Help save HK's wildlife
ONE might not know that ''Hong Kong is a regional haven for biodiversity'' until one hears it from Dr Richard Corlett, one of the speakers at a recent seminar on ''Conserving Biodiversity'' organised by the World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong (WWF).
Mr Corlett, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Botany at University of Hong Kong, said despite the barren hillsides, revolting rivers and polluted waters, Hong Kong still supports an amazing diversity of species and new species are continuously added to the list.
''Because of the less intensive use of the countryside, Hong Kong habitats are in general much richer in species than similar habitats in adjacent parts of China,'' he said.
''The number of species known in Hong Kong is even higher than that recorded in Britain, despite its larger area.'' The seminar, sponsored by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), was aimed at enhancing A-level teachers' and students' understanding of Hong Kong's natural environment and the significance of biodiversity.
Besides Mr Corlett, representatives from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and WWF Hong Kong also gave lectures in the half-day seminar.
Mr M. K. Cheung from the Agriculture and Fisheries Department gave a speech on biodiversity conservation and how the public could help.
He said biodiversity conservation requires the community's awareness and support. ''The public should try to spread the message and support conservation projects, avoid wastage of natural resources and report illegal activities that will damage the environment.'' Mr David Melville, Executive Director of WWF Hong Kong, talked about the role of the organisation in conserving biodiversity.
WWF is starting a project on the distribution of species and is collecting information for marine areas.
Mr Melville said the project would be of direct value to biodiversity conservation by providing ecological information for the Government and the public.
''It is our hope that in future land use, planners will be better informed regarding the potential environmental sensitivity of sites so projects can be allocated where they will cause the least damage.'' Also, under the group's extensive lobbying, the Government agreed to finance the research on two species on the verge of extinction: Romer's Tree Frog Philautus romeri and the Chinese White Dolphin Sousa chinensis.
In the next meeting in 1994, the group will call for international control on the trading of bird nests. Mr Melville said the population of swiftlets was declining because of the high bird nest consumption.
