Eco-Landscape Design in Urban Context

Dr. Hau Chi Hang, Billy Dr. Pang Chun Chiu The University of Introduction Habitat fragmentation, isolation and degradation are world-wide issue for developed countries and cities. Huge effort is spent by governments for restoring ecosystem functions, including those in urban areas. Pledged to introduce the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to HK, the Government aims to promote urban biodiversity as one of the key action areas in protecting Hong Kong’s biodiversity Case studies: New South Wales, Australia

Some of the objectives:  Improve the ecological health of urban riparian lands and bush lands including ecologically endangered communities; reduce weeds; increase in area and quality of native vegetation; erosion remediation; and improve habitat linkages at landscape scale.  Increase long-term participation in urban ecosystem rehabilitation specifically targeting community volunteerism and investment from private and government sources. http://www.lgnsw.org.au/files/imce-uploads/35/high_country_urban_biodiversity.pdf Case studies: Missouri, USA

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/sustainability/sustainability/biodiversecity-st.-louis.aspx Case studies: Hong Kong  CLP Creates Hong Kong’s Largest Sky Woodland to Promote Green Rooftops  The rooftops of the two substation blocks cover area of 520 m2.  80 trees of 32 native species were planted since May 2013.  The woodland was reported to attract an abundance of birds and . Source: https://www.clpgroup.com/en/Media-Resources- site/Current%20Releases/20150914_en.pdf Case studies: Hong Kong  Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) is an urban native woodland initiated by Construction Industry Council.  The woodland covers an area of 2,000 m2, 13% of the ZCB site area.  220 trees of 40 native species were planted.  The species are chosen based on four criteria: (1) Species diversity; (2) Diversity of tree form; (3) Food and shelter for wildlife; (4) Ornamental value.

Source: http://www.cic.hk/eng/main/zcb/ZCB_e xperience/urban_native_woodland/ An ecological approach to upgrade DSD’s facilities  The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has hundreds of facilities e.g. STP, pump houses, all over Hong Kong for providing drainage services to the public.  These facilities vary in size and age, and are mostly geographically close to natural hillsides.  A strategic urban biodiversity rehabilitation plan for DSD’s facilities and a practical design and management guideline on enhancing ecological value in landscaping for DSD’s facilities have been proposed. An ecological approach to upgrade DSD’s facilities: Project Design 1. Evaluate the potential ecological value of infrastructure sites for eco-landscape design 2. Recommend design and management approach on sites identified as suitable for eco-landscape design 3. Conduct site trials in selected DSD’s facilities 4. Conduct baseline ecological study to confirm the effectiveness of eco-landscape design Selection of Sites for Eco-Landscape Design Two main principles are recommended for selecting facilities for applying eco-landscape design: A. Establishment of a series of ecological stepping stones; B. Upgrading facilities with the greatest potential for benefiting wildlife. A. Establishment of a series of ecological stepping stones B. Upgrading facilities with the greatest potential for benefiting wildlife Five criteria was used for evaluating the potential of applying the Eco-Landscape Design: 1. Habitat connectivity to the natural habitats 2. Site area First stage assessment 3. Site age 4. Coverage of greenery area of the facilities 5. Existing vegetation in the Second stage assessment facilities B. Upgrading facilities with the greatest potential for benefiting wildlife

First stage assessment • Desktop review of the surrounding environment and site properties of facilities. • A total of over 70 facilities were evaluated. First stage assessment Criteria

Criteria Evaluation items Categories Score (1) Habitat (i) Distance to the nearest natural (a) Right next to a natural woodland 3 connectivity vegetation (b) Right next to a natural shrubland 2 (c) There is a natural woodland or shrubland within 1 km 1 (ii) Surrounding habitat complexity (a) Right next to streams / rivers/ woodlands / 3 shrublands / wetlands and/ or coast (a) There are green or blue corridors e.g. landscaped 2 slopes or river channels, linking to streams / woodlands / shrublands / wetlands within 1 km (c) Right next to urban forests in parks, gardens or large 1 man-made green slopes (iii) Degree of anthropogenic (a) Facilities are entirely surrounded by concretes and -1 disturbance isolated from natural or urban vegetation (2) Site area (a) Site area ≥ 2700 m2 3 (d) Site area ≥ 540 and < 2700 m2 0 (f) Site area < 540 m2 -3 (3) Site age (a) Age ≥ 20 years 3 (b) Age ≥ 10 and < 20 years 2 (c) Age < 10 years 1 (4) Coverage of (a) Greenery area coverage > 40 % 4 greenery area (b) Greenery area coverage ≥ 20 and < 40% 2 (c) Greenery area coverage < 20% 0 B. Upgrading facilities with the greatest potential for benefiting wildlife Second stage assessment • On-site inspection was carried out to assess the existing vegetation of the DSD’s facilities. • Among the 70 facilities being evaluated from 1st stage assessment, facilities having high or medium potential were visited for carrying out the 2nd stage assessment. • Final score was formulated by: Final score = 1st stage score – 2nd stage score Second stage assessment Criteria

