The Use of Native Vegetation Community as Potential Tourist Resources and Cultural Heritage in the Fringes of Hong Kong Cityscape

Principal Investigator:
Marafa, Lawal Mohammed

Co-investigator(s):
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Summary:
There is a great potential to promote and develop the eco-tourism potential of Hong Kong. About 70% of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is underdeveloped countryside land (Jim and Wong 1996). 41% of the total area of the region is already designated as country parks or areas dedicated to Sites of Special Scientific Interest. In an effort to further enhance the concepts of education, conservation and recreation, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has identified 14 sites with potential to be designated as country parks (Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, 1993b). These will further enhance conservation of the countryside ecosystem and boost the resources for outdoor recreation and local tourism.

Within the existing underdeveloped countrysides of Hong Kong, there exist crescents of native woodlands (feng shui) located at the periphery of many native villages particularly in the NT. Most of these areas, either within or outside the country parks, are areas of outstanding natural beauty, or sites of cultural, historical and scientific interest (Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, 1993a). These native villages and the feng shui vegetation that surrounds them date back to 100-200 years old. These natural resources and relics of cultural heritage are therefore valuable to the community as they provide good resources for environmental and ethical education while simultaneously promoting the virtues of conservation.

This study will attempt to identify, classify and categorize the settlements crescented by the feng shui woods and the resources that will provide visual and aesthetic interest commonly found in these valuable cultural heritage that has a long history of environmental conservation ethics.

Their understanding and effective categorization, will help to intensify interest in them and promote outdoor recreation and eco-tourism as a result of which will further elucidate the potentials of a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary research which can develop and attract RGC grant.