Proposed Comprehensive
Development at Wo Shang
Wai,
Yuen Long
Biannual EM&A
Summary Report on Ecology for
November 2019 – April
2020 (Rev A)
3 July 2020
Contents
1.3
EM&A Requirement on Ecological Impact
2.3
Monitoring of Herpetofauna
2.4
Monitoring of Dragonfly and Butterflies
2.6
Monitoring of Water Quality
4
Summary of Wetland Restoration Area Performance
4.2
WRA Performance for the Bird Target Species
A. Schedule of Ecological Monitoring
C. Summary of Herpetofauna Monitoring,
Mammals and Insect Surveys
D. Summary of Water Quality Monitoring
Tables
Table 1.1: Summary of Ecological Impact EM&A
Requirements
Table 4.1: Summary of Ecological Monitoring in
WRA and Survey Area
Figures
Figure
1.1 General Site Layout and
Locations of Monitoring Stations
Figure
1.2 Survey Area and Transect
Walked
In March
2005, the Project Proponent, Profit Point Enterprises Limited, acquired the
development site in Yuen Long at Wo Shang Wai. An Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) was then carried out under the EIA Ordinance (EIAO), and the
Environmental Permit (EP-311/2008) for construction of the comprehensive
development in Wo Shang Wai was first granted by EPD on 9 September 2008 and
has been subsequently varied, with the current version (EP-311/2008/E) issued
by EPD on 19 December 2017.
The Project
involves the residential development and associated infrastructure and wetland
restoration area and linear landscape area. The construction works under the
Environmental Permit commenced on 12 May 2010. The site formation construction
works of the Wetland Restoration Area (hereafter WRA) were completed on 15
November 2010, and the WRA was established by October 2012, within 30 months
from the commencement of construction as stipulated in the EP. This indicated
that planting works as scheduled in the approved Wetland Restoration and
Creation Scheme (WRCS; November 2009) was completed, except along the western
and southern boundary where the planting is affected by the existing site
boundary and noise barrier, and for which a Variation to Environmental Permit
(EP-311/2008/C) to defer planting at the location was approved. The current
valid EP (EP-311/2008/E) includes specific mitigation measures to minimise
certain identified noise impacts during the operation phase of the Project.
Mott
MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd. (“MMHK”) has been commissioned by the Contractor, Heng
Shung Construction Co. Ltd., to undertake the
Environmental Team (ET) services to carry out environmental monitoring and
audit (EM&A) for both pre-construction and construction phases of the
Proposed Comprehensive Development at Wo Shang Wai, Yuen Long. From August
2016, the Project Proponent, Profit Point Enterprises Limited, commissioned
MMHK to continue the ET services.
According
to the EP Condition 4.6, the EM&A results on ecological aspects during the
construction phase should be reported to the EIA Subcommittee of the Advisory
Council on the Environment (ACE), EPD and Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department (AFCD) on a biannual basis. This is the 20th Biannual EM&A report and it
summarises the findings on EM&A results of ecological aspects during the
period from 1 November 2019 to 30 April 2020. This report documents surveys and
management activities conducted in the Survey Area and WRA from 1 November 2019
to 30 April 2020, which is based on ecological surveys and advice on management
which was undertaken by the appointed Non-Government Organisations (Green Power
/ Eco-Education & Resources Centre) during the reporting period.
Surveys
were conducted within 500m of the Project area. The WRA was surveyed since
early September 2010. The survey area and transect are provided in Figure
1.1.
The
EM&A programme requires environmental monitoring of ecology as specified in
the approved EM&A Manual. A summary of ecological impact EM&A
requirements is presented in Table 1.1:
Table 1.1: Summary of Ecological Impact EM&A
Requirements
Descriptions |
Locations |
Frequencies |
Birds |
Within the Project Area and Assessment Area of 500m |
Weekly |
Dragonflies and Butterflies |
Within the Project Area and Assessment Area of 500m |
Once per month during Mar and Sep to Nov, and twice per month during
Apr to Aug |
Herpetofauna |
Within the Project Area and Assessment Area of 500m |
Day-time: Once
per month during Apr to Nov Night-time: Once per month during Mar to Aug |
Water quality of Wetland Restoration Area (WRA) |
WRA |
After filling of WRA with water, monthly for in situ water quality and
every six months (end of wet season and end of dry season) for laboratory
testing |
Site Inspections |
Within the Project Area and Assessment Area of 500m |
Weekly |
In
accordance with the EM&A requirements, monitoring of birds, dragonflies and
butterflies, and herpetofauna were carried out during the reporting period. In
addition, monitoring of mammals was also conducted concurrently with other
surveys and the results were reported although it is not required by the
EM&A Manual. The dates of surveys are summarised in Appendix A.