Criteria Evaluation items Categories Score (5) Existing (i) Total species richness (a) No. of native plant species ≥ 10 3 vegetation

(b) No. of native plant species <10 0

(ii) Tree abundance (no. of (a) No. of trees ≥ 50 4 trees with dbh ≥ 95 mm) (b) No. of trees ≥ 20 and < 50 2

(c) No. of trees < 20 0 (iii) Presence of food/nectar (a) Nectar and/or fleshy fruit plants are abundant in site 2 plants in site (more than 50% of plant species provide resources to wildlife) (b) Nectar and/or fleshy fruit plants are sparse in site (Fewer 1 than 50% of plant species provide resources) (c) Absence of nectar- and/or fleshy fruit plants in site 0 (iv) Dominance of invasive (a) Dominance of invasive plants are observable. -1 and exotic plants in site (b) Site is threatened by invasive plants but not dominated. 0

(c) Absence of invasive plants 1 Evaluation Results Plant Name Coastal Wood- Rural Urban Site Area Final land (m2) Score (P)

Aberdeen PTW   4883 15 Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works  64,000 13 Sandy Bay Preliminary Treatment Works   2380 12 Cyberport PTW   409 12 Tsing Yi Preliminary Treatment Works   18,957 12 Kwai Chung Industrial Wastewater Pumping 6,457 11 Station   Sham Tseng Sewage Treatment Works   10,961 10 Nam Sang Wai Sewage Pumping Station  935 10 Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works   21,000 9 Shatin Sewage Treatment Works   271,000 8 Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works  97,430 8 Cheung Sha Wan Sewage Pumping Station  9,440 8 Yuen Long Sewage Treatment Works  78,000 7 Siu Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Works   89,800 7 Ha Tsuen No. 1 and No. 2 Sewage Pumping Station   6,490 6 Penny's Bay Sewage Pumping Station   3,301 6 San Wai Sewage Treatment Works  10,734 6 Selected Sites for Field Planting Trials

Plant Name Site Area Final Site Context (m2) Score

Aberdeen Preliminary Treatment Works 4,883 15 Coastal site

Tsing Yi Preliminary Treatment Works 18,957 12 Coastal and urban site

Nam Sang Wai Sewage Pumping Station & Ngau 935 10 Rural site Tam Mei Main Drainage Channel Pumping Station

Kwai Chung Industrial Wastewater Pumping Station 6,457 11 Urban and woodland site

Tseung Kwan O Preliminary Treatment Works & 17,734 9 Urban site Pumping Station

Ha Tsuen No. 1 and No. 2 Sewage Pumping Station 6,490 6 Rural and urban site Nam Sang Wai Sewage Pumping Station (selected for site trial) Nam Sang Wai Sewage Pumping Station (selected for site trial) Tsing Yi Preliminary Treatment Works (selected for site trial) Tsing Yi Preliminary Treatment Works (selected for site trial) Ha Tsuen No. 1 and No. 2 Sewage Pumping Station (selected for site trial) Ha Tsuen No. 1 and No. 2 Sewage Pumping Station (selected for site trial) Design Approaches Planning

 Planting of groups of trees.

 Establishment of “Quiet corners”.

