The Development Bureau announced the establishment of the new Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) today (January 3).
The panel comprises a diversity of local and overseas expertise including urban forestry managers, urban arborists, urban and restoration ecologists, forest pathologists, a soil scientist, landscape architects, horticulturalists and a geotechnical engineer.
The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, said that the inter-disciplinary panel reflects a more holistic approach to the strategies and policies associated with urban forestry in addition to the previous focus on urban tree management.
"This composition will offer fresh perspectives and in-depth professional experiences and insights on urban forestry from policy to implementation. Advice will be drawn from their collective network to bring international and regional knowledge for local applications," Mr Chan said.
With the new UFAP covering urban tree management amongst other things, the work of the Expert Panel on Tree Management is included under the UFAP after its term expired at the end of 2016.
The new UFAP will advise the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of the Development Bureau on a wide range of urban forestry matters beyond the details of tree management including:
- strategies in relation to urban forestry encompassing urban arboriculture, urban ecology and urban landscapes;
- an urban forestry applied research and development regime within a practical and measurable framework; and
- policies and measures concerning the promotion of positive capacity building on the urban forestry related industries and trades.
Following is the membership of the UFAP commencing January 1, 2017, for a term of two years:
Chairman
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, Development Bureau
Non-official members
Dr Paul Barber
Dr Philip G Cannon
Mr Chan Yun-cheung
Professor Chau Kwai-cheong
Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui
Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho
Mr Mark Duntemann
Mr Kevin Eckert
Dr Billy Hau Chi-hing
Mr Evans Iu Po-lung
Professor Cecil Konijnendijk
Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat
Dr David Lau Tai-wai
Mr Frank Rinn
Mr Ian Shears
Dr Wong Fook-yee
Professor Xing Fuwu
Professor Zhang Qixiang
Official members
Head of Tree Management Office, Development Bureau
Chief Leisure Manager (Passive Amenities), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Senior Conservation Officer/Technical Services, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Senior Landscape Architect/District (Urban), Highways Department
Ends/Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00
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