Monitoring
was undertaken following the survey methodology in the EM&A Manual (Table
7-1). Since September 2010, monitoring included the newly formed cells to
monitor faunal usage of this area. All bird species of conservation importance
and/or wetland dependent were identified and enumerated. Flying birds were not
recorded unless they were foraging and/or associated with the habitat (such as
swifts). Further, notable bird observations during other surveys were also
recorded.
Bird
surveys were conducted on a weekly basis throughout the period. A total of 76
bird species were recorded in the Survey Area (excluding the WRA) in the survey
period (i.e. November 2019 to April 2020), 42 of which were species of
conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence. A summary of survey data is
provided in Appendix B.
A total of 71 species were recorded in the WRA in the
survey period, 36 of which were species of conservation importance and/or
wetland-dependent species. All of the three target species[1] (i.e. Little Egret, Egretta
garzetta, Eastern Cattle
Egret, Bubulcus coromandus,
and Chinese Pond Heron, Ardeola bacchus) were recorded in the WRA
during regular survey. The
WRA continues to attract a number of species of conservation importance,
including Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis, Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax
carbo, Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea, Great Egret, Ardea
alba, Intermediate Egret, Egretta
intermedia, Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea
leucorodia, Black-faced Spoonbill, Platalea minor, Western Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, Black
Kite, Milvus migrans, Eurasian Teal, Anas crecca, Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus,
Greater Painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis, Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva, Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus, Little
Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius, Oriental Pratincole, Glareola
maldivarum, Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia, Wood
Sandpiper, Tringa glareola,
Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Red-necked Stint, Calidris
ruficollis, Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle
rudis, White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis, Pacific Swift, Apus pacificus
and Chinese Penduline-Tit, Remiz consobrinus. Little Grebe, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-crowned Night
Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Painted-snipe, Pacific Golden Plover, Little
Ringed Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Wood Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Pied
Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher and Pacific Swift are listed by Fellowes
et al. as of “Local Concern” in 2002. Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great Egret
and Black-headed Gull are listed by Fellowes et al. as of “Potential Regional
Concern” in 2002. Intermediate Egret, Western Osprey, Black Kite, Eurasian
Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank and Chinese Penduline-Tit are
listed by Fellowes et al. as of “Regional Concern” in 2002. Black-faced Spoonbill is listed by Fellowes et al. as of
“Potential Global Concern” in 2002. Black-faced Spoonbill is also listed as
“Endangered” species on the IUCN red list.In addition to wetland dependent birds, the WRA also
attracts a number of terrestrial birds including Greater Coucal,
Centropus sinensis
which are listed as vulnerable (VU) in the China Red Data Book and it is
protected under terrestrial wildlife state protection (category II). Survey
findings indicate that the WRA not only provides important habitat for
wetland-dependence birds but also the terrestrial birds.
The fish ponds to the north
of the WRA are at a greater distance from the residential portion and any
disturbance impact(s) from the construction works would have first affected the
WRA. Further, 36 bird species of conservation importance and /or wetland
dependence, were observed using the site during survey period, including some
bird species which are highly sensitive to disturbance and three target species
(i.e. Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret and Chinese Pond Heron). Thus, the WRA
is considered to be effective both in acting as a
buffer against potential disturbance impacts from the construction site, and in
providing suitable wetland habitats at the fringe of the Deep Bay system.
Monitoring was undertaken following the survey
methodology in the EM&A Manual. Day-time
herpetofauna surveys were conducted once a month in November 2019 and April
2020. Night-time herpetofauna surveys were conducted once a month between March
2020 and April 2020. Further, notable herpetofauna observations during other
surveys were also recorded.
No amphibian species and one reptile species was recorded in the survey area (excluding the WRA) within
the survey period.
No amphibian species nor reptile species were
recorded in the WRA within the survey period.
A summary of survey data is provided in Appendix C.
Monitoring
of dragonflies and butterflies was conducted once per month in November 2019
and March 2020, and twice per month in April 2020. Further, notable dragonfly
and butterfly observations during other surveys were recorded.
