Environmental Petition

Ensure West Kowloon Cultural Park is Rich in Plants and Animals

205 Signatures Obtained, This Campaign Ended on April 1, 2014
205
Signatures
obtained
683

Target: 888

Description

There is a fantastic opportunity to create a park to improve inner-city biodiversity and to raise awareness and educate the public about indigenous plants and animals by providing a living green library of information for Hong Kong for generations to come.

A park with native woodland should be developed based on the expertise of a team of people who are passionate about local biodiversity.

As well as knowledgeable experts familiar with Hong Kong’s natural indigenous flora and fauna such as horticulturalists, landscapers, and naturalists, these can include villagers familiar with local trees and other plants.

This whole process should be open to genuine public consultation, so the park really meets the desires of local people, playing a role in sustaining the vitality of Hong Kong – Asia’s wild city. This would avoid falling into the trap of creating another “ecological project” that might prove profitable for consultants, but is just another poorly conceived, quick-fix green project pretending be “ecologically enhancing” while resulting in the reverse, with predominately non-native trees planted.

This huge area within the city creates a unique opportunity that may never occur again, so we must make sure we get it right first time. Park planners can adopt the best ideas from many other beautifully landscaped parks and botanic gardens around the world, such as New York’s Central Park and London’s Kew Gardens, and create a world-class native flora park.

The most visually enchanting and invigorating parks have planting akin to that by renowned 18th-century landscape gardener “Capability” Brown. They are then allowed to evolve as close to nature’s hand as possible.

This park offers a chance to bring into the centre floral features such as a native tree arboretum (the present one is isolated in Shing Mun Country Park) showcasing little-known, beautiful Hong Kong trees. This can be landscaped to replicate Hong Kong’s countryside. Plus there is potential for a night scented garden and butterfly gardens.

These will in turn attract a wealth of wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, so that Hong Kong people can learn about and enjoy rich biodiversity in the heart of the city.

Petition Letter

To Secretary for the Environment,

We just signed the following petition addressed to: Native flora for the West Kowloon cultural park.

West Kowloon cultural park should improve the inner-city biodiversity and to raise awareness and educate the public about indigenous plants and animals by providing a living green library of information for Hong Kong for generations to come.

A park with native woodland should be developed based on the expertise of a team of people who are passionate about local biodiversity. As well as knowledgeable experts familiar with Hong Kong’s natural indigenous flora and fauna such as horticulturalists, landscapers, and naturalists, these can include villagers familiar with local trees and other plants.

This whole process should be open to genuine public consultation, so the park really meets the desires of local people, playing a role in sustaining the vitality of Hong Kong – Asia’s wild city. This would avoid falling into the trap of creating another “ecological project” that might prove profitable for consultants, but is just another poorly conceived, quick-fix green project pretending be “ecologically enhancing” while resulting in the reverse, with predominately non-native trees planted.

Sincerely,

Petition Creator

This petition was started by Martin Williams on November 18, 2013, with an end date of April 1, 2014.