Natural and Cultural Landscapes for Sustainable Use as Nature-based Recreation and Eco-tourism Destinations in Hong Kong

Principal Investigator:
Marafa, Lawal

Co-investigator(s):
: ---

Summary:
Although landscapes are often viewed as only appearance of land, they are now also viewed as resources that both have tangible and intangible values. Landscapes generally represent natural and cultural aspects of a given area, given it a backdrop that often attracts people to admire and or to use for recreational activities. While most of the landscapes are currently subjected to human interference as a result of modification, they are nonetheless revered as resources with both aesthetic and conservation value. With most people now getting involved with nature-based recreation and ecotourism, the natural and cultural landscapes are becoming more and more vulnerable. Hong Kong has a great variety of landscapes. These as most landscapes around the world, contribute to the well-being of the society, provides habitat for the rich biodiversity and provides spectacular aesthetic amenity particularly the cultural landscapes some of which are in the countryside of the New Territories. In order to continue to maintain these attractive landscapes, and provide and promote amenities for nature-based recreation and ecotourism, this study will attempt to categorize, classify and develop a framework that will work in tandem with the principles of nature-based recreation and ecotourism. To achieve these, the study will adopt a hierarchical methodology of landscape classification, categorize and evaluate landscapes based on their abiotic, biotic and cultural attributes, themes that will authentic ideal landscape condition for nature-based recreation and ecotourism.