A
total of 4 dragonfly species and 4 butterfly species were recorded using the
ponds in the Survey Area (excluding WRA) in the reporting period. At the WRA, a
higher diversity of dragonfly species (6 species) and butterfly species (11
species) were recorded.
A
summary of the survey findings is provided in Appendix
C.
Monitoring
of mammals was conducted concurrently with other surveys.
No mammal
species was recorded in the Survey Area (excluding WRA) within the reporting
period. Two unidentified bat species were recorded within the WRA during the reporting period.
A
summary of the survey findings is provided in Appendix C.
Monthly water
quality monitoring continued during the reporting period. In November 2019,
December 2019, January 2020, February 2020, March 2020 and in April 2020, the water level of all
Cells reached the action level.
According
to the ecological monitoring data, the low water level in the WRA attracted
wetland-dependent species including Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron,
Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-faced Spoonbill,
Western Osprey, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Kite, Eurasian Teal, Eastern
Buzzard, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Moorhen, Greater Painted-snipe,
Pacific Golden Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Oriental
Pratincole, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common
Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Red-necked Stint, Pied Kingfisher, White-throated
Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail and
Chinese Penduline-Tit. As the low water level attracts wetland-dependent birds,
the existing water level will be maintained.
Monitoring
data is presented in Appendix D.
Locations for the monitoring of water quality for the ecological monitoring are
shown in Figure 1.2.
Removal of
exotic vegetation in all cells was undertaken; these included but not limited
to Ipomoes sp., Mikania sp., Mimosa
sp., Pennisetum sp. and Typha
sp..
Vegetation
management activities undertaken at the site primarily involved watering of
plants, weeding and grass cutting.
Golden
Apple Snails were removed on an “as-seen” basis.
All red
fire ant nests were treated with approved pesticide and covered with overturn
baskets for a week. All pesticide used was in powder form and the pesticide
usage was confined to Fire Ants’ nest found on terrestrial area which were
further away from the Cells to prevent the contamination of water. All treated
fire ant nests were inactive within one week of treatment.
Preliminarily actions have been taken to increase the WRA utilization by
birds. The mitigation actions are:
1.
Maintaining the low
water level of Cell 1, Cell 2, Cell 3 and Cell 4;
2.
Controlling the
vegetation at Cell 1, Cell 2, Cell 3 and Cell 4.
These
mitigation actions aim to increase the foraging area and maintain suitable
habitat for target species.
Ecological
monitoring between 1 November 2019 and 30 April 2020 was carried out following the survey methodology and
frequency outlined in the EM&A Manual.
Summary of
ecological monitoring in the Survey Area and WRA between November 2019 and April 2020 (Table 4.1):
Table 4.1: Summary of Ecological Monitoring in WRA
and Survey Area
Species |
Number
of species recorded in Survey Area (excluding WRA) |
Number
of species recorded in WRA |
Birds (total) |
76 |
71 |
Birds
(of conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence) |
42 |
36 |
Amphibians |
0 |
0 |
Reptiles |
1 |
0 |
Mammals |
0 |
2 |
Dragonflies |
4 |
6 |
Butterflies |
4 |
11 |
A
total of 71 bird
species, 2 mammal species, 6 dragonfly species and 11 butterfly species were
recorded in the WRA, including 36 bird species of conservation importance
and/or wetland-dependence, while all dragonfly species are wetland-dependent.
These findings indicate that the WRA is supporting wetland-dependent birds and
other species of conservation importance.
Survey
findings indicate that the WRA is attracting all of
the three target species (Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret and Chinese Pond
Heron) to varying degrees. During the survey period (i.e. November 2019 to April 2020), the site was particularly
attractive to Little Egret. Little Egret was recorded on nearly a weekly basis,
with monthly means ranging from 4.8 to 16.4 birds per survey; while Chinese Pond
Heron was also recorded on nearly a weekly basis in the regular survey period
(November 2019 to April 2020) with monthly means ranging from 1.4 to 5.6 bird
per survey. Eastern Cattle Egret was least attracted to the site. Eastern
Cattle Egret was recorded once in a monthly regular survey and once outside
surveys within the survey period. A list of the bird species recorded at the
WRA since completion of site formation is provided in Appendix B (Table B4 to B7).
With the
completion of planting as scheduled in the approved Habitat Creation and
Management Plan (HCMP) in August 2012, establishment work at the WRA is
considered complete (except along the western and southern boundary where the
planting is affected by the existing site boundary and noise barrier, and for
which an approved Variation to Environmental Permit (EP-311/2008/D) to defer
planting at the location applies), and the 30-month establishment period
concluded in October 2012. A review of the performance of the
WRA during the review period in terms of target species attraction is provided
in Section 4.2 below.
