11/07/2025
Today is the deadline for submission of response to Updated BSAP consultation, and I had submitted my view to the Government. Below is the summary of my response.
To read my recommendations in full details, please check out my post on Substacks. If you wish to receive updates from me, please consider subscribing my free newsletter.
📝 https://drcarolinelaw.substack.com/p/response-to-the-update-of-the-hong
🦉 Summary of responses to Updated BSAP consultation
(by Dr Caroline Law)
1. 📡 Establishing a Centralized Biodiversity Monitoring System:
The enhancement of the Hong Kong Biodiversity Information Hub (HKBIH) lies at the core of informed policymaking. Incorporating advanced technologies—such as drones, hyperspectral imaging, bioacoustics, and environmental DNA (eDNA)—will improve baseline data and enable long-term tracking. Collaborative efforts with academic and citizen scientists will ensure standardized, impartial datasets. Integrating ecological impact assessment (EcoIA) data from platforms like the Hong Kong Environmental Database (HKED) will help detect temporal and spatial biodiversity shifts, guiding thematic studies and policy interventions.
2. 🛡️Expanding Protected Zones and Linking Ecological Corridors:
Hong Kong hosts fragile ecosystems that are difficult to replicate. Conservation strategies should prioritize preserving existing habitats and applying nature-based solutions rather than artificial compensation. A legally grounded framework is needed to safeguard ecological corridors on both public and private lands. Incentivizing landowners through tax reliefs and conservation easements will encourage corridor preservation. Local stakeholder engagement and adaptable policy mechanisms are vital, especially as conditions evolve. Cross-border connectivity with the Greater Bay Area should be strengthened to support species dispersal and ecosystem resilience.
3. 💰Financing Biodiversity Loss and Restoration:
A reliable data backbone is essential to generate standardized metrics for biodiversity valuation. These metrics can help quantify ecosystem services and inform compensatory mechanisms for biodiversity loss due to development. Introducing biodiversity credits offers an innovative tool for funding restoration efforts, while positioning nature as a viable asset for investment markets.
4. 📈Integrating Nature Projects into the Government Sustainable Bond Programme:
Despite its promise, the Green Bond Report 2024 lacked dedicated biodiversity funding. Short-term proposals include bolstering geospatial monitoring infrastructure, while long-term plans advocate for a biodiversity credit trading platform that can function autonomously. These additions would align sustainable finance with ecological priorities and provide momentum for large-scale conservation efforts.
5. 🌿Mainstreaming Urban Biodiversity through Pilot Projects:
Native plant propagation and wildlife-friendly landscaping are recommended for government-managed green spaces. Dual zoning in large parks—dividing core ecological zones from recreational peripheries—can balance biodiversity with public use. Small-scale urban green spaces (UGS) should reflect varied community needs. Findings from recent ecological studies reinforce the potential of design diversification to boost public engagement and biodiversity appreciation without requiring travel to country parks.
6. 🚫Phasing Out Toxic Chemicals in Public Landscapes:
Widespread pesticide and herbicide usage in Hong Kong poses significant risks to biodiversity and public health. Lessons from European cities point to feasible bans. A shift towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM)—with mechanical and landscape-based controls—should be led by a cross-departmental task force to develop actionable plans and healthier ecosystems.
7. 📊Setting Measurable Goals in BSAP:
All the above recommendations should be mapped into long-, medium-, and short-term targets within the updated Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). Clear milestones will enable effective monitoring, accountability, and iterative refinement of conservation policies.
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