishermen! You will see them stepping seedlings into the mud, something the fishermen would not be doing.

If you require any further information please telephone the WWF Mai Po Office on 2471-6212 and ask for either Janet Lee, Katherine Leung or Bena Smith.

致各觀鳥者 / 攝影師：

自1985年起，世界自然基金會每年均於觀鳥屋前的潮澗帶泥灘，進行清除紅樹樹苗的工作。此項工作對維持泥灘作為水鳥覓食地、生態研究、教育及觀鳥地點，尤其重要(如圖所示)。

本會職員及外判承辦商已於2009年8月18日至10月進行清除紅樹樹苗的工作。此項管理工作由漁護署監察，並連同地政署，就基金會每年提交的影響評估報告，批准進行。

本會職員及外判承辦商將只於后海灣退潮時份，亦即觀鳥屋前的水鳥數目極少時進行工作。請不要誤以為他們是非法漁民！你將見到他們把紅樹樹苗踩進泥中，漁民絕不會這樣做。

如欲查詢進一步資料，請聯絡米埔自然保護區李嘉慧、梁嘉善或施百納，電話：2471-6212。

WWF Mai Po

The 2009 clearance works are complete. This year a lot of grasses grew infront of the hides, a problem we are dicussing with government.


Over the winter, AFCD's contractors will clear Sonneratia trees and shrubs from the inter-tidal mudflat area. Sonneratia is an invasive exotic mangrove species which is known to out-complete native species and can quickly invade the mudflat area, reducing the feeding area for waterbirds. The works will be concentrated around the mouth of the Shenzhen River.

[ Last edited by WWF Mai Po at 14/11/2009 12:33 ]