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Hong Kong Bird Watching Society’s comments
To Candidates of the 2012 Chief Executive Election:
Biodiversity strategy for next Chief Executive of Hong Kong
In order to meet the global conservation standard and maintain Hong Kong’s position as the city with the richest and best protected biodiversity in Asia, The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) urge for policies and actions to better protect our biodiversity and their habitats:
1.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been formally extended to Hong Kong in May 2011(1). HKBWS urges for a formal publication and implementation of Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), with heavy involvement of Environmental NGOs, in order to meet the requirements of the CBD;
2.
The key aspect of this document should focus on developing an integrated cross-departmental strategy to transition from a reactive approach to conservation to planned, proactive and appropriately resourced management and restoration of Hong Kong’s biodiversity and ecosystems services.
These should as a matter of priority include:
a.
Plans for ensuring that all aspects of Hong Kong’s native biodiversity can be protected for the good of the community.
b.
Review of perverse incentives that undermine conservation such as development-based zonings in ecologically-sensitive areas for Long Valley & Hoo Hook Wai;
c. Adopt a
systematic approach to identify, protect and manage key biodiversity hotspots to address the fragmented coverage of habitats in the protected areas system.
d. A review of
conservation management tools such as:
i. the PPP scheme under the current nature conservation policy
ii. opportunities for non-in-situ land exchange.
iii. a review of the applicability of resumption for nature conservation as a “public purpose”
e.
A review of the Environmental Impact Assessment process to ensure professional scientific judgments and avoid conflict of interest(2), and the need of introducing Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments(3) to higher policy-making processes;
f. Development of
strategic biodiversity management plans for Country Parks(4), the protected area network and enclaves of high ecological value
g.
A systematic review of Agricultural land in Hong Kong with focus on its agricultural, ecological and recreational value;
h. Publication of a
Hong Kong Red Data List of locally endangered organisms(5) and development of conservation plans to locally and globally threatened species;
i. Establishment of a
multi-departmental Task Force to tackle rural trashing with sufficient resources allocated to various departments;
j. A review of
Hong Kong’s impact on species and ecosystems beyond its borders, with a particular focus on sharks, live coral reef fish, palm oil, and wood and paper products. In addition to focusing on key products and species this review should cover Hong Kong’s hinterland in the Pearl River Basin. From which its water, food and energy is derived.
Civic Exchange’s “
Nature Conservation: A new policy framework for Hong Kong” sets out the framework for biodiversity conservation, while the “
Hong Kong Headline Indicators for Biodiversity & Conservation 2011 Report” published by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and Civic Exchange highlights the direction of change.
We hope the Candidates of the 2012 Chief Executive Election could respond to the increasing public demand on nature conservation by adopting the above suggestions.
Mike Kilburn
Vice Chairman
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society
(1)
http://treaties.un.org/pages/Vie ... pter=27&lang=en
(2)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/wp ... 11/06/110627EIA.pdf
(3)
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr10-11/ ... 627cb1-2584-3-e.pdf
(4)
http://www.civic-exchange.org/wp/110829countrypark_en/
(5)
http://www.regionalredlist.com/site.aspx?pageid=117
