Hong Kong biodiversity

Hong Kong biodiversity

Biodiversity defines variability in living organisms. It’s essential for the living organisms to adapt to their ecosystem and perform different roles throughout their lives. Humans also benefit from biodiversity. Biodiversity promotes good climatic culture and attracts the tourism industry. It provides the aesthetic value of a region. Biodiversity is determined by three aspects, namely: genes, species, and ecosystem. Genetic diversity defines distinguishing traits in organisms of the same species. Ecosystem biodiversity describes habitat and specific community occupied by a particular organism. Species biodiversity refers to different organisms within a given habitat. It’s undisputable saying Hong Kong is a key biodiversity area.

Hong Kong biodiversity

Hong Kong experiences a subtropical climate. It’s located in the pearl of River Delta and the South China Sea. It has over more than 200 highlands with highly crenulated coastline. Granite and volcanic rocks give soils different textures. It has a wide range of water sources ranging from rivers and sea. It has a beautiful coral ecosystem. Coral community plays a vital role in Hong Kong. Cultural services in Hong Kong, such as recreation, ecotourism, aesthetic, and inspirational art, is enhanced. It also facilitates in providing seafood medicine. Nursery habitat for marine life is encouraged and finally protecting coastlines from storms and waves.

Hong Kong has diverse living organisms. It harbors more than 33000 vascular plants. Its ecosystem consists of resident marine mammals, terrestrial mammals, marine fish, amphibians, birds, freshwater fish, butterflies, dragonflies, soft corals and gorgonians, and finally hard corals. Besides, Hong Kong is a small territory it’s endowed with a myriad of marine and terrestrial habitats and niches. Climatic conditions, geographical location, and geology play a vital role in territory biodiversity. The territory has beautiful flora and fauna.

It has a wide range of forests. They act as habitat for wildlife and conserve the environment by acting as a water catchment area and reducing erosion.it has native forests consisting of low lowland evergreen broad-leaved vegetation such as fung shuiI wood. The forest contains many rare tree species that promote biodiversity. Wetland areas cover 5% of Hong Kong land, such as natural and freshwater sources. Wetland supports a wide range of trees and organisms which are of great value in the ecology. For example, Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsa house over 70% of Hong Kong birds. Moreover, it acts as a resting feeding site for migratory birds.

On the coastline, it has mangroves and mudflats which provide beautiful sceneries at the estuaries. They act as resting and feeding grounds for the Kaleidoscope of aquatic organisms. It also supports hard coral species. Hong Kong is highly urbanized with a high population across the world. The rich biodiversity emanates from a small region but of great stature across the globe. Hard coral species in Hong Kong exceed those in the Caribbean Sea and recorded.

Hong Kong has the record of the world’s rare species. For example, Bogadkek’s Burrowing Lizard is only found in the offshore islands of Hong Kong. It bears the history of the earliest discoveries, such as Hong Kong Balsam, camellia, and newt. Hong Kong has several ways of conserving ecosystems.

Protection of ecosystems

It has established ecological sites in conserving biodiversity. The cites are designated to protect wildlife in-situ. The sites are governed under the collaboration of government with private sectors and private landowners. They assist the government in preserving the beautiful sceneries from exploitation. Hong Kong has an extensive legislative body for maintaining the biodiversity of the territory. Under the country parks ordinance act, Hong Kong established twenty four state parks and twenty-two special areas. The bill also proposed environmental conservation and called for public awareness.

Marine park ordinance let to the creation of four marine parks and one marine reserve. Hunting and trawling were prohibited in Hong Kong to protect the aquatic and wildlife ecosystem. It has stringent rules in conserving marine reserves. Human access to the reserves was limited and controlled disturbance of the organisms, both terrestrial and aquatic. Exotic pioneer species were planted along the parks to control soil erosion. However, exotic tree canopies and stratification led to limited biodiversity because there was no undergrowth. The government embarked on plantation enrichment remedy of replacing aging trees with native ones. Native trees supported flora and fauna sustainability.

Land use planning and development

Hong Kong administrative planning passed laws to conserve ecologically essential habitats areas. The town planning ordinance act prohibited unauthorized developments in the designated areas preserved for biodiversity. The existing natural landscape is protected from exportation by the public. Zoning areas are conserved, and the public is educated on the importance of maintaining biodiversity. Special interests tom areas supporting flora and fauna for geological and geographical purposes are presented to the government to prevent their exploitation. Before the project is authorized, the impact on flora and fauna is assessed to safeguard their biodiversity.

Sustainable development

Sustainable mechanisms were put in place to protect the loss of biodiversity of organisms.

Fisheries

Hong Kong promotes sustainable fishing. Fish resources are protected through several regulations. In 2012, the government banned trawling equipment in water bodies. The strategy was established to restore the fish population from extinction. Sustainable fishing was put in place by creating awareness of the commercial and local fish consumers. All destructive fishing practices were combated to safeguard the aquatic ecosystem.

Agriculture

Local agriculture provides health foodstuffs for commercial purposes. Agriculture is commonly practiced in the rural area, which supports the high population. However, due to high society, it recently relies on imports. Sustainable farming is supported by organic farming. Organic farming is a sustainable approach since it does not use synthetic chemicals. Healthy products are produced, which does not pollute the environment.

Bringing nature back into urban areas

The country promotes sustainable urban development. The government supports sustainable building design in urban areas. It helps developments that conserve the quality of the ecosystem. It advocates minimal impact on the freshwater and groundwater system in safeguarding ecosystem. The government contributes to at-grade tree planting in creating awareness to the general public in conserving biodiversity. Hong Cities has 1500 public parks that provide leisure and support cultural diversity of the people. Urban parks and parks consist of shallow ponds, tree canopies, and bushes, which give habitat networks. They support birds and butterflies, which provide beautiful sceneries during the leisure period. Their presence makes citizens visit the parks more often.

Sustainable slope greening

Natural vegetation is preferred for vegetation cover on artificial slopes and natural hillsides. Natural vegetation provides ambient habitats for birds and insects, which promote biodiversity and conserve plant succession. Green master plan has been set to encourage the growth of sustainable native woodlands. Development of zero-carbon buildings provides both local wildlife and people with an ambient environment. The construction ensures zero carbon footprint using renewable energy.

Blue-green infrastructure

It involved creating sustainable designs such as water bodies and vegetation along corridors in urban areas. Urban development has adopted the strategy. Finally, the government promoted urban forestry. They provide beautiful sceneries in the urban, which are beneficial for both environmental and socio-economic. They also favor the movement of wildlife in the urban.

In conclusion, Hong Kong has achieved in promoting biodiversity in all territories. It embraces sustainable approaches in all development, farming, fishing, and landscaping. Aesthetic stature of the region attracts many tourism sites for both local and commercial purposes. Stringent regulations on conserving ecosystems have made Hong Kong home of biodiversity.