HSBC presented a HK$10.8 million cheque to WWF at the South China Wetland Project launch ceremony on 25 Nov

WWF, the global conservation organization, and the HSBC Group, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations, have today announced their co-operation in a new wetlands project in southern China. The five-year project will be supported by an HK$11 million donation from the Hongkong Bank Foundation, HSBC's own charitable trust for the Hong Kong SAR and mainland China.

Today marked the launch of the South China Wetlands Project at Guangdong Hafieng Gongping Daihu Provincial Nature Reserve, with the launch joined by the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Administration and Haifeng County Government. This is one of two schemes under the South China Wetlands Project; the other will be the Zhangjiang Estuary National Mangrove Nature Reserve in Fujian Province, to be launched at a later stage. The project aims to improve wetland management and raise public awareness of the importance of wetlands in South China by working with local authorities and communities.

“WWF is extremely honoured to have HSBC as a global conservation partner committed to the long-term protection of the world's natural environment. It is particularly exciting to launch this important project here today with high level support from the Guangdong Provincial Forestry Administration, and the Haifeng County of Guangdong Province. With the dedication and commitment of all these parties, WWF believes that we can indeed build a living planet for people and wildlife in South China and Hong Kong,” said Mr Paul Steele, Chief Operation Officer, WWF International.

Steven Green, Group Chairman of HSBC, together with Eric Bohm, CEO, WWF Hong Kong and Paul Steele, COO, WWF International enjoyed the bird feeding game with the school children at Haifeng

Stephen Green, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc, commented: “HSBC is pleased to be able to play a part in helping raise awareness of the environmental challenges the world faces in the 21st century. We have been impressed by WWF's ability to work with local communities and local governments to achieve more sustainable practices. We are now delighted to be able to sponsor the extension of WWF's wetland management programme into southern China.”

WWF's South China Wetlands Conservation Project has a primary focus on two wetlands: Guangdong Haifeng Gongping Daihu Nature Reserve, Guangdong Province and Zhangjiang Estuary National Mangrove Nature Reserve, Fujian Province. These reserves, located on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway - pathways for over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations, are important stopovers for migratory waterbirds to refuel during their annual migrations, as well as wintering grounds for many waterbirds. These include the globally endangered species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill and Dalmatian Pelican. Conservation of these important sites is vital for the long-term survival of these migratory birds.

“The Haifeng Wetland project will help improve the wetland management capacity, enhance awareness of local communities on wetland conservation, improve the livelihood of the local communities as well as facilitate the enlisting of the reserve as a Wetland of International Importance. HSBC and WWF have brought real benefits to our society and people by funding the Haifeng wetland project. This helps build a living environment in which humans live in harmony with nature. I'm sure that it will become a model for joint cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in wetland conservation,” said Ms Deng Huizhen, Director General of Guangdong Provincial Forestry Administration.

WWF and HSBC management presented t-shirts to local fishermen at Haifeng Nature Reserve

A total of four main objectives have been set for the Haifeng Nature Reserve to address these problems and protect biodiversity and their habitats through the development and implementation of conservation plans; demonstrating wise use of wetlands through co-management of aquaculture ponds with local fisherman; assisting the listing of the reserve as a Ramsar Site, and raising public awareness of wetland conservation by running a series of education and community awareness programmes.

In the next five years, WWF will be working with the reserve staff at Haifeng to develop a five-year management plan using baseline data and ecological monitoring programmes to improve reserve management. WWF will also enhance public awareness of wetland conservation by building new education facilities, running environmental education programmes and producing education materials for the local communities.

“I hope that the project can further protect and restore Haifeng's wetlands, raise public awareness and explore the sustainable use of wetlands so as to help achieve the objectives of wetlands conservation and facilitate wise use of wetland in which human lives in harmony with nature. We will try our best to ensure that the success of the project,” said Mr Pang Qiaoqi, the Chief Executive, Haifeng County Government.

HSBC's support for WWF's wetlands conservation programmes can be traced back to the 1990s when The Bank sponsored Wetland Management Training Courses based at the Mai Po Nature Reserve to provide training for the wetland managers in Mainland China and Asia Pacific. The success of wetland management training courses initiated the idea of small grants projects to fund small-scale community education and wetland conservation projects in Mainland China. In 2005, a one-year pilot wetland conservation project was conducted at Zhangjiang Estuary National Mangrove Nature Reserve, Fujian Province and the project has provided a very good learning opportunity for WWF to protect the important wetlands by working with local authorities and communities, and build on the knowledge gained in managing Mai Po for more than twenty years.

HSBC has a long history in supporting nature conservation all over the world. Through its “Investing in Nature” programme, WWF China and HSBC have been working on restoration of wetlands in Central Yangtze since 2002. Under the HSBC Wetland Management Training Programme organised by WWF Hong Kong, over 1,600 Mainland and Asian wetland management staff have attended training at the Mai Po Nature Reserve of Hong Kong since 1999.

WWF has been working in Hong Kong since 1981 to ensure a better environment for the present and future generations in Hong Kong through implementation of a wide range of focused conservation and environmental education programmes in Hong Kong and Southern China.