Environment groups pressed the government on Thursday to place two ecologically sensitive areas of the New Territories into a planned nature conserve. The two land parcels are Long Valley and the north agricultural zone of that area.

The government's North East New Territories New Development Areas Planning project calls for Long Valley one of Hong Kong's few agricultural wetlands. To enhance and conserve the existing ecological environment and compensate for the affects of new development on the wetland, the government designated that the valley be set aside as a nature park.

The government launched the third-stage of public consultation on the project on June 19. The development project includes three areas, Kwu Tung North, Fanling North and Ta Kwu Ling. The valley, situated in the southeast of the Kwu Tung North area in Sheung Shui, was surrounded by farm lands in its north and south border.

Senior campaign officer for the Conservancy Association, Roy Ng Hei-man, said the association welcomes the government's new project, however, he fears that the current development plan may not fully conserve the wetlands' ecological and humanistic value.

The north part of the valley, which covers15 hectares, has the same potential as the valley for conservation, he argued. He described the valley as one of the few places that maintains traditional agricultural practices that date back hundreds of years, thus, the interactivity between agriculture and the ecology has developed into a one of unique conservation asset.

The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society also agreed with the suggestion advanced by the Conservancy Association. There are about 140 different species of birds in the north farm land next to the valley, according to the bird watching group.

Ng also demanded the government set a limit on the number of tourists entering the park based on minimizing the damaging affects of foot traffic on the ecology. As for the repurchase of the land, Ng suggested the government give farmers the choice to stay or to accept compensation.

Long Valley is the last and largest agricultural wetland in Hong Kong. With extensive farmland and freshwater ponds, the area is a popular stopover for many migratory birds. It came to public attention when Lok Ma Chau Spur Line of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation decided to build across the wetland in the 1990s. The decision aroused an outcry among environmental groups that the construction would greatly damage the wetland's natural habitats. The railway finally decided to tunnel under the wetland at great cost.

Chun Feng contributed to the story.

stushadow@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 08/10/2012 page1)