Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government today (December 31) promulgated the updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), which sets out the strategies and priority actions Hong Kong will adopt over the next 10 years to protect nature and support sustainable development, to protect Hong Kong’s biodiversity and thereby contribute to national and global efforts towards the goal of achieving harmony between humans and nature.
A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said, “Natural ecosystems and biodiversity are deeply intertwined with our well-being and are a vital part in achieving sustainable development in society. The harmonious coexistence between humans and nature is our country’s vision. We must act on the concept that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and focus on building a beautiful China'”.
At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the country led the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which proposed a new global strategic framework for biodiversity conservation. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China released the China National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2023-2030) in January 2024. To match these frameworks, and taking into account Hong Kong’s actual circumstances and conditions as well as stakeholders’ feedback, the Government has updated the BSAP and formulated actions for the next phase, building upon the first phase of the BSAP launched in 2016.
The updated BSAP puts forward four strategic areas, namely nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building, and collaborative partnering, which include a total of 30 priority actions and 81 priority projects. The Government looks forward to continuing collaboration with various sectors in the community to strengthen Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation, enabling sustainable development.
The four strategic areas in the updated BSAP are as follows:
(1) Nature conservation
The Government will protect ecosystems and species through comprehensive and area-based measures to safeguard and restore biodiversity. Priority actions include: strengthening management of protected areas and establishing a wetland conservation system; restoring degraded ecosystems and revitalising remote countryside areas; stepping up enforcement against wildlife crimes and management of invasive alien species; and preventing deterioration of the aquatic environment by controlling pollution discharges.
(2) Deepening mainstreaming
The Government will continue to drive the integration of biodiversity conservation concepts into every sector of society, elevating it to a shared responsibility embedded within economic, urban and community practices. For example, non-governmental organisations and educational institutions can promote various programmes to deepen the public’s connection with nature; enterprises can disclose biodiversity-related risks and adopt sustainable operating practices; academic institutions can advance knowledge and nurture the next generation of conservation talent; urban development can also integrate biodiversity conservation concepts by adopting nature-based solutions and wildlife-friendly designs. Other sectors can also contribute to mainstreaming biodiversity by supporting sustainable agriculture and fisheries, ecotourism and the circular economy.
(3) Capacity building
The Government places emphasis on enhancing Hong Kong’s biodiversity conservation capacity by advancing knowledge, professional expertise and technological development. The Government will continue to support scientific and interdisciplinary research to explore the frontiers of knowledge and technology, complemented by measures to assess the status of nature, promote knowledge dissemination and sharing with the public, nurture talent, and deepen professional capabilities. At the same time, the Government will explore the establishment of a centre or platform for biodiversity resources, to enable better access by the public to natural treasures and heritage in Hong Kong.
(4) Collaborative partnering
The Government is committed to expanding and strengthening partnerships across regions, sectors and communities to safeguard the natural environment and resources; to create ecological corridors, combat wildlife crimes and manage habitats along species migration routes through cross-boundary co-operation; enhance the exchange of knowledge and expertise with the international community; learn from global best practices and case studies, optimise existing conservation measures, and enhance ecological resources management; capitalise on the role as a “super connector” to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration, advance ecological civilisation across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and support the latest initiatives on biodiversity on the national and global levels.
The Government will continue to co-ordinate and monitor the implementation progress of the updated BSAP through the dedicated interdepartmental working group, and report the progress to the Advisory Council on the Environment regularly. To keep the public informed about the implementation, the Government will launch a dedicated website showcasing related work progress.
The updated BSAP has been uploaded to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/Con_hkbsap/updating_bsap/updating_bsap.html).