UGB 211E NATURE CONSERVATION IN HONG KONG

Course Outline 2009-2010 (2nd semester)

Teacher: Dr. WONG Fook-yee (SB 245); Email:

Tel.: 2609-6645

Tutor: Miss Maggie HO (FYB 219); Email:; Tel.: 2609-6233

Lecture Time and Location: Tuesday 10:30-12:15pm, SB LT2

A.  COURSE DESCRIPTURE

A1. Course Outline

This course aims at providing students with an overall view on nature conservation in general and Hong Kong in particular. The concepts and principles of nature conservation will be examined, followed by an investigation of nature conservation policy and practices in Hong Kong. The latter shall include legislation, designation and management of country and marine parks as well as other protected areas. Uses of and threats to protected areas as well as possible enhancement/mitigation measures will be addressed alongside comparison with overseas experiences. The course provides a framework for students to look at nature conservation from the ecological, environmental and socio-cultural perspectives. The development of nature conservation in response to globalization and climate change will also be highlighted.

A2. Expected learning outcomes

Students should be able to achieve the following at the end of the course:

l  Understand the concepts and principles of nature conservation at the global context;

l  Explain and discuss nature conservation policy and practices in Hong Kong;

l  Explore the values and benefits of protected areas to the community;

l  Identify viable measures in conserving species, habitats or ecosystems in Hong Kong; and

l  Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of specific conservation policy and measures applicable to Hong Kong.

A3. Teaching and Learning Activities

l  Lectures – one session (1.75 hours) per week

l  Field trips – two half-day and one full day field trips (approx.1 hour/week)

l  Group Project – students are required to conduct a group study on one of the local conservation issues and report to the class on their findings, observations and possible solutions

l  Assigned readings –students should spend about three hours per week to read the assigned reading materials related to the course.

B.  COURSE CONTENT

B1. Outline

Part 1 Concepts and principles of nature conservation

  1. Concepts and principles of nature conservation
  2. Theories and philosophy of nature conservation
  3. A review on the history of nature conservation
  4. Management planning for nature conservation
  5. Values and benefits of nature
  6. Planning for nature conservation

Part 2 Protected areas system (PAS) in Hong Kong

  1. Evolution and development of PAS in Hong Kong
  2. History of protected areas in Hong Kong and lessons learnt
  3. Nature conservation and recreation: compatibility and social benefits
  4. Recreation patterns and social benefits
  5. Management implications of protected areas in response to recreational demand
  6. Nature conservation and tourism: conflicts and opportunities
  7. Relationship between protected areas and tourism
  8. What is sustainable tourism?
  9. Geoparks and landscape conservation
  10. Function and purposes of Geoparks
  11. Management and educational implications of Geoparks
  12. Marine conservation in Hong Kong
  13. Conservation of Marine habitats
  14. Conservation of Marine species

Part 3 Threats, response and mitigation of protected areas

  1. Threats to protected areas and land-use planning in the context of sustainability
  2. Types of threats and possible solutions
  3. Development pressure and nature conservation
  4. Conservation of terrestrial species and restoration of ecosystems
  5. Habitat conservation and protection
  6. Habitat Restoration
  7. Habitat Enhancement and rehabilitation

Part 4 Nature conservation in the 21st century

  1. Nature conservation in response to climate change
  2. Nature conservation in the age of globalization: the role of community participation and international cooperation

B2. Course Schedule

Week/Date / Topic / Activities
1 (12/1) / Concepts and principles of nature conservation
Theories and philosopy of nature conservation and evolution of nature conservation in the world
2 (19/1) / Values and benefit of nature conservation,
Management planning of nature conservation
3 (26/1) / History of protected areas in Hong Kong
30/1*
31/1** / Field visit to Shing Mun Country Park@ to observe efforts on afforestation and development of country park system in Hong Kong / Half day field trip
4 (2/2) / Countryside recreation: patterns and management implications
5 (9/2) / Tourism and protected areas
Briefing on group projects / Quiz 1
6 (23/2) / Geoparks and landscape conservation
7 (2/3) / Marine conservation in Hong Kong
(28/2)** / Field visit to Tolo Channel GeoPark, Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and Plover Cove Country Park (Extension) and Lai Chi Wo Special Area@ / Whole day field trip
8 (9/3) / Threats to nature conservation and development control
9 (16/3) / Conservation of terrestrial species and ecosystems / Quiz 2
10 (23/3) / Nature conservation in response to climate change
(27/3)*
(28/3)** / Field trip to Fung Yuen and Sha Lo Tung@ to observe the implementation of the Management Agreement (MA) under the New Nature Conservation Policy / Half day field trip
11 (30/3) / The role of community participation and international cooperation
12 (13/4) / Presentation 1
13 (20/4) / Presentation 2 / Quiz 3

