Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a wetland?
The term 'wetland' covers many inland, coastal and marine habitats which share common features. They are places where land meets water, supporting specially adapted plants and animals. They are not deeper than six metres at low tide. Wetlands may be natural, for example, lakes, rivers, mudflats, mangroves and some coral reefs, or man-made, for example, reservoirs, fish ponds and rice fields.
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2. Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands make up 6% of the world's land surface and they have supported human civilisations throughout history. They provide water for drinking and irrigating crops, as well as supporting a diversity of animals, some of which can be eaten, e.g. fish, shrimps and crabs. Apart from these, plants growing around wetlands, such as mangrove trees and reeds, provide materials for fuel, building and clothing.
Storm damage can also be reduced by wetlands. Lakes, marshes and even fishponds, act as temporary reservoirs for rainwater so reducing the risk of flooding, while coastal salt marshes and mangrove forests act as buffers against strong waves.
Wetlands are also natural water treatment plants which can eliminate organic pollutants in water.
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3. What is Ramsar Site?
An intergovernmental meeting was held at Ramsar, an Iranian City, in 1971, to sign an international treaty --- the 'Convention on Wetlands', which is also known as the 'Ramsar Convention' for conserving the world's important wetlands.
Mai Po and the surrounding Inner Deep Bay area were formally designated as a Ramsar Site in 1995, which recognized the importance of this piece of wetland.
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4. Why is Mai Po important for waterbirds?
Apart from being a Ramsar Site, the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay wetlands has also been listed as a Shorebird Network Site in recognition of its importance as a stopping over site for migratory shorebirds in the East Asia - Australasian Flyway.
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5. Which organisations are responsible for managing Mai Po Nature Reserve?
Since 1984, WWF Hong Kong has been working closely with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government in the management and conservation of Mai Po Nature Reserve.
While WWF Hong Kong carries out the physical management of Mai Po Nature Reserve and organises educational programmes for students and the general public, AFCD enforces the articles of the Wild Animal Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), including maintenance of the Reserve's restricted area.
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6. What is biodiversity?
'Biodiversity', short for biological diversity, describes the variety of life on Earth. It can be considered at 3 levels: genetic, species and ecosystem respectively.
Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes within species
Species diversity refers to the variety of species within an area
Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems in a region ranging from the largest unit of biome to microhabitats
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7. What levels of biodiversity can you experience in Mai Po?
Covering an area of 380 hectares, Mai Po consists of diverse habitats which support a wide range of species. Therefore, both ecosystem and species diversity can be experienced by visitors coming to Mai Po.
6 wetland types including fishpond, gei wai, mudflat, mangroves, reedbed and freshwater pond can be found in Mai Po Nature Reserve.
Over 380 bird species and 400 insect species have been recorded at Mai Po. In addition, many other species of amphibian, reptile, mammal and plant can also be found in the Reserve.
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8. Why is biodiversity important?
Maybe you are not aware of this fact before: human beings rely heavily on other animal and plant species. Our food sources, medicines, materials of clothing and other infrastructure all come from nature. The more diverse the number of species, the more stable the ecosystems are and the more sustained resources the nature can provide us.
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9. How can we conserve wetland and biodiversity?
The first step of conservation is to learn more about our environment, and then you will know how to protect it. Of course, you can also practice environmentally-friendly lifestyle such as using less electricity and water, implementing the 4R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle and replace) and spreading green tips to family and friends. You are also welcome to support WWF's conservation work by participating in our volunteer programme, making a donation or joining us as a member.
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