To: Editor of South China Morning Post
I refer to the editorial “More can be done to protect biodiversity” published on 17 October 2021, commenting that Hong Kong is not meeting the Aichi Targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity (the Convention).
Under the Convention which are formed by sovereignty states (Parties), the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets serve as a flexible framework designed for Parties to set different goals taking into account their domestic priorities and capacities. They are not intended to be universally applicable, particularly at the city level. To respond to the Convention’s calls of action by Parties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been providing inputs to the Central People’s Government according to our domestic conditions and circumstances.
On protection of biodiversity in Hong Kong, the Government promulgated a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) in 2016. Major actions include the establishment of the Countryside Conservation Office to promote sustainable development of the remote countryside; launch of the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme to support community actions; introduction of laws to phase out local ivory trade and increase of penalty to impose a strong deterrence against illegal trade on endangered species; introducing biodiversity as a factor to be considered in planning guidelines and standards for new green buildings, as well as in river revitalisation and other works projects. Also, as a special theme under the Environmental Education and Community Action Projects Funding Scheme, the Environment and Conservation Fund has earmarked $50 million to support biodiversity projects since 2016.
On marine conservation, Hong Kong’s sixth marine park, namely the Southwest Lantau Marine Park, was designated in 2020 for better conservation of the Chinese White Dolphins (CWDs) and their habitats. The Government is now taking forward the designation of the proposed South Lantau Marine Park (2 067 ha) and proposed North Lantau Marine Park (2 400 ha). Upon completion of the designation by 2022 and 2024 respectively, the total protected sea area will increase by 150% to 8 500 hectares. The decline in the occurrence of the CWDs mentioned in the editorial should be temporary and was actually an expected response to reclamation and construction activities as predicted in the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Furthermore, in the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy, the Government will adopt a proactive conservation policy to enhance wetland conservation. The currently scattered private wetlands and fish ponds with conservation value will be gradually resumed by the Government. Together with the existing wetland areas, we aim to recover and form a contiguous protected wetland area of about 2 000 ha. Wetland and nature parks will be designated for improving the ecological functions and biodiversity, thereby enhancing the city’s environmental capacity for sustainable development.
Looking ahead, we are observing closely the emerging issues and priorities at the local and global levels being discussed at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention, and we will update the BSAP for an enhanced biodiversity action plan to support the concerted global efforts in biodiversity conservation by taking into account the new post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to be announced at the COP15 for building a more sustainable future for Hong Kong.
Shirley Yu,
Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Nature Conservation)