Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a promising new way to address environmental and societal challenges. WWF-Hong Kong is actively encouraging the adoption of NbS to enhance urban development projects – particularly the upcoming Northern Metropolis. Mai Po is a living example of NbS, and has become an inspiration for urban development industry professionals, academics and students alike. Capitalising on this growing interest, during the year, we expanded our training scope to enhance conservation knowledge sharing and exchange initiatives with people from across society.

We held eight training sessions at Mai Po Nature Reserve during the year, welcoming 164 talented local participants, giving them skills that will help them contribute to sustainable environmental management and urban development work. Two of these sessions were specifically for urban planning experts from the Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA) and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA).

During the training held at Mai Po, the HKILA delegates first learned about fundamental information of birds and their relevant flyways, then learnt about how our conservation work benefits habitats and wildlife through habitat management. In the final co-creation workshop, we used the STT as an example to explore potential enhancements for the project planning, using landscape design strategies to minimise ecological impacts, and incorporated conservation concerns into planning work.

At another training session for the HKIA, participants discussed wetland management and infrastructure upgrades to the Reserve’s Peter Scott Visitor Centre. They explored sustainable design practices and the various green elements that went into the centre’s design, including how the design team worked to reduce its carbon footprint.

We also nurtured future environmental management talents this year. In January and March, we welcomed students from the Master of Science in Environmental Management and Climate Ambassador programmes at the University of Hong Kong respectively. They learned about waterbird and wetland conservation along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway through a combination of lectures and site visits.

Mr Wong Kam-sing GBS, JP, Founder Chairman of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (far left), joins other participants in exploring Mai Po Nature Reserve’s wonders

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Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects delegates at a co-creation workshop at the Peter Scott Visitor Centre

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Climate Ambassador programme students from the University of Hong Kong enjoying their site visit to Mai Po

WWF-Hong Kong believes that NbS have incredible potential to enhance biodiversity and create more liveable communities. As a first step, we are working to promote the adoption of NbS in Hong Kong’s rural landscapes. This year, we collaborated with Arup on a joint research report called Designing a Sustainable Rural Township With Nature-based Solutions, which shares practical insights for integrating NbS into Hong Kong’s rural district planning. The report used Lantau’s Mui Wo as an exemplary case study and proposed six actionable solutions that demonstrate how NbS can be effectively integrated into Hong Kong’s rural township.

We launched the report on 17 April at the Peter Scott Visitor Centre, holding a launch event and a panel discussion with leaders from the environmental, utilities, and urban planning sectors, sharing insights on ways to implement NbS in Hong Kong’s rural landscapes.

Led by Mr. Wong Kam Sing, Former Secretary for the Environment, panelists and representatives of WWF and Arup pose after the launching event of the joint report on 17 April

To address knowledge gaps and promote public understanding of Nature-based Solutions, WWF-Hong Kong launched two publications this year. In February 2024, we released Adopting Nature-based Solutions for a Better Hong Kong asa visionary study, hoping to raise local awareness about NbS and explore its applications in Hong Kong and the GreaterBay Area (GBA). The booklet features case studies of NbS interventions and possible applications in the Mai Po Nature Reserve and marine protected areas respectively, and makes recommendations for implementing NbS strategies around Hong Kong.

We then published Building Resilience in the Greater Bay Area with Nature-based Solutions in May 2024, supported by HSBC. This comprehensive info-pack provides stakeholders with insights into NbS concepts, the GBA’s current environmental situation, related policies, and potential applications of NbS in GBA. We shared this at a GBA NbS seminar in Shenzhen, fostering discussions on how to mainstream NbS across the region.

Dr Xianji Wen presents the Mai Po wetlands as an NbS case study

The three-year Wetland Incubator project came to a successful conclusion on 30 June 2024. During the project’s final year, 75 participants implemented innovative solutions to help Hong Kong’s wetlands thrive. Each of the four action teams engaged in deep-dive workshops and brought their creative ideas to life. Here are the highlights:

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Wetland Incubator Showcase @ Central Market

The Wetland Incubator Showcase, held in late June at the Central Market, showcased updates, key actions and extensive research findings from throughout the three-year project. The two-day exhibition attracted over 950 people who enjoyed the project’s many achievements through information panels and insightful highlight videos. Participants got an advanced look at The Mysterious Creature of Mai Po, and could collect wetland wildlife trading cards as takehome souvenirs. A celebration on 22 June honoured project collaborators, incubators and supporters, who received certificates of appreciation, shared project updates and exchanged stories of memorable moments that took place over the years.

The Wetland Incubator Showcase at the Central Market attracted over 950 visitors

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Mammals – Artificial Otter Holt Design Challenge

The “Artificial Otter Holt Design Challenge” sought designs for holts that are tailored to local otters’ preferences and habitats, which could then be replicated across the Deep Bay wetlands. The challenge received applications from 18 teams with a total of 64 participants from different walks of life. Seven teams’ designs advanced to the Discovery and Ideation stage, with two designs eventually deployed in Mai Po Nature Reserve. Built with support from our collaborator MUDWORK Studio, these holts have already begun attracting wetland wildlife species like mongooses, snakes, mice, and birds. We are eagerly awaiting visits from Eurasian otters, in the hopes that this project will make significant contributions to local otter conservation.

Team “Ada & Howie” deploy their otter holt at Mai Po Nature Reserve with support from MUDWORK and WWF-Hong Kong

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Otter Awareness Campaign and Storybook

This storybook, created in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design, was part of a new otter awareness campaign designed by students. Developed in just nine weeks, The Mysterious Creature of Mai Po shines with creativity and is helping raise public awareness about Hong Kong’s amazing and elusive Eurasian otter.

