Incense Tree Ex-situ Conservation and School Education Project
As revealed from an ecological study of Lantau completed in 2023, there are signs of damage caused by poachers to local Incense Trees, which are protected against rampant illegal felling under Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96) and the Country Parks and Special Areas Regulation (Cap. 208A). To complement the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's (AFCD) ongoing conservation effort, the study recommended taking on public education to raise awareness of its conservation importance, as well as planting outside its natural habitat to supply replenishment in the long-term.
With the two objectives in mind, the captioned project commenced in July 2024, and has since inspired 50 students from two primary and one secondary schools in Lantau to become Incense Tree Conservation Ambassadors to protect the endangered Incense Tree. We collaborated with the Shiu-ying Hu Herbarium of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the AFCD to incorporate artistic and technology elements in classroom learning and on-ground conservation.
1. Classroom Learning, Field Study and Scientific Photography
Ambassadors first learnt of Incense Tree's biology and its cultural history, then dived into the field to witness relevant conservation efforts (e.g. tree protective devices) firsthand. They were introduced to the diverse native plant species inside a natural woodland. Being a little botanist for a day, they used cameras to capture plants' fine details such as leaf gland and learnt to press the collected plant specimens with simple tools in the field for bringing back to herbarium for further processing. They also actively participated in botany card games about plant terminology and e-databases to get a taste of scientific research.
2. Botanical Illustration Workshop
Through the art of botanical illustration, students put their impression to the test. As they were using colored pencil to bring the leaves, fruits and seeds of Incense Trees to life on paper, they practised accuracy and precision in scientific drawing and coloring. The workshop challenged students who thought plants as merely a patch of green and boosted their observational skills to distinguish the distinctive features of Incense Trees.
3. Virtual Reality & Three-dimensional Botanical Modeling
This project integrated immersive technology with botanical study. Ambassadors either participated or created their own Virtual Reality tour of campus trees in "Google Streetview" using 360-degree cameras. To examine plant structures in detail, they learnt about photogrammetry — taking high-resolution photos per specimen — to reconstruct Three-dimensional models of seeds and fruits. This approach allowed students to take a close-up look at the minute botanical features through both professional software and accessible amateur platforms.
4. Ex-situ Conservation at Campuses
With seedlings provided by AFCD, all the engaged schools planted Incense Tree at their campuses to practise preservation of species outside its natural habitat. Students were excited to make good use of what they learnt in the workshops to on-ground conservation in terms of planting and caring of seedlings. The donated seedlings would continue to be cared by the schools after the project completed.
5. Delivering Conservation Messages to Peers and Public
As Incense Trees Conservation Ambassadors, they would be enabled to share with their peers the need and importance to conserve these trees. To better equip them for community communication, training sessions were arranged to enhance students' public speaking and poster presentation skills. At the end of the project, they would be required to give a public talk at the annual CUHK Shiu-ying Hu Day and hold a poster exhibition at the Tung Chung Community Liaison Center, showcasing their learning outcome to the general public.
Sonneratia Education Project
To enhance public's understanding of the invasive mangrove, Sonneratia, and their conservation awareness of coastal habitats, and to engage the public in conservation efforts, we organised a series of public activities in 2023.
1. Seminar on Sonneratia management
To introduce to the public the background information of Sonneratia, their impact on local mangrove ecosystem and the management work, with a view to enhancing the public's understanding of the mangrove conservation issue relating to exotic species invasion.
2. Experiencing Sonneratia removal works
Under the guidance of certified arborists, the public tried to remove Sonneratia whips in Sham Wat using handsaws, allowing them to experience Sonneratia management work and participate personally in conservation action for enhancing the coastal habitat of Sham Wat.
3. Sonneratia wood waste upcycling workshop
The public upcycled the Sonneratia wood waste removed from Sham Wat into stools under the guidance of carpenters. We aimed to deepen the public's understanding of the problem of invasive alien species and promote the concept of sustainability.
Nature Conservation Exhibition
We organise exhibitions and workshops with nature conservation theme periodically at the Tung Chung Community Liaison Centre Extension to let the public acquire more knowledge about the ecology and biodiversity of Lantau and establish an interest in nature conservation. As the exhibitions concluded, part of the content, such as information panels, will be available on this webpage as online exhibitions.
"Lantau Impression @ Ecology" Exhibition
July to December 2023
The exhibition aims to provide the public with a deeper understanding of Lantau's biodiversity and its ecological significance. The exhibition centred around animals, featuring a variety of animal and insect specimens living in different habitats and introducing the benefits offered by nature in the form of ecosystem services.
"What's up? Mangrove Conservation @ Lantau" Exhibition
January to April 2024
The exhibition aims to enhance public's understanding of the ecology and conservation of mangrove ecosystem. Through graphics, diorama model and animal and plant specimens, the exhibition explored the mangrove stands on Lantau, their biodiversity and ecological and social values. It also introduced the mangrove conservation work and research supported by the Lantau Conservation Fund, and encourage public participation in conservation.