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5 Nature Conservation 5 Nature Conservation Along with the rapid growth of Macao, while pursuing to develop in a sustainable and resource-efficient way. economic development and enjoying natural resources, we must bear in mind the preciousness and limit of The Macao SAR Government always attaches great natural resources. While boosting urban development, the importance to ecological conservation, and has initiated capacity of ecosystem should be evaluated and the needs relevant projects to conserve the biodiversity of Macao, of our posterity should be taken into consideration, so as so as to be in line with regional and international trend. Table 5.1 Numerical data of important indicators in this chapter 2012 2013 Total green area under jurisdiction of the IACM (m2) 8,541,864 8,586,795 Roadside tree in Macao Peninsula (no.) 9,925 10,043 Roadside tree in the islands (no.) 7,004 7,154 Reforestation areas (no.) 485,243 490,672 Greening Projects In respond to the demands for urban development, in phase of waterfront recreational area of Taipa. In addition, 2012, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao replantation and flora conservation were reinforced on (IACM) carried out repair works to the damage of plants 27 footbridges and flyovers that possess the conditions resulted from construction works. By reorganizing the for greening, and greening work was also carried out for greening works, more green elements are created. The the rooftops of garbage collection stations. Moreover, green looking ratio (refer to the proportion of green plants experiments on vertical greening of thin-layered fence in the field of vision, with an emphasis on stereoscopic have been conducted on narrow streets, in attempt to visual effect) was increased by beautifying the cycling introduce more three-dimensional green spaces in each path as well as the planters by the roadside of the first area of Macao through various ways and forms. Caring for Trees In order to improve ecological resources of Macao, the suitable for Macao and appropriate planting sites, new Macao SAR Government has been adopting scientific trees have continuously been planted, in order to expand methods to preserve existing trees. By selecting species green spaces. Table 5.2 Number of trees in Macao Peninsula and the islands 2011/2012 2012/2013 (Unit: no.) 2011 2012 2013 Percent increase/ Percent increase/ decrease decrease Trees in Macao Peninsula Roadside trees 9,638 9,925 10,043 +3.0% +1.2% Newly planted trees 826 480 70 -41.9% -85.4% Trees being cut down 430 482 447 +12.1% -7.3% Trees in the islands Roadside trees 7,495 7,004 7,154 -6.6% +2.1% Newly planted trees 400 20 300 -95.0% +1,400.0% Trees being cut down 431 418 458 -3.0% +9.6% Reforestation areas 480,000 485,243 490,672 +1.1% +1.1% 98 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2012-2013 5 Nature Conservation IACM conducts general investigation on the trees in were removed prior to the typhoon season, in order to Macao every year. In 2012, a total of 21,830 items of data minimize the impact on the trees caused by typhoons. were updated in the tree system, and forest transformation was conducted at the forest areas west of Alto de Coloane In 2012, IACM provided 3,241 cases of plant quarantine and southwest of Ka Ho Height. In 2013, a total of 20,210 service at the 7 ports of entry in Macao. The inspected items of data were inspected and updated in the system. plants included 380,720.60 kg of cut flowers, 993,012 In addition, detailed inspection was carried out on those pots of seedling and 35,443.00 m2 of turf, and there was problematic and unusual trees, and safety assessment was no case of plants failing the quarantine due to quarantine conducted on the tree structure. Moreover, roadside trees pests being found. along the main roads were trimmed and hazardous trees Wetlands Conservation in Macao Macao is located at the west of the Pearl River Estuary, As for the survey of benthos, the species recorded with humid climate and being wet and warm throughout in the Ecological Zone I and II were similar to that of the year. A vast amount of mud is silted at its coastal previous years, which include mollusks, crustaceans, area every year; hence the coastal mudflats of Macao are polychaetes and insects. The benthos in Zone I were expanding year by year. In which, the Cotai Ecological mainly mollusks, while the species in Zone II were Zone located at the west of Cotai Reclamation Area is mainly crustaceans. As for the survey of surface benthos, the largest artificial wetland in Macao, which covers that of Zone I were mainly mollusks and that of Zone II an area of 55 hectares and includes 15 hectares of bird were mainly fiddler crabs and mudskippers, etc. inhabitation area (Ecological zone I) and 40 hectares of