Students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Design share their final storybook designs with the Wetland Incubator team

Supported by The Hongkong Bank Foundation, HSBC and WWF-Hong Kong collaborated to design the “Powering Our Wetlands” project. This initiative uses Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to tackle societal challenges while protecting and restoring ecosystems for people and nature.

The project explores and tests innovative NbS that stem from the Mai Po wetlands’ ecosystem services. Key objectives include restoring ecological connectivity to support biodiversity, promoting sustainable aquaculture practices with eco-friendly fishpond management, and maximising carbon sequestration to aid climate change mitigation and resilience. We held several community initiatives this summer:

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Mai Po Community Celebration

This activity was organised for HSBC volunteers who joined the Mai Po community to celebrate the one-year anniversary of planting local mangrove species in two restored gei wais, an initiative that created climate resilience and preserved a local cultural tradition.

Representatives from WWF-Hong Kong and The Hongkong Bank Foundation pose with Mai Po villagers at the one-year mangrove species planting anniversary celebration in a restored gei wai (left)

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Mai Po Eco-tour and Fish Pond Experience

We organised an eco-tour and fish pond experience for the local community on 3 August, allowing them to experience pond-fish culture and the unique ecosystems of Mai Po. Supported by the Home Affairs Department, Yuen Long Town Hall, HSBC volunteers, and The Hongkong Bank Foundation, the event attracted over 100 participants who learned about wetlands, observed grazing water buffaloes and studied otter behaviour. They also visited private fish ponds, discovering how different species are farmed, and observed fruit trees growing on the site. They were invited to pick fresh fruits right from the trees, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone.

Volunteers from HSBC help our young participants pick dragon fruit fresh from trees owned by local farmers

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“Farm Fresh to Needy Table” event

WWF-Hong Kong’s experimental fish pond in San Tin grew fish fingerlings into 1.5 kg fish. A team of volunteers from The Hongkong Bank Foundation learned about pond-fish culture, and helped harvest 388 grass carps which then contributed to 2,209 nutritious meals prepared in the Food Angel kitchen.

Following the harvest, the fish pond was drained so that birds and mammals could feast. The event demonstrated our successful eco-fish pond management strategy which secures wetlands against climate change impacts, provides habitats, and creates healthy eco-friendly local fish options for consumers.

Volunteers from HSBC are all smiles as they harvest grass carp from a fishpond. The carp were transported to the Food Angel kitchen for further processing, eventually making 2,209 meals for local community members

During the past year, the Smart Wetlands Initiative has made significant strides helping to enhance the management and conservation of Mai Po Nature Reserve.

Our ongoing two-year project, “Smart Wetland – Where Traditional Management Meets Innovation and Technology,” utilises advanced Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to enhance wetland management. These sensors monitor wetland hydrology and buffalo movements, providing data that informs water and vegetation management to optimise conditions for a rich biodiversity. Referencing the Smart applications at Mai Po, we have organised a site visit for local wetland management practitioners and stakeholders from diverse aspects to explore the potentials of IoT applications in wetland management. Apart from the sharing session, a site visit was conducted for the local group to have a better understanding of how IoT application system was established and assist wetland management works in the field.

In a separate effort, we are trialing people and vehicle counting sensors at key locations in the Reserve. These technologies help manage visitor flows and minimise human impact, ensuring the safety of both visitors and wildlife while preserving the natural environment.

To further expand our technological integration, we’ve installed two additional live cameras in strategic wetland areas. These cameras stream real-time footage, enabling a range of audiences to observe and connect with wetland ecosystems. This not only improves our monitoring capabilities but also bolsters our educational programmes and public engagement in conservation.

Looking ahead, we will be expanding our smart initiatives over the coming year, innovating and developing more cutting-edge solutions to protect and manage Hong Kong’s vital wetland habitats.

Wetland practitioners attended a site-visit in the Reserve to exchange ideas on “Smart” applications to enhance wetland conservation

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People counting sensors have been installed at bird hide #1 for visitor management

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Tracking devices attached to water buffaloes enhance the efficiency of livestock and vegetation management

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Real-time water level and quality sensors were installed to improve environmental monitoring efficiency

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Images from live camera footages capturing Black-faced Spoonbills roosting at night at gei wai #8a

During the year, we completed four initiatives funded by the Asian Waterbird Conservation Fund. These included a study on the foraging ecology of breeding Swinhoe’s storm petrel in South Korea; a Baer’s pochard breeding survey and conservation work in China’s Shandong Province; and two migratory waterbird conservation projects in Aceh Province in Indonesia. The Flyway team also conducted site visits that provided technical support to grant recipients in Indonesia and participated in various on-site conservation activities like field surveys, community engagement and public outreach events. All these activities contributed to scaling up conservation impacts.

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Promoting regional knowledge sharing

In June, our Wetland Conservation and Education teams showcased their commitment to Mai Po Nature Reserve at the Wetland Link International Asia-Oceania (WLIAO) Conference in Sri Lanka. WWF-Hong Kong actively participated in this influential event as a longstanding member of Wetland Link International (WLI), a global network of wetland education centres.

The conference brought together government departments, NGOs responsible for wetland management and education, and representatives from countries and regions along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and European countries. Our delegates introduced the new WWF Jockey Club Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre, and discussed our expertise in wetland conservation and habitat management with local communities and regional wetland managers. We also participated in an engaging exhibition at Diyasaru Park, a wetland park in Colombo – the world’s first capital to be accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City. Our teams took notes on their city planning initiatives and will apply these insights to our own efforts to conserve the health and vitality of Hong Kong’s wetlands.

A WWF-Hong Kong representative sharing details on our wetland education work with participants at the WLI-AO Conference

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Diyasaru Park is a wetland park in Colombo, the world’s first capital accredited as a Ramsar Wetland City. Our delegates learned from their city planning experience, which will help contribute to our wetland conservation efforts