20個全球生物多樣性目標 香港僅6個部分達標
觀鳥會籲政府部門勿各自為政 應通力合作制訂全面保育政策
（2021年10月4日）
聯合國《生物多樣性公約》第十五次締約方大會舉行在即，香港觀鳥會今天發布〈《生物多樣性公約》下香港生物多樣性及保育之10年回顧〉，評估本港自然保育表現。報告顯示香港在20個「愛知生物多樣性目標」（愛知目標）當中，只在6個目標部分達標，須有顯著改善以協助中國履行《公約》義務。
自2011年思匯政策研究發起監察計劃，香港觀鳥會根據《生物多樣性公約》的策略目標，定期發布《香港生物多樣性及保育重點指標》（《指標》）報告，持續監察香港在履行《公約》上的表現。這些報告所採用的指標，由40多位本地生物多樣性及保育專家為香港度身制訂，並提供數據及深入分析。過去於2011、2013、2015、2018及2021年出版的五份《指標》報告所收集的數據及觀察，正正為本報告的10年評估提供了穩固基礎。
香港達標有賴我們的郊野公園
香港表現最好的範疇，在於其保護區網絡覆蓋了四成土地，為保護及逐步恢復林地生態系統訂下良好框架（愛知目標5、11、14及15）。規劃署每年接獲的鄉郊違例活動投訴大幅上升三分二至逾1,000宗，可見公眾對自然保育的意識及支持有所提升（愛知目標1）。政府制訂本港首份《生物多樣性策略及行動計劃》（《行動計劃》），亦是履行《公約》重要一步（愛知目標17）。
土地政策忽略生物多樣性 加速生境損失
然而，《行動計劃》欠缺具體目標及指標，難以評估其對落實《公約》或愛知目標的成效。《行動計劃》亦未有將生物多樣性寫入政策或法律，致使本港發展規劃與生物多樣性保育割裂，甚至威脅本地物種存活（愛知目標2及12）。以后海灣為例，這片具國際重要性的濕地正面臨日益加劇的發展威脅；全球易危的中華白海豚在大嶼山水域種群的數量過去10年間大減一半，最大元兇極可能是多項已通過審批的沿岸填海工程。
政府近年為公私營住屋發展覓地，增加農地、綠化地帶及郊野公園的發展壓力，違背保育原意。現行法例長年存有漏洞，加上執法行動長期資源不足，令違例活動越發猖獗，直接危害本地物種及生境（愛知目標5及12）。其中，農地損失或是導致牛背鷺的繁殖種群減少三分之二的主因；貝澳珍貴的淡水濕地則因南大嶼沒法落實規劃管制而持續減少。另一方面，野生動物、尤其是海鮮及海味的貿易缺乏監管，反映香港未能保護境外生物多樣性，亦未能推動可持續使用天然資源。（愛知目標4）。
保育乃眾人之事
香港觀鳥會副總監胡明川小姐表示：「我們必須意識到《公約》觸及廣泛議題，生物多樣性保育不僅關乎環境部門及環保團體，而是其他決策局、工務部門、公私營機構及公眾的共同責任。政府全體上下應共同參與保育工作，邀請各界別和持份者協商，解決制度上的差異，將生物多樣性保育正式納入香港發展進程，以切合《公約》要求。」
香港觀鳥會建議政府訂立全面的自然保育政策，相關政策須與《公約》核心目標及《2020年後全球生物多樣性框架》一致，並借鏡中國落實生態紅線、生態安全和其他環境政策的經驗。本著政府開展《行動計劃》的良好意願，此框架正好為下一份為期五年（2021-2026）的《行動計劃》奠定基礎，制訂具體政策並加以改善。
香港觀鳥會特別鳴謝ADM Capital Foundation資助本報告的籌備及出版費用。
下載完整報告：https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/index.php/reports
Hong Kong misses 14 out of 20 global biodiversity targets
10-year review calls for whole-of-government approach and complete conservation policy
(2021, October 4)
The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) today released the Hong Kong Biodiversity and Conservation 10-year Review against the Convention on Biological Diversity” (10-year Review), on the eve of the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The review shows that Hong Kong has partially achieved six out of 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets (ABTs). HKBWS urges the HKSAR Government to take serious measures to assist China in meeting its obligation under the CBD.
