Green Fun Articles

Greening with Native Trees

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Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG)'s mission is "to increase the awareness of our relationship with the environment" and we are dedicated to biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture, environmental education and renewable resource conservation. Being a member of the Green Fun Committee, KFBG identified afforestation and conservation of native woodland in Hong Kong as the focus for joint-effort to enhance the ecological value of the greening activities. KFBG established a Native Tree Nursery in 1997 to conserve and research the uses of native trees for afforestation in Hong Kong. The project attempts to promote afforestation by planting native trees, which ultimately restore the native woodland in Hong Kong. Application of native tree planting is now extended from afforestation to environmental mitigation, as well as slope rehabilitation work. 390 native tree species are recorded locally, which provide food and shelter for native wild animals, yet of high ornamental value. By 2001, KFBG had propagated over 100,000 seedlings of 140 native tree species for afforestation. Community participation is invited to support this worthy cause. KFBG is also dedicated to rare plant conservation - orchids is an outstanding example. Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden November 2002