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World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Hong Kong Thursday welcomes the review of Hong Kong nature conservation policy, and says it is the first step to map out a long-term and comprehensive conservation policy.
In a press release, WWF called upon the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government to adopt the standards and requirements set out in the Convention on Biodiversity and to develop a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) to adequately conserve and manage the natural heritage for the long-term benefit of the society.
In April 2003, WWF Hong Kong submitted a Conservation Strategy to the government and recommended a clearly defined and structured BAP, said Karen Woo, WWF Hong Kong Conservation Officer.
"We also recommend that an authority responsible for conservation be set up for implementing the BAP and it should have the remits covering environmental quality, biodiversity and resource management," said Woo.
Strategic alliances between government, environmental NGOs, research institutions, private sector and local communities are strongly needed to undertake the actual management of protected areas and species for a sustainable future of Hong Kong, said Lew Young, WWF Hong Kong Mai Po Nature Reserve Manager.
(People's Daily July 18, 2003)
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