SCMP: Hong Kong is well-known as a busy and bustling metropolis, with crowded streets, congested roads and tightly-packed skyscrapers. The city’s amazing biodiversity, including many endangered species, is not widely appreciated.
But flora and fauna is an integral part of what makes Hong Kong special. The city boasts more than 50 types of land-based mammal, over 130 dragonfly species, and 240 kinds of butterfly. There are 580 bird species, 1,000 types of marine fish and 3,300 species of vascular plants. It is imperative that these assets are preserved and able to flourish. Sadly, many are under threat.
A two-month public consultation on the updating of Hong Kong’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan concluded this month. The plan, required by an international convention, was introduced in 2016.
The review is a chance to make biodiversity a top priority for all sectors, public and private, and instil a love of nature in the community.
Four action areas are highlighted in the document: nature conservation, mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. But the most important part is the 10 questions posed to the public at the end. These are broad and open-ended, essentially asking what Hong Kong’s vision should be for nature conservation and how to realise it. The government should be very receptive to submissions that can take the strategy to a new level.
Think-tank Civic Exchange, in a compelling submission, argues that nature should be integrated into decision-making across public and private sectors, with Hong Kong making an active contribution to the world’s efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, becoming a regional leader in the field. It advocates the establishment of a central hub for “nature-based solutions”.
“Looking ahead to the next 20 years, we envision a Hong Kong where all people understand the value of nature and live in harmony with it, supported by strong governance, inclusive education, and resilient ecosystems that contribute to public well-being and climate adaptation,” the think tank said.
Civic Exchange jointly released a comprehensive report with the University of Hong Kong and others this month, calling for nature to be “embedded in the fabric of urban life”. Viewing development through a “nature positive lens”, strengthening monitoring, redirecting finance, empowering civil society, and championing regional and global collaboration were set as priorities.
The Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, meanwhile, highlighted the need to halt habitat loss and restore that which has disappeared or been degraded, to list endangered species and protect them, while enhancing ecological corridors. I was given a taste of the botanic garden’s important contribution to conservation at London’s Chelsea Flower Show in May. Some of its rare orchids featured in a gold-medal-winning display along with others from the Asia-Pacific region.
The impressive exhibit provided a welcome contrast to the more traditional, ornamental installations and conveyed a strong message about the need to protect the ecologically important but endangered plants. One threatened species, the long-eared dog orchid, is being regenerated by the botanic garden. Last year, it secured from the government the right to reintroduce the plant in the wild. This significant step should be extended to other endangered plants to give them a better chance of survival.
The World Wildlife Fund sounded the alarm over threats to the city’s biodiversity in a study this year. It warned that more than 25 per cent of the 886 species of fauna it assessed are facing a moderate or high risk of local extinction.
This is a pivotal time, with the huge Northern Metropolis project on the way and a push for “tourism everywhere” posing new challenges, but also opportunities, for environmental protection.
Hong Kong must treasure its natural assets, which the government rightly says are intricately linked to the city’s prosperity and the well-being of residents. Biodiversity should be placed at the heart of every policy decision and development. A new, more rigorous, approach is needed to protect it.
Originally published on SCMP on 19 July 2025.
