Wetland plan promotes more biodiversity

The achievements could not have been made without the irrigation channels that spread across the farmland. Water from the upper reaches of the Beas River is drained into the main channels and then redirected into smaller branch channels. Tanks made from concrete are located near the farmland to store water for the drier seasons. Together, the channels and tanks form a drainage network.

Unlike Long Valley, the farmland in Ying Pun Tsuen, about 6 kilometers away, is now deserted and will eventually be developed. Iron fences circle the deserted farmland, and only one or two species of grass grow inside. "Leaving this farmland abandoned could damage it forever," Ng said.

In the latest development plans for the North East New Territories, Long Valley has been designated a "nature park" for the public. Although the definition of "nature park" hasn't been fixed, Ng pointed out that it is the first time that wetland in Hong Kong has been allocated as a public space, with the same function as a city park.