Today (5th) is World Environment Day. Hong Kong's first "Restored Landfill" Ecological Restoration Project, the "Little Cold Water Butterfly Conservation Area" in Tuen Mun, was announced. The number of species increased from 15 to 47 last month, equivalent to three times the baseline survey. During this period, uncommon butterfly species were found in Hong Kong, including the very rare "Long-bellied Grey Butterfly".
The Environmental Protection Association will arrange ecological guided tours later this month. The public can register and make an appointment to visit the conservation area to enjoy the butterflies.
The opening ceremony of the "Little Cold Water Butterfly Conservation Area", Hong Kong's first "restored landfill" ecological restoration project, was held today.
(Provided by EPA)
The Environmental Protection Association pointed out that although the number of overwintering plaques in the restored landfill in Xiaoshuihui has decreased in recent years, in order to meet the goals of conserving butterflies and promoting nature conservation and biodiversity, it was commissioned by the EPD to design and develop the restoration of Xiaoshuihui. The western and central platforms of the landfill become butterfly conservation areas.
The Little Cold Water Butterfly Conservation Area covers an area of about 60,000 square feet and is mainly divided into two areas, namely the area for attracting local butterflies (the western platform) and the planting area for winter monarch butterflies (the middle platform). of butterflies provide the right environment.
The western platform is designed with the life history of butterflies as an element, while the middle platform is planted with various vines for the monarch butterflies to lay their eggs.
A large number of host plants and nectar plants are planted in the conservation area to provide food for butterfly larvae and adults respectively, thereby optimizing a suitable habitat for butterflies.
The opening ceremony of the "Little Cold Water Butterfly Conservation Area", Hong Kong's first "Restored Landfill" Ecological Restoration Project, was held today. The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, was the officiating guest today.
(Provided by EPA)
The number of butterfly species in the conservation area increased from 15 to 47 last month. During this period, rare butterfly species were found in Hong Kong, including the very rare "Long-bellied Grey Butterfly".
(Provided by Mr. Chen Jiahong)
The Environmental Council's Butterfly Ecological Census shows that by May 2022, 47 butterfly species have been recorded in the conservation area.
In the census, uncommon, rare, and even very rare butterfly species were found in Hong Kong, including Long-bellied Grey Butterfly (very rare), Long-spotted Butterfly uncommon).
Compared with the butterfly baseline census, the number of butterfly species has increased by more than 3 times and the number of individual butterflies has also increased by more than 3 times compared with that when the conservation area was not established 12 months ago.
After the establishment of the conservation area, the species and number of monarch butterflies have also increased, including the tabby butterfly, the phantom monarch butterfly and the blue-spotted monarch butterfly.
The Environmental Protection Association believes that when the ecology of the entire Xiaoshuihui Butterfly Conservation Area gradually matures, the number of butterflies will increase significantly.
In addition to butterflies, many other species have also been found in the conservation area, including birds such as cattle egrets and curly tails, and reptiles such as green bamboo snakes and southern grass lizards. It can be seen that the biodiversity has also increased.
Overwintering monarch butterflies overwinter in small cold water clusters, so this place is a hotspot for wintering monarch butterflies.
According to the Environmental Protection Association, after the establishment of the conservation area, the species and number of monarch butterflies have also increased.
(Provided by EPA)
The Environmental Protection Association said that Xiao Lengshui's experience in rehabilitating landfills and regrowing them into butterfly conservation areas can be used as a reference indicator. It is suggested that more landfills restored in the future may be established as conservation areas or some land should be allocated as conservation areas. , the conservation area can not only rebuild the butterfly habitat, but also establish an Ecological Hotspot for monarch butterflies and other species of butterflies, connecting the dots to form an Ecological Stepping Stone, forming a complete ecological network and increasing synergy to enhance the biodiversity of Hong Kong.
Xiao Leng Shui Butterfly Conservation Area also plans to arrange ecological guided tours for members of the public and students in the second half of this month. Members of the public can sign up for the tour through the dedicated website of Xiao Leng Shui Butterfly Conservation Area.
Rare Pufulai Grey Butterfly Appeared in Longgutan Ring Group Discovered Lujing and Longgutan Butterfly Species The Ring Group recorded 125 species of butterflies last year, the second highest in 16 years but common species The dying butterfly was found on the body of the stolen butterfly, and the ring group strongly condemned the butterfly census for 7 months and recorded 183 varieties.
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