What are wetlands?

Transitional zone between permanently wet and generally dry environments

Support a large variety of plant and animal species

Can be found on the coasts and inland

What are wetlands?

Definition in Ramsar Convention… areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 m…

Mai Po Nature Reserve

Located at northwestern corner of Hong Kong

Designated a “Wetland of International Importance”

by Hong Kong Government under the Ramsar Convention 1995

Mai Po Nature Reserve

Environmental Education and Management

An important staging post along the East Asian/Australasian flyway for migratory waterbirds

In 1976, the HK Government officially designated Mai Po as a “Site of Special Scientific Interest.”

Mai Po Nature Reserve In 1983, WWF HK took over

management of the Reserve for environmental education and conservation.

Mai Po has evolved into one of the most important wetland reserves in the world.

Mai Po Nature Reserve Wetland Conservation

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Dept is the Ramsar management authority in HK.

WWF Hong Kong works closely with AFCD in managing the Mai Po Nature Reserve, an integral part of the larger Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site.

Vegetation inside Mai Po includes mangroves, reed-beds and rain-fed freshwater marshes.

Mangrove forest sixth largest protected area of mangroves in all of China

Reed-bed one of the largest in South China

Mai Po Nature Reserve Endangered Birds

In January 1996, some 68,000 waterbirds were recorded at Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay . Of these waterbirds 12 are recognized as endangered species.

20 to 30% of the world population of the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill winters at Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay.

In addition, 11 endangered species of waterbirds have over 1% of their total regional population visiting Mai Po annually.

Mai Po Nature Reserve Biodiversity

One of the last sites in southern China to support threatened mammals such as the otter.

Reed-beds provide food for migratory birds such as warblers in spring and autumn.

Some 80 species of invertebrates are recorded in the mudflat, with some 20 species being new to science.

The reed-beds also supports nearly 400 species of invertebrates with many new to science.

Mai Po Nature Reserve Sustainable Economic Development

Traditional gei wai shrimp ponds inside the Reserve recognized internationally as an example of sustainable use of coastal wetlands

240 hectares of gei wai at Mai Po now the only ones left in Hong Kong and South China

40,000 people visit Mai Po Nature Reserve annually. It includes 10,000 school children who join one of the 400 specially guided visits organized by WWF Hong Kong on weekdays.

Causes of impairment [1]

Hydrological alternationHydrological alternation E.g. drainage, dredging, stream channelization,

ditching, etc. Causing loss and fragmentation of habitat Changes water diversion structures and

impoundments

UrbanizationUrbanization Direct loss of wetlands Causes degradation of wetlands

Causes of impairment [2]

Marinas / Boats Contribute to suspended sediments; Increase water turbidity; Increase the amount of nutrients and organic matter

Reclamation Raise suspended solid level in water, that may cause death of

marine animals Industry

Reduce the wetland acreage; Alter the wetland hydrology; Increase water temperature; Contribute to pollutants, some are extremely toxic; Change pH value

Causes of impairment [3]

Agriculture Harvesting food, fiber, or forest products, Maintenance of drainage ditches; Construction and maintenance of irrigation ditches; Construction and maintenance of farms and roads;

Atmospheric Deposition Air pollution

Mai Po Marshes [1] One of the wetlands in Hong Kong Deep Bay at the mouth of the Zhujiang. 380 hectares Fish and shrimp ponds Dwarf mangroves Reed beds

Mai Po Marshes [2]

Mai Po Marshes - Mangroves [3]

Droppers

Prop roots

Mai Po Marshes - Mangroves [4]

Pneumatophores

"Knees" of roots

Salt glands

Mai Po Marshes - Animals [5]

Fishes Shrimps Mammals Reptiles and Amphibians Fiddler Crabs Mudskippers

Mai Po Marshes - Animals [8]

Black-faced Spoonbill

25% of the world’s population spend each winter in and around the wetlands of the Mai Po / Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site.

A decline in nest Long term decline in nest abundance at

the Mai Po Village colony A decline in nest abundance at the Mai Po

Village colony has been noted in recent years. The total number of nests of this colony declined from 109 nests in 2001 to 52 in 2004. The decline in nest abundance is probably related to the following observations:

Human disturbance Human disturbance it is noted that the footpath of Castle Peak Ro

ad adjacent to the colony was used by nearby residents as a minibus station . Passengers were seen to wait minibus just in front of the colony. In fact, no nest was seen in that part of colony, suggesting that this activity could be one of the disturbances to the breeding birds. Previous observations

Monitoring at the Mai PoMonitoring at the Mai Po Disturbing monitoring at the Mai Po Village colonyDisturbing monitoring at the Mai Po Village colony An undetermined nest monitoring inside the Mai Po Village An undetermined nest monitoring inside the Mai Po Village

colony was seen during this breeding season. Coloured marcolony was seen during this breeding season. Coloured markings of 10 cm long on the base of 20 nests were seen . The kings of 10 cm long on the base of 20 nests were seen . The highest height of this marked nest is around 10 – 12 m. The highest height of this marked nest is around 10 – 12 m. The markings should be tagged through climbing trees or by climarkings should be tagged through climbing trees or by climbing up a ladder. As the human being is identified as predmbing up a ladder. As the human being is identified as predators by the birds, any high degree of movement of human ators by the birds, any high degree of movement of human beings inside the colony would lead to falling down of chickbeings inside the colony would lead to falling down of chicks from their nests. It is anticipated that the marking process s from their nests. It is anticipated that the marking process caused disturbance to the breeding birds not only around ncaused disturbance to the breeding birds not only around nearby nests, but also those in the colony.earby nests, but also those in the colony.

Ramsar Convention and Ramsar Sites

Ramsar Convention and Ramsar Sites

Obligations of participants: To designate wetlands of international importance for

inclusion in a list of so-called ‘Ramsar sites’;

To maintain the ecological character of their listed Ramsar sites;

To organize their planning so as to achieve the wise use of all of the wetlands on their territory; and

To designate wetlands as nature reserves.