After centuries of cutting and burning, some of the Hong Kong
hillsides gave an overall impression of dry barren soil.
Only vegetation in some steep ravines and the Fung Shui woods
behind villages in the New Territories remain largely intact.
Afforestation has been carried out in Hong Kong as early as
1870s. The major purposes for this has shifted from amenity reasons,
erosion control, production of firewood, improving water supplies
and to the current interest in biodiversity enhancement and ecological
restoration.
Choice of species
Early afforestation effort was concentrated on the use of the
local pine, Pinus massoniana and fast growing exotic species
such as Lophostemon confertus and Acacia confusa.
Native species have been used more often in the last 30 years.
To date, seeds of over 100 native species have been collected
to produce seedlings for afforestation.
Some of the successful examples of native species used for afforestation
are Machilus species,Castanopsis fissa and Schima
superba.
Machilus species
Castanopsis fissa
Schima superba
Field Investigation
Trial plots have been set up and subsequent monitoring carried
out to assess the growth performance of various species in different
environment and effectiveness of a range of tree establishment
techniques.
Methods to improve seedling establishment including the use of
weed mat and tree guard are now in experimental stage.