The conclusions in the 10-year Review, which was funded by ADM Capital Foundation, derive from a ten-year monitoring programme developed by Civic Exchange and conducted by HKBWS that tracked Hong Kong’s performance against the strategic objectives of the CBD. The methodology and findings are published in five HKBWS reports that provide data and insights against a set of indicators developed specifically for Hong Kong by a cross-sectoral panel of over 40 local biodiversity and conservation experts.
Protected area network is a key contributor to Hong Kong’s progress
Hong Kong’s best performance was based on its protected area network, which covers about 40% of the total land area, and provides a fine framework for protection and progressive regeneration of Hong Kong’s forest ecosystems (ABTs 5, 11, 14 and 15). The increase in the complaints of unauthorized activities in rural areas received by the Planning Department (PlanD) by two-thirds to over 1,000 per year reveals a general increase in public awareness and support for conservation (ABT 1). The formulation of Hong Kong’s first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) is a significant first step towards meeting Hong Kong’s responsibilities under the CBD (ABT 17).
Government’s land policy accelerates habitat loss
This BSAP included no specific targets or indicators, making it difficult to assess its contribution to meeting the CBD’s objectives or the ABTs. It is notable that the current BSAP did not mainstream biodiversity into policy or legislation, clearly reflecting the dis-integrated role of biodiversity within Hong Kong’s wider development agenda and threatening the survival of native species (ABTs 2 and 12). For instance, development threats were intensified around the Deep Bay wetlands of international importance, and the globally vulnerable Chinese White Dolphin population in Lantau waters has dropped by half in the past decade, likely due to several approved coastal reclamation projects.
The Government’s policy to identify land for public and private housing increases development pressure on agricultural land, Green Belts and Country Parks, undermining their conservation objectives. Long-running loopholes in existing ordinances and persistently under-resourced enforcement have increased the threats from unauthorized encroachment that lead directly to loss in native species and habitats (ABTs 5 and 12). Examples include the decline in the breeding population of Eastern Cattle Egret by two-thirds - likely due to the loss in farmland - and the continuous degradation of valuable freshwater wetlands in South Lantau caused by the inability to enforce planning control. Moreover, Hong Kong’s hands-off management in the trade in wildlife, especially of live and dried marine species for seafood, undermines the sustainability of biodiversity far beyond our boundaries (ABT 4).
Whole-of-government approach is urgently needed
Ms. Woo Ming Chuan, Deputy Director of HKBWS, said, “We must recognize and respond to the breadth of issues covered by the CBD. Conservation lies not only in the hands of the environmental authorities and environmental NGOs, but also with other bureaux, works departments, and the private sector. A whole-of-government approach and the engagement of all sectors and stakeholders are needed to address systemic gaps to properly integrate biodiversity conservation into Hong Kong’s development process as the CBD requires.”
HKBWS’s key recommendations also include the creation of a comprehensive conservation policy, which aligns with the CBD core objectives and the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework and incorporates the best lessons from China’s implementation of the Ecological Red Line, ecological security and other environmental policies. This policy should provide the foundation for the next 5-year BSAP for 2021-2026, continuing and improving upon the Government’s good intentions in kick-starting the BSAP process.
Special thanks to ADM Capital Foundation Limited for funding the preparation and publication of this report.
Download Full Reports：https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/reports
短片一 Video 1:【汲取教訓 ── 回顧香港過去十年的自然保育 Lessons Learned: 10-year Review on Biodiversity Conservation in Hong Kong】
短片二 Video 2:【展望未來 ── 香港生物多樣性及保育 Looking Forward: Hong Kong Biodiversity and Conservation】
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Last edited by HKBWS Suet Mei at 13/10/2021 12:05 ]
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本帖最後由 HKBWS Suet Mei 於 22/11/2021 11:19 編輯 ]
