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The Government today (January 8) released a public consultation document entitled "Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) for Hong Kong", seeking public views on the proposed actions for stepping up efforts in conserving biodiversity and supporting the sustainable development of Hong Kong in the next five years. The consultation exercise will end on April 7.
A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said, "Biodiversity is an integral part of everyday lives. It reflects the inter-connectedness of life and embraces the variety of genes, species and ecosystems that constitute life on earth.
"Benefits provided by biodiversity are crucial to our well-being and health. If we want our natural assets to be passed on to our future generations, we need to find solutions that will achieve sustainable development and conserve our biodiversity."
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was extended to Hong Kong in 2011. Since 2013, the Government has initiated public engagements and conducted a number of educational and awareness-raising programmes including the first Biodiversity Festival launched in September last year.
After 18 months of stakeholder engagements, the Government has recommended the following four areas for action over the next five years:
(1) Conservation: Hong Kong's dedicated efforts over the years have yielded positive results. Building on this foundation, the Government will continue to implement and enhance existing conservation measures.
(2) Mainstreaming: the Government will continue to incorporate biodiversity considerations into its plans, projects and programmes according to the particular situation in Hong Kong.
(3) Knowledge: to increase understanding of biodiversity, the Government will conduct surveys and studies, consolidate data, and encourage organisations to launch research on important areas that have been identified to include knowledge gaps in formulating BSAP.
(4) Community involvement: to raise public awareness and understanding is an important area of focus of the first BSAP for Hong Kong, and consequently the Government will engage partners in promoting public awareness, and build support and collaboration with various sectors such as the agricultural, fisheries, business and professional sectors.
During the three months' public consultation, the Government will consult various stakeholders and advisory committees and listen to the views from the public before finalising the first Hong Kong BSAP within 2016.
The consultation document can be downloaded from the BSAP website (www.afcd.gov.hk/bsap). Members of the public can send in their views on or before April 7 by email (bsap@afcd.gov.hk), by post (Biodiversity Conservation Division, AFCD, 6/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong), or by fax (2314 2802).
Ends/Friday, January 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 14:00
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