LCQ9: Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve

Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng Kar-foo and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, in the Legislative Council today (March 10):

Question:

A survey conducted by a green group in recent months found that the number of butterflies in the Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve (the Reserve) located in Tai Po had reduced by 20% in 2009 as compared with that in 2008, and it was even uncovered that some species of butterfly faced the risk of extinction. The group suspected that the sharp reduction in the number of butterflies was related to the real estate development project in the vicinity of the Reserve, and they urged the developer to increase the width of the buffer zone between the real estate development project and the Reserve to 100 metres or above. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has followed up the change in the number of butterflies in the Reserve; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(b) whether it has made clear planning and formulated guidelines in respect of the area and coverage of the buffer zone between the real estate development project and the Reserve; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether the authorities will consider the green group's proposal to request the developer to increase the width of the buffer zone to 100 metres or above; and

(c) given that the developer has indicated that the real estate development project will include enhancing a piece of agricultural land to make it a more suitable habitat for butterflies, whether the Government has taken the initiative to ascertain and study if the enhancement project for the agricultural land is more favourable to the ecology of butterflies, and whether the developer concerned will be held responsible if the ecology of the Reserve or butterflies is adversely affected by the real estate development project in the future?

Reply:

President,

(a) The Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve (the Reserve) is managed by the Tai Po Environmental Association (TPEA) as a Management Agreement (MA) project under the New Nature Conservation Policy, which was introduced in 2004. Under the MA Scheme, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including green groups, educational institutions and community organisations, may apply for funding from the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) for entering into MAs with landowners. The NGOs can provide landowners with financial incentives in exchange for management rights over their land or for their cooperation in enhancing conservation of the sites concerned. In 2005, with the funding from ECF, the TPEA established the Reserve on 2 hectares (ha) of private land at Fung Yuen for butterfly conservation. The establishment of the Reserve has enhanced the habitat and diversity of species of butterflies at the site. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) meets with the TPEA regularly to review the conservation work and changes in butterfly abundance at the Reserve, as well as to offer advice to the TPEA on their conservation work.

The Reserve is located within Fung Yuen Valley and occupies less than 5% of the total area of the Valley. Fung Yuen Valley has been listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) since 1980 to reflect its importance as a major breeding site for butterflies. The Fung Yuen Valley SSSI covers an area of about 43 ha. AFCD has been regularly monitoring the butterfly habitats and changes in butterfly abundance within the SSSI. To this date, no significant fluctuation in the number of butterflies at the site has been recorded.

According to AFCD's territory-wide monitoring of butterflies, the number of butterflies in the local natural environment will change from year to year due to various factors, including environmental factors like temperature and rainfall. Hence, the number of butterflies recorded annually in different places may differ. AFCD will continue to monitor the conservation status of butterflies in the Reserve and Fung Yuen Valley.

(b) The development in Fung Yuen referred to in the question, which is located to the south of Fung Yuen Valley, is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area (1)" (CDA(1)) on the approved Tai Po Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). According to the requirements of the OZP, the applicant has to prepare relevant technical assessments and submit the Master Layout Plan (MLP) to the Town Planning Board (TPB) for approval. The development in Fung Yuen was first approved by the TPB on 8 December 2000 followed by a number of minor amendments to the approved scheme.  The last planning permission was granted on 18 August 2004. According to the approved MLP, a buffer zone of 45 metres to 50 metres with the growing of appropriate plants will be provided between the residential blocks of the development and the Reserve. AFCD is of the view that the establishment of the concerned buffer zone could effectively reduce the impact of the development on the Reserve. As the planning application for the development has been approved with conditions and the proposed buffer zone is also clearly indicated in the subsequent building plans submitted to the Buildings Department, the project proponent can implement the development in accordance with the planning permission.

(c) The planning permission is attached with conditions including, among other things, implementation of mitigation measures as proposed in the ecological assessment to protect the Fung Yuen Valley SSSI to the satisfaction of the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation or of the TPB and submission and implementation of a revised landscape master plan (LMP) to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning or of the TPB.  

The LMP should cover the residential portion of the development as well as a piece of agricultural land which forms part of the development.  When considering the LMP, the Planning Department has consulted AFCD.  AFCD has recommended the project proponent to grow plants of suitable species in the landscaped area, to provide host plants and nectar plants to butterflies in order to enhance the ecological value of the landscaped area to butterflies.  

The relevant Government departments will closely follow the implementation of the development. Should there be any unauthorised action of the developer or the contractor which affects the surrounding environment, the Government would undertake appropriate follow-up action.

Ends/Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:35

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