District 18 News
Written by: District Licheng
2021-01-07 18:41
Last update date: 2021-01-07 18:41
The Sheung Shui Longyuan Wetland, known as the "Bird Paradise", is the largest and most complete freshwater wetland in Hong Kong and has high ecological value.
In the early years, the government recovered the wetland in Longyuan and decided to develop a natural ecological park covering an area of 37 hectares.
Recently, some citizens passed through the Longyuan Wetland, only to find that the site had been heavily constructed and turned into a construction site. They questioned why the government had to "destruct the wetland" to "build the wetland."
Under the government's Northeast New Territories Development Plan, the Longyuan Wetland is designated as a natural ecological park covering an area of 37 hectares.
According to the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the total contract price for the "Development of Longyuan Natural Ecological Park" project is 324 million yuan. The contractor, Shengxing – Fengli Joint Venture, is responsible for the project. The project has started in December 2019 and is expected to be in 2022. Completed by the end of the year.
However, recent projects have attracted public attention.
Citizens reprimanded the absurdity: Destroy wetlands first and then build artificial wetlands
A few days ago, Mr. Huang passed by the site on a bicycle and saw that the original wetland and farmland were turned into four lifeless pools, and next to it was a large-scale civil engineering project.
He pointed out that these large-scale machinery appeared to be carrying out channel engineering, and therefore questioned why the construction of a natural ecological park was to "destroy wetlands first" and then build "artificial wetlands."
The incident caused many netizens to criticize "It's ridiculous," and they also believe that the project will crack the original ecology.
Recently, some citizens passed through the Longyuan Wetland, only to find that there was a large-scale construction project there, and they questioned why government departments have to "destruct the wetland" to "build the wetland."
(Mr. Huang provides pictures)
The Changchun Society and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society launched the "Longyuan Nature Conservation Management Plan" in 2005, which included cooperating with local farmers to grow rice and other crops, and the critically endangered "grass sparrow" in early years was also used as a replenishment and habitat Haunted the rice fields.
Looking at the information, the two organizations in the past have expressed that the Longyuan Wetland shall operate on five principles, including: Longyuan shall not be damaged or deteriorated before or after becoming a natural ecological park, and the Longyuan natural ecological park must be maintained The existing highly diversified farmland environment, taking into account and guaranteeing the livelihoods of farmers in Longyuan, implementing ecologically friendly farmland management methods and controlling the number of tourists should not be used as mass tourism to attract.
Civil Engineering and Development Department: Build more wetlands through restoration of wet farmland
In response to enquiries, a spokesperson for the Civil Engineering and Development Department stated that the department commenced the contract ND/2019/03 "Kutung North and Fanling North New Development Area Phase One-Development of Longyuan Natural Ecological Park" in December 2019.
According to the requirements of the statutory environmental impact assessment, as an important part of the development plan of the new development area, the department will expand about 37 hectares of land in the core area of Longyuan into a natural ecological park to protect and improve the important ecological environment and compensate Wetland loss caused by the development of new development areas.
The project mainly enhances ecological value by improving and restoring wet farmland in Longyuan and building more wetlands.
Longyuan Natural Ecological Park will be divided into three areas, including a tourist area of about 5 hectares, an agricultural area of about 11 hectares and an ecological area of about 21 hectares.
In the tourist area, the department will build related facilities in the park, including bird watching houses, pavilions, outdoor classrooms, farm markets and composting facilities.
In order to facilitate farming by farmers, the department will also build residential facilities, small farm storage facilities and irrigation water channels at suitable locations in the park.
The agency said it had consulted the Changchun Club and the Bird Watching Club
The spokesperson said that he understands that Changchun Society and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society have carried out a natural conservation management agreement plan for Longyuan for many years. They have rich experience in protecting the ecological environment of the area. Therefore, since the commencement of the project contract ND/2019/03, the department has been consulting Changchun According to the opinions of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, the contractor is required to carry out a number of preliminary improvement works on suitable land, including weed removal, irrigation, rice planting and the construction of a bird island.
In addition, the contractor of the department has submitted a plan of the in situ plan for the long bank in accordance with the contract requirements, and has consulted the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Changchun Society and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society.
The Habitat Plan mainly provides diversified habitats for the Long Valley, and through the restoration or construction of more wetland habitats, such as swamps, ponds and wet farmland, the current wetland ratio in the Long Valley will be increased, and appropriate dry farming will also be provided Farmland is for farmers to cultivate.
The contractor has begun to carry out related works in accordance with the Habitat Plan.
However, the spokesperson pointed out that during the construction of the Longyuan Natural Ecological Park, the contractor will inevitably need to use construction machinery. He emphasized that it will continue to liaise closely with the Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Changchun Society and the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, and request the contractor to take appropriate mitigation measures. Measures to avoid affecting the current ecological environment.
After the completion of the Longyuan Natural Ecological Park, it will be managed by the Fisheries and Conservation Department. The park will be open to the public to visit, with guided tours and educational activities for public participation.
The management objectives of the park include: enhancing the ecological value of the Longyuan freshwater wetland, providing foraging, habitat and breeding places for waterbirds, amphibians and other wetland species; organizing educational activities to allow visitors to understand the relationship between agriculture and ecology; And let farmers carry out farming activities in an ecologically friendly mode in accordance with the requirements and arrangements of the park management plan.
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