The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and China Innovative Urban-Rural Governance Research Network (CIURG) co-hosted a workshop under the theme of Sustainable Urban Development and Ecological Conservation on 2 April 2025. The workshop took place in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, a wetland listed as a “Ramsar site” for its international importance.
Located in Yuen Long, the Mai Po Nature Reserve is hailed as paradise for migratory birds, providing diverse habitats such as gei wai, mangroves, intertidal mudflats, reedbeds and many more to local wildlife species including waterbirds, aquatic fauna and insects. The sanctuary is facing ecological challenges as the Northern Metropolis project includes filling fish ponds and removing woodland in the Reserve to construct part of the San Tin Technopole, a new hub for clustered innovation and technology development.
Against this background, the workshop brought together 31 leaders and representatives across different sectors and institutions, including universities, government bodies and non-governmental organisations, to explore actionable strategies for nature conservation for sustainable development. The activity was co-organised by several PolyU units, including the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), the Research Centre for Nature-based Urban Infrastructure Solutions (RNUS), the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), together with CIURG.
It included technical sessions and guided tour around the Reserve. The technical sessions, chaired by Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS, and Prof. WANG Yuhong, Director of RNUS, covered multiple topics related to the workshop theme. These included: the Northern Metropolis development plan; digital tourism; the plan, development, and protection of Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve; sustainable blue economy; wildlife and plants conservation; and nature-based solutions in urban design.
Other guest speakers included: Ms LEUNG Kar Yee, Carrie, Chief Engineer of North Development Office at the Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSAR; Mr SU Wansheng, Chief Executive Officer of Fujian Ticket Payment Information Technology Co., Ltd.; Mr LIU Guangning, Director of Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve; Ms Martin KATE, Consultant at Financing Marine Conservation; Ms. Camilla ZANZANAINI, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nature Makers Lab; Mr David STANTON, Executive Director of Ecology and Biodiversity-Hong Kong, Aurecon; Prof. CHEN Hongyue, Professor of South China Agricultural University; Prof. LUO Chunling, Professor of Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof. DENG Xiaomei, Associate Professor at Tsinghua University; Dr. NAZEER Majid, Research Assistant Professor at PolyU; Prof. HUANG Shuping, Associate Professor at Fujian University of Technology.
Participants had fruitful discussions and were guided through various natural habitats during the tour, enjoying an immersive experience in nature and rethinking the human-nature relationship.
This workshop is funded by the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, HKSAR. RILS would like to thank all parties including participants, the World Wildlife Fund Hong Kong (WWF HK) and sponsor, for supporting this meaningful event.
| 研究部門 | 土地及空間研究院 |
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