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The Environment Bureau, Environmental Protection Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have embarked on an exercise to develop a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) under the Convention on Biological Diversity. An array of activities will be organised by the AFCD to increase public awareness of biodiversity, including a public lecture series to be co-organised with the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Biological diversity means the variety of different life forms on Earth and the relationships among them. The diverse living organisms and their environment on Earth make up its amazing and complex ecosystem. Nature is not only home to countless wildlife, but also closely related to our livelihood. Our precious ecosystem provides humans with a myriad of benefits. Apart from providing us with food, fuels, medicines, leisure, and art resources, the ecosystem also silently regulates the natural processes of the environment, nurturing all life on Earth.
A number of experts will be invited to give the lectures to share with the public the importance of biodiversity and the need for a BSAP for Hong Kong. Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Hong Kong, Professor Lam Kin-che, and Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, will be the speakers in the first lecture in the series. Members of the public are welcome to attend the lecture. Details are as follows:
Date: January 18 (Saturday)
Time: 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Venue: Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon.
Language: Cantonese
Fee and registration: Free-of-charge, online registration for seat reservation
Professor Lam will give a talk titled "Biodiversity Conservation: Current Situation and Way Forward". The talk will give a round-up of the development of biodiversity conservation in Hong Kong, and discuss the action to be taken today and our vision for the future.
Ms Loh's session will be titled "Dealing with Conflicts and Arriving at Consensus - Government-Community Collaboration in Drafting the Strategy and Action Plan for Hong Kong under the Convention on Biological Diversity", emphasising the need for and objectives of a BSAP for Hong Kong, as well as inviting different stakeholders in the society to participate in the drafting of the BSAP.
The first lecture will be conducted in an interactive way. Apart from watching a series of short videos, stakeholders will be invited to participate in the live discussion. Meanwhile, details of the upcoming lectures in the series are as follows:
Date Theme Speakers
March 29 Benefit of Professor Jim Chi-yung,
Biodiversity Professor Nora Tam
May 17 Biodiversity Professor Lam Chiu-ying,
Conservation in Professor Wong Fook-yee
Hong Kong
July 5 Sustainable Use Professor Zhao Zhong-zhen,
of Biodiversity in Professor Cheung Chin-hung
Hong Kong
For more details of the lectures and registration, please visit the AFCD's website: www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_bsap/bsap_engagement/bsap_engagement_programme.html#lectures.
Ends/Thursday, January 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:00
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