It should
be noted that the high planting density was intended to ensure a rapid
establishment of the site prior to occupation intake, and not intended to be
maintained as a long-term tree density at the WRA. It is a standard arboricultural practice to apply appropriate horticultural/
arboricultural maintenance methods in the subsequent
five or six years after initial planting to remove less desired specimens to
facilitate the successful growth of those which are of higher landscape and/or
ecological value. Further, some fine tuning of planting locations and
tree/shrub mix is required in order to fulfil the design intent of the habitat
structure at WRA after reviewing the site configuration following site
formation. Vegetation management hereafter should largely consist of
maintenance of planted trees and shrubs for the creation of suitable habitats
for target species and long-term habitat structure of the site.
The
provision, maintenance and operation of a WRA are a requirement under the
Environmental Permit for compensation for predicted ecological impacts to
species of conservation importance. Three bird target species were identified
during the EIA process; they are Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret and Chinese
Pond Heron. Target levels of these species are the annual mean number recorded
during the Baseline Ecological Monitoring (i.e. a mean of 5.5 Little Egret, 1.3
Eastern Cattle Egret and 1.3 Chinese Pond Heron over a 12-month period) thus,
the ecological impact of the project to the species concerned is considered to
have been fully compensated when the target level for each of the three species
is achieved. Whilst further discussion and agreement regarding the target level
is yet to be undertaken with the relevant Government departments prior to the
operation of the WRA, the proposed level offers a clear reference to the
effectiveness of the mitigation measures. According to the approved Wetland
Creation and Restoration Scheme (November 2009, hereafter WCRS), the WRA is
anticipated to be fully operational after an establishment period of 2.5 years
(30 months).
Of all
three target species, all of them (i.e. Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret and
Chinese Pond Heron) were recorded using the site under survey period (November
2019
to April 2020).
Among all target species, Little Egret and Chinese Pond Heron were
recorded in all six months during the regular survey.
Table 4.2: Biannual mean & Annual mean of the
three target species of the WRA from November 2018 to April 2020
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Conservation Status (2) |
Baseline Annual Mean (3) |
Biannual Mean |
Annual Mean |
||||
Nov 18 - Apr 19 |
May 19 - Oct 19 |
Nov 19 - Apr 20 |
May 18 - Apr 19 |
May 19 - Apr 20 |
|||||
Chinese
Pond Heron |
Ardeola bacchus |
PRC, (RC) |
1.3 |
2.6 |
3.1 |
3.6 |
2.2 |
3.4 |
|
Little
Egret |
Egretta garzetta |
PRC, (RC) |
5.5 |
5.9 |
5.4 |
8.7 |
4.8 |
6.9 |
|
Eastern
Cattle Egret |
Bubulcus coromandus |
(LC) |
1.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
<0.1 |
<0.1 |
<0.1 |
|
Notes:
(1) Value in bold
indicated the Target Level was achieved.
(2) Conservation
Status follows that of Fellow et. al. (2002). See Appendix B (Table B3).
(3) Annual mean
number recorded during Baseline Ecological Monitoring.
Based on Table 4.2 above, the target annual mean level of the
Chinese Pond Heron and Little Egret have been achieved between May 2019 to
April 2020 while the target level for Eastern Cattle Egret has not been
achieved.
As the
Proposed Comprehensive Development at Wo Shang Wai is still under construction
phase, it is considered acceptable for the target species levels have not been achieved. According to the ecological
monitoring data of the Survey Area (excluding the WRA), Eastern Cattle Egret
was observed only in 9 out of 28 regular surveys and 7 out of 22 outside
surveys and the biannual mean of the Eastern Cattle Egret of survey area
(excluding the WRA) is 1.2 bird per survey (November 2019 – April 2020), the results indicated that the
number of Eastern Cattle Egret in the whole area is low and the low number of
Eastern Cattle Egret in the WRA is considered acceptable. However, should this
situation continue, a review of the management of the WRA and adaptive
management steps will be required.