mangrove protection and bird foraging area (Ecological zone II). It has only been a short history of conservation at the Cotai Ecological Zone, therefore, a stable wetland biome is yet to be formed; the plants in the zone are mainly the herbaceous species, and the habitat is mainly occupied by offshore species. The DSPA has continued to manage and preserve Ecological Zone I and II through a consultancy, in order to systematically collect information of benthos, fishes, plants, birds, terrestrial animals, water quality and environmental data, etc. Up until the end of 2013, animals listed as Grade II National Key Protected Species, including Platalea minor, Egretta sacra, Platalea leucorodia, Elanus caeruleus, Milvus migrans, Circus spilonotus, Buteo buteo, Falco tinnunculus, Falco peregrinus, Centropus sinensis and Centropus bengalensis, etc., have been found in the zones. During the bird season between October of 2013 and April of 2014, the highest number of 60 endangered Black-faced Spoonbills was recorded within the ecological zones, and nearly 72 species of birds at most visited the zones. Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2012-2013 99 5 Nature Conservation Table 5.3 Number of biological species and visitors of Ecological Zones 2011/2012 2012/2013 2011 2012 2013 Percent increase/ Percent increase/ decrease decrease Biological species in Ecological Zone I and II Fish (no.) 20 13 23 -35.0% +76.9% Benthos (no.) 27 30 59 +11.1% +96.7% Insects (dragonflies family) (no.) 22 17 18 -22.7% +5.9% Insects (butterflies family) (no.) 44 37 36 -15.9% -2.7% Insects (others) (no.) 20 19 222 -5.0% +1,068.4% Visitors of the Ecological Zone (ppl) 463 2,226 1,721 +380.8% -22.7% (Local and foreign visitors) Table 5.4 Number of bird species and Black-faced Spoonbills recorded in the Ecological Zones 2011/2012 2012/2013 2011 2012 2013 percent increase/ Percent increase/ decrease decrease Species of bird recorded in the year (no.) 134 137 91 +2.2% -33.6% The highest number of Black-faced Spoonbills recorded each year during the bird season from 53 55 60 +3.8% +9.1% October to April of the next year (no.) As for mangrove plants, 4 species of mangrove a vertical greening experiment was carried out at the including Kandelia obovata, Avicennia marina, Aegiceras exterior of a part of hoardings in Ecological Zone I. corniculatum and Acanthus ilicifolius were found in both zones in 2012 and 2013. Moreover, due to the In 2012, the IACM constantly carried out conservation rapid growth of Sonneratia apetala, an alien species, in works on the three wetland conservation areas including Ecological Zone II, risk has been posed to other local “Ka Ho Reservoir Freshwater-Wetland Ecological Zone”, mangroves. Therefore, in 2013, the DSPA effectively “Hac Sa Aquatic Plant Zone” and “Seac Pai Van Park- eliminated the Acanthus ilicifolius and Sonneratia apetala Dragonfly Conservation Zone”. Besides monitoring and which have lower ecological values at the northern area study on the animal diversity in Macao. Moreover, three of Ecological Zone II. surveys concerning animal diversity in Macao were also carried out at Ka Ho Freshwater Wetland, Montanha While devoted to preserve the habitats within the Russa Park, Hac Sa Reservoir and Hac Sa Aquatic Plant ecological zones, the DSPA has also been strengthening Watching Zone, Cheoc Van Barbecue Park, Alto de its publicity and educational function constantly. 4 Coloane and Seac Pai Van Park, etc., respectively. bird-watching terraces and 2 bird hides were built in Ecological Zone I, and 119 species of featured plants In November of 2013, Macao’s wetland was selected as which fit the needs for education were also planted on one of “China’s Top Ten Charming Wetlands 2013”, which the pathway for nature study, so as to make better use of further affirmed the efforts made by the Macao SAR the wetland resources in Macao and exert its functions Government and the citizens in ecological preservation. in ecological education and study. Furthermore, in 2013, 100 Report on the State of the Environment of Macao 2012-2013 5 Nature Conservation Related Specific Studies In order to fulfil the obligation in mitigating climate and 315 trees with the chest diameter over 80 cm, which change as stated in the United Nations Framework serve as the succeeding resources of ancient trees. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto Protocol, as well as the requests listed in the chapter At the same time, in 2011 and 2012 , the IACM regarding the Macao SAR in the National Communication cooperated with a scientific research institution in on Climate Change of the People’s Republic of China Mainland in compiling The Summary Report of the drawn up by the Department of Climate Change under Research on Physical and Chemical Properties and
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