WWF-Hong Kong says plan to protect wetlands in Northern Metropolis leaves migratory bird habitats, privately-owned conservation areas at risk
- Green group warns against fragmentation of protected areas, ‘piecemeal approach to conservation’
- WWF-Hong Kong gives ‘cautious support’ to plan for wetlands, worries about details in strategy
A leading environmental group is concerned that plans for a wetland conservation belt in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis blueprint have potential downsides that might affect the habitat of migratory birds and protected areas that are privately owned.
WWF-Hong Kong said it gave “cautious support” for the plan to create three wetland conservation parks in Hoo Hok Wai, Sam Po Shue and Nam Sang Wai and link them to the existing Mai Po nature reserve and Hong Kong Wetland Park in the New Territories.
That will preserve about 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) with ecological value, and will require resuming some private land.
But the green group found “holes” in the strategy which could pose threats to biodiversity in the Deep Bay wetlands that are designated a “Ramsar site” protected by an international wetlands convention managed by Unesco.