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Restoring an Ecological and Cultural Treasure

The Mai Po wetlands are one of Hong Kong’s greatest ecological treasures. They are rich in biodiversity and home to traditional cultural practices like gei wais and rice farming. Recognising the urgent need to preserve these irreplaceable natural and cultural landscapes, we launched the three-year Lee Hysan Foundation Growing Mai Po (GMP) project in June 2024, supported by the Lee Hysan Foundation.

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Blending Innovation with Tradition

The GMP project integrates smart technologies with traditional wetland management techniques. Smart pumps, water level sensors, solar panels, water quality monitors, and cameras are linked in an automated system designed to maintain ideal habitat conditions. The system also includes the first IoT Automatic Weather Station installed in Hong Kong that uses GWIN (Government-Wide IoT network), developed by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department as part of the Community Weather Information Network (Co-Win). This was devised in partnership with the Hong Kong Observatory and local universities, which provides precise, real-time weather data that guides wetland management decisions.

The GMP project combines smart hydrology with traditional wetland management, optimising conditions to enhance habitat conservation effectiveness

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Reviving Traditional Rice Paddies

The GMP project aims to restore rice paddies as critical feeding and resting habitats for migratory birds. It employs dual growing seasons to ensure food availability for endangered species like the Yellow-breasted bunting, a local conservation priority during their migratory season. Three planting cycles have been completed since the project’s launch, with the third started in July 2025.

Several local rice varieties were selected for cultivation to preserve genetic diversity and cultural relevance – the freshwater rice types “Fa Yiu Zai,” and a rarer brackish water variety, “Ham Mun.”

A rice paddy field in November 2025

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Collaboration and Community Support

The continuing success of Growing Mai Po is underpinned by strong partnerships. Professor Lam Hon-Ming from CUHK advises on seed research, while local farmers contribute their cultivation expertise. The Hong Kong Bird Research Institute conducts regular bird surveys – recording 97 birds last season, including ten Yellow-breasted buntings and four Greater painted-snipes. Over 185 volunteers – from university students to corporate staff and public supporters – have participated in hands-on, on-the-ground work.

Bird ringers photographing the Scaly-breasted munia during a weekly GMP survey held in the dry season

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Building Resilience for the Future

Despite environmental challenges like typhoons and heavy rain events, Growing Mai Po has achieved great success. The project team looks forward to welcome ongoing community support to help these traditional rice paddies thrive and sustain Mai Po’s unique biodiversity.

The GMP Project actively involves diverse stakeholders who volunteer in rice planting and maintenance, restoring vital habitats for migratory birds and enriching wetland biodiversity

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On 27 July 2025, Mai Po Nature Reserve received the prestigious Gold Star Wetland Centre Award from Wetland Link International, joining just 15 other sites globally and becoming one of only three Gold Star centres worldwide. The award recognises excellence in wetland education, ecotourism and stakeholder collaboration. Mai Po received this distinction for its outstanding education programmes, advanced ecological monitoring and active cross-sectoral partnerships. The award was presented at the Convention on Wetlands COP15 in Zimbabwe, an international honour that recognises WWF-Hong Kong’s holistic, long-term approach to balancing ecosystem health with community wellbeing.

The award was received by Christine Colvin (third from right), WWF International’s Water Policy Lead, representing WWF-Hong Kong, and Simon Chan (second to left), Assistant Director (Conservation) of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

This year marked the fifth and final year of the Powering Our Wetlands project, generously supported by the Hongkong Bank Foundation. The project aimed to explore and pilot innovative nature-based solutions (NbS) drawing on the ecosystem services of the Mai Po wetlands, and address the wetlands’ increasing threats from environmental degradation and habitat loss.

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Approach and Outcomes

The project sought to enhance the wetlands’ ecological functions through four key workstreams:

• Carbon Sequestration - Restoring and protecting mangroves and developing a carbon monitoring protocol.
• Climate Resilience - Creating eco-fishponds and promoting best-practice aquaculture to support wetland health and coastal defence against storm surges and flood risks.
• Biomass Innovation - Sustainably using invasive species like Mikania micrantha to develop educational prototypes like supercapacitors.
• Stakeholder Engagement - Training, outreach and awareness campaigns to promote NbS and share lessons learned.

Through collaborative innovation and dedicated stewardship, Powering Our Wetlands has deepened understanding of NbS, restored gei wais, enhanced flood resilience, piloted sustainable aquaculture projects, and pioneered new uses for wetland biomass. These efforts have strengthened ecosystem services and community resilience, and demonstrated the transformative potential of NbS to safeguard Mai Po’s future. Explore the project’s achievements and relive the journey in our highlight video, linked below.