 Selection of planting areas. Planting Area Selection (1) Coastal habitat (2) Urban area (3) Woodland habitat (4) Rural area Planting space A is preferred over planting space B. Bat box Design Approaches Hard-landscape  Use of nest boxes for birds and bats  Water features http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/bat_boxes.html  Log pile for insects, amphibians and reptiles Bird box Log pile Eco-pond Design Approaches Soft-landscape Shrubs and trees are only planted in at-grade level. Native plant species is preferred. Sufficient growing space should be allowed especially for large tree species. Year-round rewards/resources is offered to wildlife. Recommended Plant Species for the Eco-Landscape Design Design Approaches Maintenance  Limited active management 1. Pruning; 2. Weed clearance; 3. Removal of leaf litter  Control of invasive species (bad biodiversity!)  Mosquito control Recommended matrix for selected sites Coastal sites – Species mix adapted to harsh environment Scientific name Chinese Origin Growth Flowering and fruiting period (J for January name form and so on) J F M A M J J A S O N D Desmos chinensis 假鷹爪 Native Shrub     Ficus microcarpa 榕樹 Native Tree         Sterculia lanceolata 假蘋婆 Native Tree   Sapium sebiferum 烏桕 Native Tree        Mallotus paniculatus 白楸 Native Tree       Ligustrum sinense 山指甲 Native Shrub         Cratoxylum cochinchinense 黃牛木 Native Tree    Melia azedarach 楝 Exotic Tree      Ficus pumila 薜荔 Native Climber          Solanum torvum 水茄 Exotic Shrub             Ficus subpisocarpa 筆管榕 Native Tree         Uvaria macrophylla 紫玉盤 Native Climber      Recommended matrix for selected sites Woodland sites – Birds’ favorite mix Scientific name Chinese Origin Growth Months name form J F M A M J J A S O N D Ficus microcarpa 榕樹 Native Tree         Livistona chinensis 蒲葵 Exotic Tree palm      Machilus chekiangensis 浙江潤楠 Nature Tree    Ficus hirta 粗葉榕 Native Shrub             Uvaria macrophylla 紫玉盤 Native Climber      Ilex rotunda 鐵冬青 Native Tree      Desmos chinensis 假鷹爪 Native Shrub        Mallotus paniculatus 白楸 Native Tree       Psychotria asiatica 九節 Native Shrub             Litsea cubeba 木薑子 Native Tree     Aporusa dioica 銀柴 Native Tree             Rhodoleia championii 紅花荷 Native Tree        Recommended matrix for selected sites Rural sites – Mix with high ornamental value Scientific name Chinese Origin Growth Months name form J F M A M J J A S O N D Desmos chinensis 假鷹爪 Native Shrub        Bauhinia x blakeana 洋紫荊 Native Tree             Sterculia lanceolata 假蘋婆 Native Tree   Uvaria macrophylla 紫玉盤 Native Climber      Machilus chekiangensis 浙江潤楠 Native Tree    Liquidambar formosana 楓香 Native Tree        Rhodoleia championii 紅花荷 Native Tree        Polyspora axillaris 大頭茶 Native Tree     Schima superba 木荷 Native Tree    Millettia nitida 亮葉崖豆藤 Native Climber        Photinia benthamiana 閩粵石楠 Native Tree          Clerodendrum Native Shrub          大青 cyrtophyllum Recommended matrix for selected sites Urban sites – ecological stepping stone

Scientific name Chinese Origin Growth Months name form J F M A M J J A S O N D Desmos chinensis 假鷹爪 Native Shrub        Diospyros morrisiana 羅浮柿 Native Tree    Ficus hispida 對葉榕 Native Tree       Ligustrum sinense 山指甲 Native Shrub         Macaranga tanarius var.      血桐 Native Tree tomentosa 潺槁樹 Native Tree     Sapium sebiferum 烏桕 Native Tree         Viburnum odoratissimum 珊瑚樹 Native Tree        樟 Native Tree       Schefflera heptaphylla 鵝掌柴 Native Tree      Breynia fruticosa 黑面神 Native Shrub          Psychotria asiatica 九節 Native Shrub             Pictures of some of the recommended tree and shrub species Some of the targeted wildlife species (Photo courtesy of www.hkwildlife.net) Some of the targeted wildlife species (Photo courtesy of www.hkwildlife.net) Baseline Ecological Survey To ascertain the effectiveness of the eco- landscape design Regular ecological surveys have been started before the construction work and will continue after the construction work. Point count was adopted for bird and butterfly sampling. Reference sites close to each of the selected facilities will also be chosen for identifying the surrounding wildlife assemblages. Monthly surveys are conducted in all facilities and reference sites. Baseline Ecological Survey Preliminary results of baseline surveys Monthly baseline surveys were conducted from May to September in 5 DSD sites and 6 reference sites (Aberdeen PTW is currently under construction). Bird community: 31 species were recorded across all DSD facilities (36 in reference sites). Butterfly community: 32 species across DSD facilities (40 in reference sites).

