mai po marshes from development threat to investment in natural capital
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Impact Case Study Understand the powerful impact of
government regulations on business The conflicts of interest and the political
process of regulation creation and enforcement
Profound social shifts in attitude that change how business can be carried out
EIA, Town Planning boards, Government long term planning
Linkage to technological infrastructure and land-use planning
Mai Po Case Study: Overview
Ecological importance Impact of international convention Sustainable agricultural system Clash with Hong Kong’s conventional
development Role of Town Planning Boards & EIA Response of companies
Ramsar Site
Wetland of International Importance' under the Ramsar Convention (120 countries, 900 wetlands)
International convention signed by Britain and China and extended to Hong Kong in 1979
Hong Kong has international obligation to protect its valuable wetlands
1,500 hectares in Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay, $423 million over five years for land clearance, education and conservation management
Why Mai Po Qualifies as a Ramsar Site The stand of mangrove forest round Deep Bay/Mai Po is the sixth
largest remaining along the coast of China, and the reedbed is one of the largest in Guangdong Province
12 endangered waterbirds species occur in Mai Po. In addition, over 20 species of invertebrates new to science have been found there.
Mai Po regularly holds over 20,000 wintering waterbirds. In January, 1996 over 68,000 waterbirds were recorded in the Mai Po/Deep Bay wetlands.
Mai Po holds over 1% of the individuals in the population of 11 species of waterbirds. In particular about 23% of the world population of the Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor, winters at Mai Po.
Mai Po Ecology
Migration and endangered species Natural and human made feeding areas Mangrove forests and reed beds Ecosystem services
Gei Weis: traditional sustainable agriculture Mainly shrimp, but also fish, oysters, algae and brackish
water sedges stocked by flushing in of young shrimps from Deep Bay shrimps feed on naturally occurring organic matter, e.g.
dead mangrove leaves As a result, fishermen protected the stands of mangroves
as food for the shrimps and fish
Sung Hung Kai: from container terminal to investment in natural capital
Lok Ma Chau container terminal plans Land assembly Town Planning Board rezoning Residential development/Wetlands trust
alternative 1st EIA application Second EIA application
TPB Requirements
Commit to wetland conservation zoning 12 month Ecological Impact Assessment (EcoIA) Reduce the size of development Prevent additional pollution into Deep Bay Private-Public Partnership
SHK’s Response
Reduce area, development size, and building height
Reconfigure development (consolidation of wetland and development)
Reduce transport and sewage burdens Design ‘San Tin Wetland Trust (Ecological
Reserve Trust) as basis of private-public partnership
Changes from 1st to 2nd Proposals
1,955,240 m2
90,701 m2 (5%)
57
7,280
15,819
8-20
Overall site area 1,572,153 m2
Buildable area in CA 194,000 m2 (13.7%)
Number of blocks 93
Number of units (avg. 67.5 m2) 11,664
Design Population 31,500
Block height (stories) 6-30
SHK’s Private-Public Partnership
No-net-loss principal Land reallocation and remediation Bund removal and island creation Site management and funding Fish farmer cooperation
EIA References
EPD Environmental Impact Ordinance at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/ea&m/index.htm
Chapter 3 Environmental Impact Assessment in Welford, Richard and Gouldson, Andrew 1993. Environmental Management and Business Strategy. London: Pitman Publishing.
Chapter 6 Environmental Assessment, auditing and information systems, in Roberts, Peter 1995. Environmentally Sustainable Business. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Environmental Impact Case Study What is threatened in the area being developed? According to EIA regulations how should (was)
development controlled in the area? Has it been done?
How does the EIA ensure that the ecology of the site and the threats to it are understood?
Who are the stakeholders and what are their interests?
Where does control and power reside? What is the likely result of the conflict of interest?