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Ten Key Project Highlights

• 2,200+ underprivileged community members benefited from nutritious eco-fish meals, promoting sustainable consumption and food equity.
• 1,800+ mangrove seedlings were transplanted into restored gei wais, enhancing carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
• 800+ families and children participated in the Hong Kong Biodiversity Festival, deepening public appreciation of the project’s impacts.
• 150+ stakeholders were engaged to grow understanding and support for NbS in wetland management.
• 150+ HSBC volunteers contributed to mangrove planting, fish harvesting and community engagement activities.
• 100+ people from ethnic minority groups joined eco-visits to Mai Po, learning about wetland values and traditional fishpond culture.
• 9 NGOs and academic partners shared knowledge and promoted mainstreaming NbS across the region.
• 8 households benefited from improved living conditions and reduced flood risk through wetland restoration.
• 3 prototype applications – a small LED light bulb, a toy windmill and an electric music box – were powered by supercapacitors made from Mikania micrantha biomass.
• 1 carbon monitoring protocol was developed to support longterm carbon sequestration tracking in wetlands.

During this summer’s Hong Kong Biodiversity Festival, our dedicated staff and HSBC volunteers brought the interactive storybook The Mysterious Creatures of Mai Po to life, inspiring local communities to appreciate and protect wetlands

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Powering Our Wetlands Project Summary Video

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View our project summary to learn how we explored and piloted innovative nature-based solutions!

Since 2022, WWF-Hong Kong has been using innovation and technology in our Mai Po wetland conservation work. The Smart Wetlands Initiative seeks to strengthen research, habitat management and public engagement, predominately through the use of new technologies. This year, the project continued to advance data-driven conservation and operational efficiency throughout Mai Po Nature Reserve.

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Smart Conservation: Using IoT to Balance Nature and Access at Mai Po

WWF-Hong Kong expanded our Internet of Things (IoT) network in Mai Po Nature Reserve this year, installing sensors at visitor facilities, bird hides and key access points. These devices collect real-time data on visitor numbers and facilities usage, helping optimise site operations while minimising habitat disruption.

Data produced by the network helps us create management procedures that balance public access with biodiversity protection. Insights derived from visitor movement patterns inform maintenance schedules, guide crowd flow, protect wildlife, and improve the overall visitor experience. Through the integration of smart tools with routine operations, Mai Po is evolving into a highly responsive, data-informed modern nature preserve – providing a model for other conservation sites around the region.

A visitor counter on the floating boardwalk at Mai Po

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Advancing Wildlife Monitoring through Smart Technology

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In July 2024, we launched the two-year “Smart Wetland 2.0” project, funded by the Countryside Conservation Fund Scheme under the Countryside Conservation Office. The project aims to upgrade the Mai Po Nature Reserve’s mammal monitoring system by integrating the cutting-edge technology to enhance research and monitoring efficiency. We deployed solar-powered smart camera traps connected via a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), which automatically transfers images to a cloud-based platform, reducing labour demand and time in data retrieval compared with conventional setups. Further equipped with an artificial intelligence-assisted mammal identification system, the platform automatically helps to filter out blank images and identify target species, reducing the turnaround time for data processing while maintaining accuracy.

The network has successfully detected two Eurasian otter occurrences, a species at high risk of local extinction. Thanks to the system’s alert function, WWF staff was promptly notified and able to collect otter spraint sample for genetic analysis soon after the otter appeared, showing how smart systems can enable timely response to rare wildlife appearance. Other target mammals, including leopard cats, small Indian civets and feral dogs, were also identified and recorded, aiding the management decisions within MPNR.

Looking ahead, we plan to further enhance the AI identification capabilities, which will further facilitate our adaptive conservation strategies.

The software has successfully detected Eurasian otters, leopard cats and small Indian civets, succeeding as a proof of concept for smart technology in conservation

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A solar-powered smart camera trap in Mai Po Nature Reserve, used to monitor mammal occurrence

Thanks to a substantial grant from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, WWF-Hong Kong launched the WWF Jockey Club Smart Wetland Management Project ( The project”) in 2025. Building on successful trials of smart solutions in Mai Po conducted in the past, this three-year initiative will be Hong Kong’s first long-term effort to apply smart technology to wetland management in a holistic, systematic way.

The project will enhance hydrological control, environmental monitoring and site resilience by combining innovation and traditional ecological knowledge. Using nature-based solutions and leveraging real-time data and nature-positive infrastructure, the project will pursue adaptive, sustainable management that uses technology as a primary driver to protect and restore natural habitats.

Also crucial to the project are public education and community involvement – through NbS and biodiversity themed courses, workshops, field studies, and exhibitions, WWF-Hong Kong will empower people in multiple sectors – professional groups, educators, NGOs, youth and community groups – to take conservation and climate action to a new level.

