published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

The New Nature Conservation Policy was released by The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau (ETWB) (now the Environment Bureau) of the Hong Kong government has set a new direction with an aim to conserve ecologically important sites under private ownership. It is proposed to achieve it by through the Management Agreement (MA) scheme and the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) scheme. The MA projects in prioritized sites were first launched in 2005. Over the past seven years, the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) had been granting funding to Conservancy Assoication (CA), Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) and Tai Po Environmental Association (TPEA) for the long-term management and conservation of the Long Valley and Ho Sheung Heung areas, Fung Yuen and Fishpond in Ramsar Site and Deep Bay Wetland outside Ramsar Site. The study aims at evaluating the policy of Management Agreement, examining the progress of implementation, scheme effectiveness, merits and inadequacies, and giving suggestions for improvement. Examination on the progress of the MA projects shown that they were well implemented since their implementation and the effectiveness were high in terms of increased ecological value (both habitat and species value), expected gain and merits involving social and educational factors were also added. Case studies of Long Valley and Fung Yuen projects revealed major concerns on the requirement of sustainable financial support and a long term plan on the priority sites by the government, future threats including unpredictable impact from nearby development, illegal activities and human disturbance, etc. It is conclude that though Management Agreement may be effective tools yet not sustainable for sites in prioritized sites, extended MA sites and future possible sites requiring active management on ecological conservation. A more comprehensive conservation plan should be established to pave sustainable development way in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Ho, Yun Chi Maggie. / "December 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-231). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; some appendixes also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xviii / NOTATION --- p.xix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Significance --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Conceptual framework of study --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Definition of terms --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Indigenous community and nature reserves --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Opportunities of cooperating with indigenous community in conservation --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5 --- Incorporating indigenous knowledge --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6 --- Sacred natural sites as traditional conserved areas --- p.21 / Chapter 2.7 --- Challenges --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Erosion of traditions --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Coordination between indigenous population and conservationists --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8 --- International trend --- p.33 / Chapter 2.9 --- Local experiences in nature conservation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Legislative framework --- p.36 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Types of Protected Areas (PAs) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.9.3 --- Community involvement --- p.41 / Chapter 2.9.4 --- Privately owned land. --- p.43 / Chapter 2.10 --- Summary --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research framework --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data collection --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Analytical approach --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Importance-performance analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Participation level assessment --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Background of Study Sites --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Background information on Long Valley --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Geographical settings --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Demographic information --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Cultural heritages --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Agricultural history --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Avifauna diversity --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3 --- Background information on Fung Yuen --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Geographical settings --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Demographic information --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Biodiversity --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Roles of Stakeholders --- p.78 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction : --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2 --- Current management framework : --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Role of government --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Role of NGOs --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Role of local community --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Role of private sector --- p.98 / Chapter 5.3 --- Summary --- p.99 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Community participation level assessment --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 6.2 --- Community participation on the two sites --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Long Valley --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Fung Yuen --- p.113 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Summary --- p.125 / Chapter 6.3 --- Motivation for participation --- p.126 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Long Valley --- p.126 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Fung Yuen --- p.128 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Summary --- p.129 / Chapter 6.4 --- Identifying participation level --- p.130 / Chapter 6.5 --- Suggestions for improvement --- p.134 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Structure --- p.135 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Conservation --- p.139 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Ecotourism --- p.144 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.147 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Performance of MA scheme --- p.150 / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction : --- p.150 / Chapter 7.2 --- Public perception --- p.150 / Chapter 7.3 --- NGOs´ة staffs --- p.160 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Involvement of locals --- p.162 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Management --- p.167 / Chapter 7.4 --- Summary --- p.172 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Sustainable ma framework --- p.175 / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.175 / Chapter 8.2 --- Current situation --- p.175 / Chapter 8.3 --- Challenges --- p.178 / Chapter 8.3.1 --- Interest of landlords --- p.178 / Chapter 8.3.2 --- Bureaucratic problem --- p.180 / Chapter 8.3.3 --- Inadequate institutional support --- p.183 / Chapter 8.3.4 --- Development pressure --- p.185 / Chapter 8.3.5 --- Absence of ecological baseline data --- p.187 / Chapter 8.3.6 --- Rapid change of personnel --- p.188 / Chapter 8.4 --- Opportunities --- p.189 / Chapter 8.4.1 --- Adaptive management --- p.189 / Chapter 8.4.2 --- Community participation --- p.191 / Chapter 8.4.3 --- Trust fund --- p.192 / Chapter 8.5 --- Summary and suggestions for improvement --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- Conclusion --- p.199 / Chapter 9.1 --- Introduction --- p.199 / Chapter 9.2 --- Summary of findings --- p.200 / Chapter 9.2.1 --- Roles of stakeholders --- p.200 / Chapter 9.2.2 --- Community participation level --- p.202 / Chapter 9.2.3 --- Performance of MA --- p.204 / Chapter 9.2.4 --- Suggestions for improvement --- p.206 / Chapter 9.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.208 / Chapter 9.4 --- Suggestions for future study --- p.209 / Bibliography --- p.211 / Appendices --- p.232

Demand for outdoor recreation has been increasing, probably due to changing lifestyle, increasing accessibility and most importantly, the need to escape from the busy city life. The rising environmental awareness couples with deteriorating environmental quality in city have encouraged people to visit the countryside to relax physically and mentally, bringing about nature-based recreation which refers to activities carried in the natural environment for self-enjoyment and pleasure. Through engaging in nature-based recreational activities, conservation of natural resources and recreation needs of human can be achieved, as well as arousing environmental awareness. Hence, nature-based recreation is regarded as a sustainable way to serve the nature and mankind. Yet, recreational activities in nature can impose pressure on nature and thus planning is essential for nature-based recreation, so as to comply with the obligation of nature conservation and optimize recreation opportunities for people. This study aimed to investigate and assess the effectiveness of planning of naturebased recreational activities in Hong Kong, hence provide suggestions to improve the provisions and enhance the experiences of nature-based recreational activities. The overall planning of nature-based recreation in Hong Kong was investigated and Shing Mun Reservoir, Nam Sang Wai and Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve were chosen as studied sites for evaluation. Questionnaires and interviews had been conducted to gather opinions of visitors, green group and planner. In general, it is found that the country park system and the Management Agreement Scheme formed the skeleton of planning of nature-based recreational activities. Yet, the current planning provisions were insufficient to cover all existing and potential venues. Problems were identified in the insufficient protection to natural resources and lack of adaptability and evaluation of the country park system, lack of understanding and appreciation of the nature by the public, insufficient supports to facilitate nongovernment planning and management to nature-based recreational activities, and lack of determination in conserving the nature in macro planning. It is recommended to enhance the current country park system, including natural resources protection, nature education, regulation assessment and evaluation, and improve adaptability; enhance Management Agreement Scheme to minimize the management difficulties; and extend the coverage of Hong Kong Planning Standard and Guidelines to include nature-based recreation and creating ancillary guidelines for planning to remind key issues. Further, strong determination in nature conservation and sustainability of the government is important to guide and facilitate effective planning for nature-based recreational activities. / published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management