(* Saturday; ** Sunday

@ places of visit may may change

For all field trips, prior registration is required, and each student has to share a portion of the transport cost.)


B3. REFERENCE

(to be updated during the course)

Part 1 Concepts and principles of nature conservation

Alexander, M. (2009). Management Planning for Nature Conservation: A Theoretical Basis and Practical Guide. Springer, 426 pp.

Inamdar, A., de Jode, H., Lindsay, K. and Cobb, S. (1999). Capitalizing on Nature: Protected area management. Science, 283:1856-1857.

Knight, R.L. (2008). Conservation for a New Generation: Redefining Natural Resources Management. Island Press, 336 pp.

Margules, C.R. and Pressey, R.L. (2000). Systematic conservation planning. Nature, 405:243-253.

Soule, M.E. and Sanjayan, M.A. (1998). Conservation targets: Do they help? Science, 279:2060-2061.

Willis, K.J. and Birks, H.J.B. (2006). What is natural? The need for a long-term perspective in biodiversity conservation. Science, 314:1261-1265.

王鑫 (2007)：《中國人的自然環境思想》，(台北：台大地理環境資源系)。

蒙培元 (2004)：《人與自然─中國哲學生態觀》( 北京：人民出版社 )。

曹孟勤 (2004)：《人性與自然：生態倫理哲學基礎反思》( 南京：南京師範大學出版社 )。

賴品超，林宏星 (2006)：《儒耶對話與生態關懷》，( 北京：宗教文化出版社 )。

Part 2 Protected areas system (PAS) in Hong Kong and other places

Burek, C.V. and Prosser, C.D. (2008). The history of geoconservation: an introduction. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 300:1-5.

Chape, S., Mark Spalding and Martin Jenkins (eds), (2008), The World’s Protected Areas Status, Values and Prospects in the 21st Century, ( University of California Press, Berkeley Los Angeles).

Dudgeon, D. and Corlett, R.T. (2004). The Ecology and Biodiversity of Hong Kong, Friends of the Country Parks, Joint Publishing (HK) Company, Hong Kong.

Graeme L. Worboys, Michael Lockwood, Terry De Lacy, (2005), Protected Area Management Principles and Practice, Oxford University Press.

Jim, C.Y. and Wong, F.Y. (2001). “The Country Parks System and Development Pressure in Hong Kong”, in Hodgkiss, I. J. (ed.) Challenges of Nature Conservation in the Face of Development Pressure, Proceedings of the 2001 IUCN World Commission on Protected Area East Asia Conference, June, 2001 in Hong Kong, Friends of the Country Parks, Hong Kong, pp. 35-44.

Jim, C.Y. and Corlett, R.T. (eds.) (2006) Sustainable Management of Protected Areas for Future Generations, World Conservation Union, Gland, Switzerland, 401 pp.

Li, W.J. and Han, N.Y. (2001). Ecotourism management in China’s nature reserves. Ambio, 30:62-63.

Ng, Y.C.Y. (2007). The development of geotourism on granitic landforms in Hong Kong. Geological Review, 53 (supplement), pp.104-117.

Roberts, C.M. et al. (2002). Marine biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for tropical reefs. Science, 295:1280-1284.

Sharples, C. (2002). Concepts and principles of geoconservation. Published electronically on the Tasmanian parks & Wildlife Service website, pp. 1-53.

Thrower, Stella L. Hong Kong Country Parks, (1984), Hong Kong Government Printer, Hong Kong.

