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In March, WWF-Hong Kong released The State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025, a comprehensive report that reveals some worrying wildlife conservation trends. Some wildlife habitats, particularly in lowland areas, face increasing threats from urban development that are putting numerous species at risk of local extinction.
Led by WWF, this is a collective effort of 24 local ecologists and specialists, who assessed the conservation status of 886 species, revealing that over 25% are at risk of local extinction, and identified 27 critical biodiversity hotspots that currently lie outside protected areas. With vulnerable lowland habitats now under increased pressure from mega-development plans, this report is a crucial reference for stakeholders and will inform conservation strategies and policy decisions.
We sat down with some of the study team members and discussed their passion for protecting Hong Kong’s natural heritage.
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Local experts and ecologists unite to advance wildlife conservation in Hong Kong in this comprehensive new biodiversity study
The timing was critical. Our last comprehensive assessment of Hong Kong’s terrestrial and freshwater species was conducted two decades ago. Since then, the natural environment of Hong Kong has undergone significant transformations – though trees in our country parks have matured, unprotected areas now face intensifying urbanisation.
Recently announced major development plans, including the Northern Metropolis and Lantau Tomorrow Vision, will significantly modify our rural landscapes. The imminence of these projects presents an urgent need to understand the distribution of Hong Kong’s rare species and habitats – this will help guide conservation efforts and optimise resource allocation.
The study is particularly useful for decision-makers and urban planners to identify species and habitats of special concern in development planning.While well-known ecological sites like Long Valley and Mai Po are in the public eye, many important areas and species remain hidden, known only to biologists. Our study highlights these overlooked locations and significant species.
This is a worrying trend as one in every four local species are at risk. There is an illusion that Hong Kong’s terrestrial biodiversity is adequately protected, largely due to the good coverage of Country Parks, but this is not the whole picture. Our study found that many species are facing local extinction, especially those living in areas subject to heavy disturbance pressure – lowlands and freshwater wetlands. This has significant implications:first, conservation funding and work should focus more on threatened habitats and species; second, current conservation area coverage cannot fully protect the full set of local biodiversity, meaning we must rethink about our conservation strategies and attention.
The established concept of “ecological compensation” should be revisited . Some habitats, like mature forest and natural stream, are nearly impossible to recreate, and their dependent species often struggle if such habitats are disturbed/destroyed; and while Hong Kong’s dwindling farmlands and freshwater marshes could theoretically be replicated, finding suitable sites available for such restoration work is very challenging, as many remaining sites are already or destined to be developed.
The new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) for Hong Kong is soon to be launched, we hope our report will provide useful information and recommendations for the relevant authorities to devise impactful solutions for the challenges faced by local biodiversity. We also believe it is useful for researchers and conservation organisations to plan conservation studies and projects, for the most at-risk species and habitats. Ultimately, we hope this study will increase awareness of the society and encourage everyone to contribute to threatened species and habitat conservation.
Dr Chan envisions that this report and map will guide conservation strategies and raise awareness about Hong Kong’s overlooked species and habitats
As one of Hong Kong’s few remaining open country landscapes not severely impacted by urban development, the Lam Tsuen Valley supports many at-risk species and habitats
This assessment was both challenging and fascinating. While Hong Kong has a long history on bird conservation, particularly in the Mai Po wetlands where globally endangered species like the Black-faced spoonbill capture public attention, other habitats and their species are less “famous”. Our evaluation expanded to less-studied areas like lowland habitats and freshwater marshes, rating species that met our criteria. This study is a timely reminder that many other local habitats and species also need protection. Our findings will guide future conservation efforts, enabling a more comprehensive approach to habitat and species protection.
Hong Kong's exceptional bird diversity stems from two things: our location and our effective conservation measures. Situated in South China’s subtropical region, the city's geographical position makes it a crucial stopover site and wintering ground for many migratory birds . The area between Mirs Bay and the Pearl River Estuary is filled with diverse habitats – forests, streams, wetlands, and more – that support different bird species.
The absence of bird hunting in Hong Kong, coupled with strong wildlife protection laws, particularly the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170) enacted in 1976, have also been crucial. This legislation provides comprehensive protection for wild birds and then regulates access to sensitive areas like Mai Po. This unique combination of natural diversity and legislative protection delights birdwatchers and strengthens our conservation efforts.
Hong Kong often treats bird conservation as an afterthought, rarely prioritising it over development. While economic growth is important, humans and wildlife also coexist as part of nature. Yet, we often put economic development first, overlooking the needs of other species. Perhaps it's time to reconsider our priorities and find a sustainable balance between development and conservation that does not deplete future resources. As a conservationist, I hope to continue being “the voice of nature” and influence policy changes through my work.
A leading bird conservation expert, Mr Yu advocates for both nature and policy reform through his work
Once abundant in Hong Kong, the critically endangered Yellow-breasted bunting declined sharply in the 2000s due to hunting and habitat loss. Recent conservation efforts have helped stabilise the population, but numbers are still low
The new map highlights Hong Kong’s threatened species and biodiversity hotspots, making complex ecological data accessible to everyone. Collaborating with local experts, we identified 27 key biodiversity hotspots using Hong Kong-specific assessment criteria. Though they only account for 6%of Hong Kong’s land area, these areas are crucial – they are home to 95% of our threatened species, primarily in overlooked lowland habitats, farmlands and wetlands. This visual tool spotlights our hidden ecological treasures and hopefully will help catalyse more holistic conservation efforts.
We put “accessibility” and “concreteness” as our core principles, using maps as visual tools to enhance understanding. We also adapted international standards to Hong Kong’s unique context. While global standards on species and hotspot assessment typically operate at the global or national levels, we refined them to address local issues and scale. For example, we introduced “hybridisation risk” as an assessment criteria for species like the Chinese Bullfrog, addressing the threat to the local population posed by the release of non-native specimens into the wild.
We also recognise species outside protected areas face greater extinction risks. Largely unprotected habitats like farmland harbour vulnerable species like amphibians, coupled with their restricted mobility, these creatures face higher extinction risks and need immediate attention.
I aim to present wildlife, including extinct species, in a vivid and realistic way through my artwork to capture public interest and raise awareness. Art has been my passion since childhood, and my love for nature led me to pursue a career in science. I’m grateful for this opportunity to combine ecology and art, and to enrich scientific findings with artistic elements.
After the experts have assessed all the species, several from each animal group were chosen for illustration, focusing on locally extinct species and species of high to moderate risk of local extinction. I created digital illustrations on a tablet, simulating pencil effects before adding colour, striving to faithfully capture each animal’s characteristics. It took approximately three hours to complete each illustration.
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