Started in 2020, the “Spider Survey Ecological Education Programme” has found two spider species belonging to the Anyphaenidae and Trachelidae families, which had not been scientifically logged as living in Hong Kong. The survey might have also obtained the first local record of the spider of the Qianlingula genus.
Welcome to read the following news coverage and learn about the survey results:
We are honoured to be invited by PMQ Seed to collaborate with other parties and hold sessions for the “GREEN & ME Train the Trainer Workshop” series. The workshop offers training in equipping knowledge and techniques in environmental education, as well as boosting the empathy towards our environment. Tap on the video to learn more.
Not being able to travel abroad to immerse yourself in the cherry blossom due to travel restrictions? No worries! Our Founder and Conservation Director, Mr. Bond Shum, is here to walk you through different flower viewing hotspots in Hong Kong. He also introduced some of the most attractive local flowering plants that you should never miss!
Are you interested in being an environmental educator? Our Senior Education Officer, Ms. Maggie Mang, is honoured to be invited to share her journey working in OWLHK with members of Network of Environmental Student Societies (NESS). In this session, she would inspire you with the ways to arouse public awareness of the environment, and the difficulties she has faced in the meantime.
Probably many of you have the experience of “staycation” during the pandemic, but do you know there are hotels for insects as well? Due to urban development, solitary bees face the challenge of having fewer habitats. Insect hotels provide areas for them to breed. By organizing various activities, including the ongoing Insect Hotel Design Competition for Secondary Schools, we hope to promote the concept of insect hotel to help the solitary bees.
Any special in plants in Hong Kong? Plants in Hong Kong are so diverse that more people are interested in them nowadays, and become eager to identify different species. Plants, however, vary a lot which confuses beginners. Do not worry! Our Founder and Conservation Director Mr. Bond Shum will share his tips on learning plant identification!
The LCF has approved a total of 18 education, research and conservation projects involving a total grand of around $5.5 million in the first round of application (2020-2021). Our programme “Lantau Countryside Ecological and Cultural Education Programme” was one of them! We will explore Lantau and visit various ecological hotspots through innovative environmental education activities. Local residents in Lantau will co-create together to share their stories!
Do spiders bite? Are they toxic? Are they scary?
Our Education Officer, Ms. Silvy Chan will tell us the behaviours, habitats and trivia of spiders. Let us clear the misunderstandings about them, and bring down the fears towards spiders. Silvy even raises a challenge for us: to find 2 different species of spiders in the countryside, on railing, and in the forest!
Urban forestry contributes to the sustainable development of a city. Recent change in Kai Tak is one example. Mr. Kayson Lo, our Senior Project and Conservation Officer shared his thoughts on the Kai Tak River improvement works, and the ecological transformation before and after the project. He also mentioned the benefits that blue-green infrastructures could bring to a community.
How much do you know about our marine environment? Our Senior Project and Conservation Officer, Mr. Kayson Lo, tested your knowledge about the marine ecosystem. He also shared the impact of urban development and extreme weathers on marine organisms, information regarding ocean conservation, as well as some of his remarkable experiences exploring marine ecology.
Environmental education has never been easy. Dr. Ma and his team expanded to a group of more than a dozen people from only three people with zero funding. What kind of beliefs do they hold for their persistence? At the same time, let's find out what books Dr. Ma has read that gave him extraordinary values.
Our Founder and Education Director, Dr. Xoni Ma always conveys an essential principle to the participants when he carries out environmental education activities, “Everything is connected”. Dr. Ma shared his experiences and ideas on environmental education, and how to apply them on combating climate change.
In "ECF Discovering South Lantau Invertebrates", there were new local discoveries such as Anthidiellum carinatum in Mui Wo and Pycnoscelus nigra in Tung Chung. Moreover, a gray-white moth first appeared in Tung Chung, showing that it is a new species. Environmental groups suggest that future development should be carefully planned to achieve ecological balance.
In 2020, a rare moth appeared in Lantau Island which is the world's first case. It indicates that Hong Kong has a high level of biodiversity. However, many environmental groups worry that reclamation projects will cause irreversible ecological damages, change the habitat of species, or even kill the local rare insect species. They urge the development of brownfields instead.
The general ecological survey records are dominated by butterflies and dragonflies. However, many grasshoppers and flies were found in Lantau Island in 2020, which is up to 20% to 30% of the numbers found in the past ten years. It is hoped that the survey encourages the public to pay more attention to the high-value biodiversity and ecology of the surrounding environment.
The records of insects and invertebrates collected in "ECF Discovering South Lantau Invertebrates" in 2020 exceeded expectations. They were even similar to the records collected by iNaturalist which is a network built for collecting observations of biodiversity so far. More than 100 species were recorded for the first time in iNaturalist Hong Kong’s record. In response to this discovery, Bond Shum, the founder and Director of OWLHK, suggested that the government should strengthen rural protection work.
In last year's "ECF Discovering South Lantau Invertebrates" public participation survey, the public team has identified the first new species of moth in the world. In addition, Anthidiellum carinatum and Pycnoscelus nigra were discovered for the first time in Hong Kong. The number of species recorded in this survey is great which implies Hong Kong’s biodiversity should be properly conserved.
Through ECF Discovering South Lantau Invertebrates – Search in Lantau, OWLHK encourages the public to actively explore freshwater habitat and local ecology. Mr. Liu and students from HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School joined the contest and was carrying out their insect & invertebrates survey in Tung Chung. We hope to arouse public awareness and encourage community participation in exploring nature.
Many people would go for a walk in the countryside during the pandemic. This time, our Founder and Conservation Director Mr. Bond Shum took us to Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve to appreciate the local biodiversity. He also introduced the possible ecological and environmental impact brought by visitors and shared some ways to carry out environmental education as well.
Being a member of the global village, environmental education should be integrated into daily life. However, like what Hong Kong environmental education expert Dr. Xoni Ma has said, environmental education does not receive much attention in Hong Kong. Comparing to Taiwan, we can definitely do more and better.
Dr. Xoni Ma understands the importance of education from his great teachers in secondary schools. His passion in environmental protection guides him to a direction for studying ecology and biodiversity as his major, and lastly obtained a PhD in environmental education, and pushing EE development in Hong Kong.