Trzyna. T. (ed.) (2005), The Urban Imperative – Urban Outreach Strategies for Protected Area Agencies, IUCN, California Institute of Public Affairs, Sacramento. (This book is available on the website: (http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAPS-015.pdf )

Wilson, K.D.P. and Leung, A.W.Y. (2001). “Role of Artificial Reefs in Marine Protected Areas”, in Hodgkiss, I. J. (ed.) Challenges of Nature Conservation in the Face of Development Pressure,” Proceedings of the 2001 IUCN World Commission on Protected Area East Asia Conference, June, 2001 in Hong Kong, Friends of the Country Parks, Hong Kong, pp. 99-104.

楊家明(2007) ：《郊野叁十年》，(香港，天地)。

解焱，汪松，Peter Schei (2004) ： 《中國的保护地》，(清华大学出版社)。

李光中、李培芳(2004) ： 《台灣的自然保護區》，(遠足文化，台北)。

Part 3 Threats, response and mitigation of protected areas

Bengtsson, J. et al. (2003). Reserves, resilience and dynamic landscapes. Ambio, 32:389-396.

Corlett, R.T. (1999). Environmental Forestry in Hong Kong: 1871-1997. Forest Ecology and Management, 116:93-105.

David Dudgeon, Richard Corlett, The Ecology and Biodiversity of Hong Kong, (2004), Joint Publishing, Hong Kong. pp. Chapter 8 (pp. 208-237), Chapter 10 (pp. 262-294).

Hobbs, R.J. and Harris, J.A. (2001). Restoration Ecology: Repairing the Earth’s Ecosystems in the New Millennium. Restoration Ecology, 9:239-246.

Krockenberger, A. K, Kitching, R. L. and Turton, S. M. (2003). Environmental Crisis: Climate Change and Terrestrial Biodiversity in Queensland. Rainforest CRC, Cairns.

Liu, J.G. et al. (2001). Ecological degradation in protected areas: The case of Wolong Nature Reserve for Giant Pandas. Science, 292: 98-101.

Weiher, E. (2007). On the status of restoration science: Obstacles and opportunities. Restoration Ecology, 15:340-343.

Young, J. et al. (2007). Conflicts between biodiversity conservation and human activities in the Central and eastern European countries. Ambio, 36:545-550.

Part 4 Nature conservation in the 21st century

Kareiva, P., Chang, A. and Marvier, M. (2008). Development and Conservation Goals in World Bank Projects. Science, 321:1638-1639.

McCauley, D.J. (2006). Selling out Nature. Nature, 443:27-28.

Rodriguez, J.P. et al. (2007). Globalization of conservation: A view from the South. Science, 317:755-756.

Woodwell, G.M. (2002). On purpose in Science, conservation and government. Ambio, 31:432-436.

Zimmerer, K.S. et al. (2004). Globalization and multi-spatial trends in the coverage of protected-area conservation (1980-2000). Ambio, 33:520-529.

Other Recommended readings would be provided during the course.

Some useful websites

1.  World Conservation Union, (IUCN):

http://www.iucn.org/

2.  IUCN- WCPA (World Commission on Protected Areas): http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_overview/wcpa_about/index.cfm

3.  IUCN documents

http://www.iucn.org/resources/documents/

4.  World Database of Protected Areas

http://www.wdpa.org/wdpamapflex.aspx

5.  Convention on Biodiversity

http://www.cbd.int/

6.  Parks Magazine

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/wcpa_parksmag/

7.  A. Best practice

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/wcpa_bpg/

b. Guidelines for Planning and management of protected areas

http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAG-010.pdf

c. Management Guidelines for IUCN Category V Protected Areas Protected Landscapes/Seascapes,

Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 9

http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAG-009.pdf

d. National System Planning for Protected Areas

http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAG-001.pdf

e.  Management effectiveness

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/wcpa_pubsubject/wvcpa_effectivenesspub/

8.  Marine and habitats conservation

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_resources/

9.  World heritage

http://www.iucn.org/about/union/commissions/wcpa/wcpa_puball/wcpa_pubsubject/wcpa_wheritagepub/

