Mai Po Management Plan

Introduction

The Mai Po Nature Reserve forms a part of the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and is classified as a Biodiversity Management Zone (BMZ). Within the Mai Po BMZ there are a number of compartments, each with their own management intention. As these management intentions are relatively broad, WWF Hong Kong has drafted more detailed 5-year management plans for the reserve.

The latest Mai Po Management Plan covers the period from 2006 - 2010, and gives clear prescriptions for:

• Managing Mai Po Nature Reserve so as to maintain and, if possible, increase the diversity of habitats appropriate for south China coastal wetlands, and the richness of native wildlife in the area.
• Promoting the use of the area for educational purposes both by students and the general public (including providing special facilities and tours for the disabled).
• Realising the training potential of the Reserve as part of the Ramsar Site so as to promote wetland conservation and wise use in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, in particular China.
• Promoting scientific research relevant to the management and conservation of wetlands and their biota.
• Promoting and supporting measures to reduce and minimise external threats to the habitats and wildlife at the Reserve.

Within each management year, WWF carries out a number of habitat management tasks and infrastructure works to achieve these prescriptions. Habitat works range from large-scale de-silting works inside the gei wai, to routine vegetation cutting along bunds and paths. Infrastructure works include repairs to existing bird hides, boardwalks, gei wai huts and new structures.

An example of such work is the construction and operation of a fixed boardwalk through the inter-tidal mangroves leading to a floating birdwatching hide in 2007.

• Project Profile
• Project Photos
• EM&A