Home / Environment / Hong Kong's Mountain Reborn: Forest Restoration Thrives
Hong Kong's Mountain Reborn: Forest Restoration Thrives
9 Sep
Summary
- Over 50,000 native seedlings planted to restore a subtropical forest.
- Rare species, like the Burmese Bush Blue butterfly, have returned.
- Restoration aims to recreate a diverse ecosystem mimicking natural forests.
A significant forest restoration project is underway on Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong's highest mountain. The initiative, spearheaded by Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, aims to transform degraded grassy slopes into a diverse subtropical forest, mirroring the structure of well-preserved South China-Vietnam forests.
Since its launch in 2013, the project has planted more than 50,000 seedlings of hundreds of native species. This effort has successfully reintroduced various life forms, including trees, shrubs, and climbers, and has led to the return of mammals, birds, and insects.
Notable successes include the reappearance of rare species like the Burmese Bush Blue butterfly. Efforts to nurture seedlings in nurseries and employ specialized soil enrichment techniques with biochar and organic matter are crucial. Specialized tree guards protect young plants from foraging animals.
Over a decade of work has revitalized the area, with almost all native mammal species detected and over 50 bird species recorded. While full forest function restoration is projected to take at least a century, the ongoing efforts demonstrate the tangible benefits of conservation.