10.  Global Geopark Network

http://www.globalgeopark.org/publish/portal1/tab59/

11.  East Asia Action Plan

http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2008-033.pdf

12.  The Urban Imperatives

http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/PAPS-015.pdf

13.  Nature Outlook Consultation Document Review of Nature Conservation Policy, (2003)

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_nncp/con_nncp_prce/con_nncp_prce.html

14.  Environmental Bureau, New Conservation Policy, (2004) http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_nncp/con_nncp_leaf/con_nncp_leaf.html

15.  Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation,http://www.afcd.gov.hk/

a.  Country and Marine parks: http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis.html

b.  Nature conservation: http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/conservation.html

c.  Hong Kong Geopark: http://www.geopark.gov.hk/b5_geopark.html

d.  Hong Kong Wetland Park: http://www.wetlandpark.com/tc/index.asp

16.  Environment Bureau: http://www.enb.gov.hk/en/index.html

17.  Environment and Conservation Fund: http://www.ecf.gov.hk/en/home/index.html

Nature Conservation Management Proposals: http://www.ecf.gov.hk/doc/ECF_Paper_32.pdf

18.  Friends of Country Parks: http://www.focp.org.hk/index.htm

19.  World Tourism Organisation (WTO): http://www.unwto.org/index.php

C. ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE ASSESSMENT

C.1 Quiz (45%)

Three in-class quizzes (15% each) as shown in the class schedule above. The duration, format and scope of the quizzes will be announced in class. You are required to pay close attention to the course lectures, field trips and suggested readings and review what you have learnt promptly. Short questions, multiple choice or equivalent would be set.

C. 2 Project (30%)

Students are required to work in groups of five to conduct a study on one of the local conservation items. A list of suggested topics is given below. Students shall propose the topic to the course tutor by 9 February 2010 for endorsement. In case students select outside the list prior approval of the course instructor is required.

A.  Conservation of Terrestrial Resources:

1.  Conservation of trees and/or woodland

2.  Conservation of mountain tops, peaks and skylines

3.  Conservation of wetland and mangroves

4.  Conservation of geological sites

5.  Conservation of land under private ownership

6.  Conservation of streams and water bodies

7.  Conservation of rural heritage

B.  Conservation of Marine Resources:

8.  Conservation of corals

9.  Conservation of marine mammals such as Chinese White Dolphin

10.  Conservation of fishery resources

11.  Conservation of coastal resources

C.  Conservation of species:

12.  Conservation of birds

13.  Conservation of insects such as butterflies

14.  Conservation of mammals such as monkeys

15.  Conservation of rare plants

16.  Conservation of reptiles and amphibians

D.  Other topics

Prior approval is required

Project content and structure

The project should cover the following aspects where possible:

1.  Issues, problems

2.  Legislation and policy

3.  Current situation

4.  Major threats

5.  Measures taken by different parties in conserving the subject

6.  Key person(s ) or organization(s ) involved

7.  Case examples, if any

8.  Recommendations and proposed wayforward

9.  Other observations

Each student have to contribute to the preparation of the group project. Group members should conduct literature review, field visits, interviews, consulting experts in the field and making reference to policies papers or media reports. Students may also attend meetings of District Boards, Panels meetings of the Legislative Council, relevant Government Boards/Committees and formal/informal consultations.

At the end of the day, each group has to give a presentation with the aid of power points and other devices. A summary in English or Chinese (approx. 2,000 words) outlining major findings of the study together with two questions posed to students of other groups should be prepared. The powerpoint, summary and two questions should be submitted electronically through WebCT at least four working days prior to the day of presentation. Students will be assessed in terms of their understanding of the issue, presentation and the summary paper together with the quality of the two questions raised.

C.3 Essay (25%)

Based upon the project, each student should write an independent essay on one of the aspects of the topic under their study. The essay, type-written in Chinese (approx. 2000 words) or English (approx. 2500 words), must be submitted electronically through WebCT before midnight of the last lesson on 20 April 2010. Every submission should be attached with the CUPIDE statement. A penalty of 10% per day will be applied for late submissions.

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