The mitigation actions including: 1) Lowering
the water level; and 2) Controlling the vegetation; have been taken in the WRA
since November 2014 to increase the WRA utilization by birds, especially for
the three target species of the WRA. Since the implementation of the mitigation
actions, the annual means of Chinese Pond Heron and Little Egret, two of the
three target species reached the target level. This may indicate the mitigation
actions taken in the WRA are effective. The mitigation actions will be
continued in the WRA and monitoring will be continued to investigate the
effectiveness of the mitigation actions.
In addition, though the target levels for
Eastern Cattle Egret have not been achieved between November 2019 to April
2020, the WRA continues to attract wetland dependent species. Among all the
wetland dependent species, Little Grebe, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-crowned
Night Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Painted-snipe, Pacific Golden Plover,
Little Ringed Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Wood Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint,
Pied Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pacific Swift are listed by
Fellowes et al. as of “Local Concern” in 2002. Great Cormorant, Grey Heron,
Great Egret and Black-headed Gull are listed by Fellowes et al. as of
“Potential Regional Concern” in 2002. Intermediate Egret, Western Osprey, Black
Kite, Eurasian Teal, Common Greenshank and Chinese Penduline-Tit are listed by
Fellowes et al. as of “Regional Concern” in 2002. Black-faced Spoonbill is
listed by Fellowes et al. as of “Potential Global Concern” in 2002. Black-faced
Spoonbill is also listed as “Endangered” species on the IUCN red list.
A summary of the annual mean of bird species of
conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence recorded in the WRA from
November 2019 to April 2020 is shown in Table
4.3.
The increase
of the number of the species of conservation interest indicates the WRA is
providing a suitable habitat for them.
Table 4.3: Mean number of bird species of
conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence in the WRA during reporting
period
Common
Name |
Scientific
Name (3) |
Wetland
Dependence |
Conservation
Status (1) |
Annual
mean number recorded during the Baseline Ecological Monitoring |
Mean
number recorded between Nov 2019 - Apr 2020 (2) |
Little Grebe |
Tachybaptus ruficollis |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
1.1 |
Great Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax carbo |
Y |
PRC |
0.5 |
0.5 |
Grey Heron |
Ardea cinerea |
Y |
PRC |
0.1 |
1.8 |
Great Egret |
Ardea alba |
Y |
PRC, (RC) |
V |
1.8 |
Intermediate Egret |
Egretta intermedia |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
V |
Little Egret |
Egretta garzetta |
Y |
PRC, (RC) |
5.5 |
8.4 |
Eastern Cattle Egret |
Bubulcus coromandus |
Y |
(LC) |
1.3 |
<0.1 |
Chinese Pond Heron |
Ardeola bacchus |
Y |
PRC, (RC) |
1.3 |
3.5 |
Black-crowned Night Heron |
Nycticorax nycticorax |
Y |
(LC) |
0.2 |
V |
Eurasian Spoonbill |
Platalea leucorodia |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
V |
Black-faced Spoonbill |
Platalea minor |
Y |
PGC, EN |
0.0 |
V |
Eurasian Teal |
Anas crecca |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
V |
Western Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
V |
Black Kite |
Milvus migrans |
Y |
(RC) |
1.2 |
<0.1 |
Eastern Buzzard |
Buteo japonicus |
Y |
- |
0.0 |
V |
Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
N |
(LC) |
0.0 |
V |
White-breasted Waterhen |
Amaurornis phoenicurus |
Y |
- |
0.2 |
0.5 |
Common Moorhen |
Gallinula chloropus |
Y |
- |
0.0 |
0.1 |
Greater Painted-snipe |
Rostratula benghalensis |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
V |
Black-winged Stilt |
Himantopus himantopus |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
0.2 |
Oriental Pratincole |
Glareola maldivarum |
Y |
LC |
V |
0.8 |
Pacific Golden Plover |
Pluvialis fulva |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
0.1 |
Charadrius dubius |
Y |
(LC) |
0.1 |
<0.1 |
|
Common Greenshank |
Tringa nebularia |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
0.1 |
Green Sandpiper |
Tringa ochropus |
Y |
- |
0.0 |
0.3 |
Wood Sandpiper |
Tringa glareola |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
0.4 |
Common Sandpiper |
Actitis hypoleucos |
Y |
- |
0.2 |
0.6 |
Common Snipe |
Gallinago gallinago |
Y |
- |
0.1 |
0.0 |
Calidris ruficollis |
Y |
