Longyuan is currently the largest contiguous freshwater wetland in Hong Kong. The government plans to develop about 37 hectares of land in its core area into a natural ecological park, including restoration of some abandoned agricultural land and dry land, and an increase of about 8 hectares of wetland.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department today (28th) briefed on the restoration project, referring to the completion of the restoration of an additional 5 hectares of wetland, and the reproduction of 12 species of birds was recorded from April to June this year, including the first breeding in Long Plain Black-winged longshank.
At the beginning of the year, it was discovered that farmland was used for placing construction materials, and some farmland was even razed.
The department responded that the restoration project inevitably involves machinery and does not mean damage to farmland. It also discussed restoration measures with the Changchun Society and other groups.
The picture shows the farmland that was found to be damaged at the beginning of this year and is now restored as a shallow pool.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
The Civil Engineering and Development Department is developing the Longyuan Natural Ecological Park, but at the beginning of the project it was discovered that some of the farmland close to the Shishang River had not been restored immediately for ecological conservation, and some farmland was used for building construction materials, and Some farmland has been razed.
In response to the incident today, Chen Qianhui, Senior Director of Nature Parks of the AFCD, said that the farmland involved was abandoned farmland. Due to the high growth of grass, the boundary between the farmland and the base road was not clear. At that time, the project included removal of weeds and continued restoration of the wetland.
Afterwards, the Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Land Development Department, and the Changchun Society have discussed the restoration work, including retaining the farmland's base road and repairing it after completion, and part of the farmland has also been restored to shallow paddy fields.
Cao Weixiong, chief engineer of the Land Development Department, said that the engineering inevitably involves machinery, but it does not mean that it will destroy the ecology.
+2
Add 8 hectares of wetland
The Land Development Department started the project at the end of 2019. The natural ecological park is expected to have 22 hectares of wetland, and the additional 8 hectares of wetland comes from the restoration of dry land, abandoned agricultural land, etc., of which 5 hectares of restoration work has been completed, and the remaining works will include Build farmside huts for storage purposes.
From April to June this year, the AFCD recorded a total of 12 species of birds breeding in the highland. Among them, the "black-winged sandpiper" was the first to breed in the highland, and the rest were colored sandpipers and white-breasted bitter birds. Wait.
70% completion of irrigation waterway project
The rest of the restoration work includes planting rice fields for the migratory finches to provide foraging and breeding places; repairing and constructing water fields to breed invertebrates to provide food for the birds; repairing shallow pools and building bird islands for the birds. Birds provide nesting and breeding places.
In addition, the project includes improving the original irrigation channel, using gabions and natural mud to construct a new irrigation channel, adding pumping wells to facilitate farmers to place pumps, and having channels for small animals that stray into the water channel to leave.
The new irrigation channel is 1.9 kilometers in length and is now 70% complete.
+4
The visitor area will concentrate the wetland ecological environment
The ecological park will be divided into three areas in the future, including "eco zone", "agricultural zone" and "visitor zone".
The department stated that the progress of the project is satisfactory and it is expected to be completed in 2023 on schedule.
The visitor area in the ecological park will concentrate the wetland ecological environment for the public to understand.
After the completion of the project, the farmers who originally cultivated in Long Plain will also be contacted, and priority will be given to arranging them to cultivate in Long Plain.
Longyuan Natural Ecological Park is expected to be completed in 2023, and the ecological impact of the Changchunshe-Hebei Project will be minimized. North Loop Line | Five stations are expected to be completed in 2034. MTR: May cause permanent damage to nearby wetlands There are three research-worthy archaeological sites in the development area. Sai Kung outing | Huashan's proposed observation deck Glamping facility is selected for the Sai Kung West Country Park
01News