39 Preliminary results of baseline surveys Bird species that were not recorded in DSD facilities but reference sites include:

 Alcedo atthis 普通翠鳥  Ardeola bacchus 池鷺  Nycticorax nycticorax 夜鷺  Centropus sinensis 褐翅鴉鵑  Chalcophaps indica 綠翅金鳩  Chloris sinica 金翅雀  Columba livia 原鴿  Cyanopica cyanus 灰喜鵲  Glaucidium cuculoides 斑頭鵂鶹  Pericrocotus speciosus 赤紅山椒鳥  Prinia inornata 純色鷦鶯

40 Preliminary results of baseline surveys Preliminary results of baseline surveys Butterfly species that were not recorded in DSD facilities but reference sites include:

 Athyma ranga 離斑帶蛺蝶  Papilio demoleus 達摩鳳蝶  bernardus 白帶螯蛺蝶  Parathyma sulpitia 殘鍔線蛺蝶  Chilades pandava 曲紋紫灰蝶  Suastus gremius 素弄蝶  Danaus genutia 虎斑蝶  Symbrenthia lilaea散紋盛蛺蝶  Delias pasithoe 報喜斑粉蝶  Tirumala limniace 青斑蝶  Euploea core 幻紫斑蝶  Euthalia lubentina 紅斑翠蛺蝶  Hasora badra 三斑趾弄蝶  Hestina assimilis 黑脈蛺蝶  Leptotes plinius 細灰蝶

42 Preliminary results of baseline surveys Thank you Species name Chinese name DSD facilities Species name Chinese name DSD facilities Passer montanus 樹麻雀 157 Pseudozizeeria maha 酢漿灰蝶 163 Zosterops japonicus 暗綠繡眼鳥 97 Catopsilia pomona 遷粉蝶 63 Pycnonotus45 jocosus 紅耳鵯 88 Eurema hecabe 寬邊黃粉蝶 23 Spilopelia chinensis 珠頸斑鳩 70 Papilio polytes 玉帶鳳蝶 15 Pycnonotus sinensis 白頭鵯 43 Delias pasithoe 報喜斑粉蝶 11 Acridotheres cristatellus 八哥 40 Papilio memnon 美鳳蝶 11 Copsychus saularis 鵲鴝 37 Pieris canidia 東方菜粉蝶 8 Gracupica nigricollis 黑領椋鳥 21 Hypolimnas bolina 幻紫斑蛺蝶 7 Hirundo rustica 家燕 20 Euploea midamus 藍點紫斑蝶 5 Orthotomus sutorius 長尾縫葉鶯 19 Ideopsis similis 擬旖斑蝶 5 Garrulax perspicillatus 黑臉噪鶥 11 Papilio helenus 玉斑鳳蝶 5 Motacilla alba 白鶺鴒 10 Acytolepis puspa 鈕灰蝶 4 Parus cinereus 蒼背山雀 10 Ariadne ariadne 波蛺蝶 3 Lonchura punctulata 斑文鳥 5 Elymnias hypermnestra 翠袖鋸眼蝶 3 Urocissa erythroryncha 紅嘴藍鵲 5 Graphium doson 木蘭青鳳蝶 2 Eudynamus scolopacea 噪鵑 4 Hebomoia glaucippe 鶴頂粉蝶 2 Lanius schach 棕背伯勞 3 Iraota timoleon 鐵木萊異灰蝶 2 Milvus migrans 黑鳶 3 Junonia atlites 波紋眼蛺蝶 2 Myophonus caeruleus 紫嘯鶇 2 Melanitis leda 暮眼蝶 2 Prinia flaviventris 黃腹鷦鶯 2 Mycalesis mineus 小眉眼蝶 2 Acridotheres tristis 家八哥 1 Papilio paris 巴黎翠鳳蝶 2 Aethopyga christinae 叉尾太陽鳥 1 Papilio protenor 藍鳳蝶 2 Amaurornis phoenicurus 白胸苦惡鳥 1 Ypthima baldus 矍眼蝶 2 Bubulcus coromandus 牛背鷺 1 Argyreus hyperbius 斐豹蛺蝶 1 Corvus macrorhynchos 大嘴烏鴉 1 Astictopterus jama 腌翅弄蝶 1 Halcyon smyrnensis 白胸翡翠 1 Cupha erymanthis 黃襟蛺蝶 1 Lonchura striata 白腰文鳥 1 Euthalia phemius 尖翅翠蛺蝶 1 Pica pica 喜鵲 1 Faunis eumeus 串珠環蝶 1 Streptopelia decaocto 灰斑鳩 1 Graphium sarpedon 青鳳蝶 1 Sturnia sinensis 灰背椋鳥 1 Neptis hylas 中環蛺蝶 1 Upupa epops 戴勝 1 Phaedyma columella 柱菲蛺蝶 1 Potanthus sp. 黃室弄蝶 1