LC |
0.0 |
<0.1 |
|
Black-headed Gull |
Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
Y |
PRC |
0.0 |
V |
Pacific Swift |
Apus pacificus |
N |
(LC) |
V |
V |
Pied Kingfisher |
Ceryle rudis |
Y |
(LC) |
0.0 |
0.1 |
White-throated Kingfisher |
Halcyon smyrnensis |
Y |
(LC) |
0.0 |
<0.1 |
Common Kingfisher |
Alcedo atthis |
Y |
- |
0.0 |
0.7 |
Eastern Yellow Wagtail |
Motacilla tschutschensis |
Y |
- |
10.0 |
0.2 |
Grey Wagtail |
Motacilla cinerea |
Y |
- |
2.2 |
0.0 |
White Wagtail |
Motacilla alba |
Y |
- |
0.9 |
1.0 |
Oriental Reed Warbler |
Acrocephalus orientalis |
Y |
- |
0.1 |
0.0 |
Zitting Cisticola |
Cisticola juncidis |
Y |
LC |
0.1 |
0.0 |
Chinese Penduline-Tit |
Remiz consobrinus |
Y |
RC |
0.0 |
V |
Red-billed Starling |
Spodiopsar sericeus |
Y |
(RC)* |
0.9 |
0.0 |
White-shouldered Starling |
Sturnia sinensis |
Y |
(LC) |
0.1 |
0.0 |
Notes:
(1) Conservation status follows
that of Fellowes et al. (2002) and BirdLife
International listing (2017). Letters in parentheses indicate that the
assessment is on the basis of restrictedness in
breeding and/or roosting sites rather than in general occurrence. (Fellowes et
al. 2002)
(2) Refers to the mean number of individuals recorded between Nov 2019 – Apr
2020 in the WRA
(3) Follows HK bird list (dated 2017-09-05)
V indicates the species is recorded outside regular
surveys
* Red-billed Starling is considered by Fellows et al
(2002) to be of Global Concern. Since publication, however, the global
population estimate has been revised and the species is not now considered
globally threatened. A listing of Regional Concern (RC) based on the importance
of the large roosts present near Deep Bay, is considered to
be more appropriate. (Wetland Restoration Plan, Mott, 2008).
Red-billed Starling is now listed as Least Concern by IUCN. (IUCN, 2016)
A total of
139 bird species have been recorded within the WRA since completion of site
formation. Of the 139 species, 84 were species of conservation importance
and/or wetland dependence – indicating that the WRA provides suitable habitats
for these species despite the construction work within the residential portion
of the Project Site.
The site is
also considered achieving the no net loss of wetland in terms of area and
function because it continuously attracts bird species of conservation
importance, indicating that the WRA not only provides a buffer for potential
disturbance during construction phase, but also a valuable habitat for wetland
dependent species and species of conservation importance.
After commencement of works in May 2010, the site formation of the
Wetland Restoration Area (WRA) was completed on 15 November 2010. In accordance
with the requirement as stipulated in Clause 7.2.12 of the EM&A Manual, the
WRA was in operation since October 2012 (i.e. within 2.5 years of commencement
of construction). The biannual change of bird species number and composition
since the WRA establishment in Oct 2012 is presented in Table 4.4, which shows steady number of
conservation importance species and/or wetland-dependent species continuously
recorded in the WRA.
Table 4.4: Total number of bird species of
conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence recorded in the WRA from
November 2010 to April 2020
Common Name |
- Oct 11 |
Nov
11 - Oct 12 |
Nov
12 - Oct 13 |
Nov
13 - Oct 14 |
Nov
14 - Oct 15 |
Nov
15 - Oct 16 |
Nov
16 - Oct 17 |
Nov
17 - Oct 18 |
Nov
18 - Oct 19 |
Nov
19 - Apr 20 |
Bird species of conservation
importance and/ or wetland-dependence |
48 |
33 |
36 |
39 |
45 |
46 |
46 |
42 |
34 |
36 |
According
to Table 4.4, the total number of bird species
of conservation importance and/or wetland-dependence recorded in the WRA is
stable which indicates the WRA provides a suitable habitat for these species
despite the construction work within the residential portion of the Project Site.
The site is
also considered to have achieved no net loss of wetland in terms of area and
function because it continuously attracts bird species of conservation
importance, indicating that the WRA provides not only a buffer for potential
disturbance during the construction phase, but also a valuable habitat for
wetland dependent species and species of conservation importance.
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[1] The target species are: Little Egret, Egretta garzetta,
Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus (formerly known as Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis) and Chinese Pond Heron, Ardeola bacchus.