Hong Kong theme -Marine Parks and Marine Reserve

In Hong Kong ,there are 5 different kinds of Marine Parks and Marine Reserve .They are:

1.      Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park

2.       Yan Chau Tong Marine Park

3.      Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park

4.      Tung Ping Chau Marine Park

5.       Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve

The imports for marine parks and marine reserves
The Marine Parks and Marine Reserves are very important to help to protect our natural environment. Since Hong Kong is one of the busiest harbor in the world .Because of the reclaim , population growth and economic growth that will affect and be the threat of the marine life .So we need to protect and conserve the marine environment for the purposes of conservation, education and recreation.

The most famous Marine Park in Hong Kong is Hoi Ha Marine Park

In the park there are a lot of animals living in there ,such as

1. Mangroves

In Hong Kong there are 8 specials of true mangroves recorded in Hong Kong ,6 species can be found in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Such as Kandelia obovata, Aegicera corniculatum, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia marina ,Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Lumnitzera racemosa. The mangroves areas are the living area of the animals ,also it helps to limit the water loss too.

2. Coral communities

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park has lush coral communities and it is one of the best coral sites in Hong Kong. 64 out of 84 stony coral species recorded in Hong Kong can be found in this marine park. Such as  Favites flexuosa, Goniopora columna, Leptastrea purpurea, Lithophyllon undulatum, Pavona decussata. and Platygyra acuta.  They are all very beautiful ,however they are easy to get hurt. Nowadays the global warming problem become more and more serious ,if we do not do something to protect them ,all the coral will die in the future .

3. Other marine lives

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park has rich diversity of marine lives. Some research studies showed that there are more than 120 species of coral associated fishes. such as Mastigias papua (jellyfish), Sigmadocia symbiotica (sponges), Antipatharian sp. (black coral), Cypraea arabica (cowries), Protula magnifica (tubeworm), Atergatis reticulatus (crab), Salmacis sphaeroides (sea urchin), Colochirus quadrangularis (sea cucumber), etc

**How to protect them ?

As a visitor we can also help to protect our natural environment. This is the concept that I learn last week that I want to share with all of you.

Leave no trace that mean "leave nothing but Footprints, take nothing but Photos, kill nothing but Time"

Leave no trace :
1.Plan Ahead and Prepare
2.Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3.Dispose of Waste Properly
4.Leave What You Find
5.Minimize Campfire Impacts
6.Respect Wildlife
7.Be Considerate of Other Visitors

**detail: http://www.fsoag.org/leavenotrace.htm#top

To maintain our beautiful environment ,we need to take the balance between the natural ,human and the sustainable development .Hope that everyone of us can do something to protect our earth .

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrove

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_mar/cou_vis_mar_mon/cou_vis_mar_mon_eco_hhw.html