An engaging “Nature Community Day” was held at Mai Po Nature Reserve to launch the project, serving as a cornerstone for community engagement initiatives. Under the theme “Working Together with Nature”, the event welcomed over 550 attendees, showcased how smart monitoring tools are enhancing traditional gei wai shrimp pond operations. Through hands-on activities, participants reconnected with nature and explored practical ways to live sustainably.

We look forward to bringing you more updates as the project continues.

The “Nature Community Day – Working Together with Nature” event welcomed over 550 people to Mai Po to celebrate the launch of the project

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A smart sluice gate in Mai Po – proof of concept for solutions combine innovation with traditional ecological knowledge

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Guests enjoying interactive booths, talks and educational displays at Nature Community Day, gaining insight into wetland management and conservation

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This year, WWF-Hong Kong continued our leading regional wetland and migratory bird conservation work. Through collaborative initiatives, community-based projects, capacity building, and leadership of the Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative, we advanced the protection, management and sustainable use of crucial wetland habitats across the East Asian- Australasian and Central Asian Flyways.

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Wetlands for Asian Flyways Initiative: Revitalising Regional Collaboration

Reactivated in 2024, the Wetlands for Asian Flyways initiative (WAF) unites conservationists across Asia in work to protect wetland networks along the East Asian-Australasian and Central Asian Flyways. Through strengthened partnerships, WAF supports migratory birds, local livelihoods and national commitments to biodiversity and climate, with the aim of ensuring a resilient, well-connected wetland system by 2030.

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Uniting to Save the Black-faced Spoonbill

In February 2025, conservation leaders from across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) convened at Mai Po to discuss strengthening international collaboration for the Black-faced spoonbill, a flagship species for conservation. The meeting brought together regional governments, UN-agency, NGOs and experts to align priorities, share scientific findings and accelerate the update of the species’ ten year action plan.

The Black-faced spoonbill has benefited from sustained conservation actions through the years, with its IUCN status downlisted from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable.” Mai Po Nature Reserve remains a vital wintering ground for the species, with our dedicated wetland management work ensuring both sustenance and safety. Yet ongoing and new threats – habitat loss, renewable energy infrastructure expansion, diseases, climate change, and others – require continued vigilance and international coordination. All partners reaffirmed that only continuous, collective action will secure a safe future for the species and the wetlands they depend on, and that efforts must be consistent and long term.

Conservation leaders across the East Asian-Australasian Flyway assemble for the Black-faced spoonbill at the International Collaboration Meeting

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Community Leadership in Nepal: The Central Asian Flyway Project

The revived WAF initiative spurred WWF Nepal to launch the “Community-led Conservation of Wetlands and Migratory Birds in Narayani” project – the first WAF initiative for the Central Asian Flyway. Spanning the ecologically significant Narayani River floodplains in and around Chitwan National Park, the two-year project aims to restore and create wetland habitats for migratory birds, ensuring the flyway’s ecological connectivity.

At the heart of the project lies community engagement. Local residents, especially youth, are trained in wetland and bird monitoring, with public awareness campaigns encouraging habitat stewardship. The project also enhances livelihoods by safeguarding the ecosystem services that underpin water and food security, flood control and climate resilience for thousands of people living along the river. Knowledge sharing and educational outreach initiatives foster a sense of shared responsibility and inspire scaling up regional work for healthy wetlands that will benefit nature and people.

Bar-headed geese and Ruddy shelduck in the Narayani River, Nepal

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The Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund: Driving Regional Conservation

The Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund advanced the protection of migratory waterbirds by supporting three new projects in 2025: Strengthening newlydesignated Flyway Network Sites in central Myanmar, launching a comprehensive waterbird survey in West Sulawesi, Indonesia and initiating a community-based conservation project in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The fund has backed 54 initiatives across 14 countries to date, boosting collective efforts to conserve vital wetlands and migratory bird populations along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Field trip participants learning about local wetlands in North Sumatra

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Training Wetland Conservation Leaders

This year, more than 500 participants benefited from 30 leadership training sessions delivered by WWF-Hong Kong, reaffirming Mai Po’s status as a regional wetland management hub. Participants included government officers, researchers, reserve managers, NGOs, and ecotourism professionals from Hong Kong, mainland China, Bhutan, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, and Uganda. We also deepened our longrunning partnership with China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, delivering targeted training to their staff.

We expanded our international collaborations, welcoming delegates from across Asia and Africa who learned best practices in habitat restoration, education and sustainable tourism. Meanwhile, we aimed to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders, with university students from CityU, Lingnan and HKU attending lectures and hands-on site visits. All attendees reported positive experiences and planned to adapt Mai Po’s approaches in their own contexts, amplifying WWF-Hong Kong’s influence far beyond our local borders.

Members from Incheon Songdo Tidal Flat, a sister site of Mai Po Nature Reserve, visited as part of their Learning Exchange Programme

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(Right) Officials from China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration on a knowledge exchange visit to Mai Po Nature Reserve