SDG15 Life on Land
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Background
HKU is committed to protecting the ecosystem and preventing biodiversity loss through education, research and international collaborations. The Faculty of Sciences’ inter-faculty and multi-disciplinary Master degree in Environmental Management trains students to use an integrated approach to tackle major environmental problems in the current social, legal and economic context. Under the same faculty, the undergraduate programme on Ecology & Biodiversity equips students with knowledge on the interaction of organisms with each other and their environments, as well as key threats and approaches to conserving global biodiversity. Over 1,000 graduates are currently working in government departments, consultancies and NGOs in the fields of environmental management, ecology, and conservation.
HKU contributes to protecting wildlife and threatened species through scientific research and collaboration with governments and NGOs. The members of the HKU Conservation Forensics Lab are trained to identify the legality of seized species and have been supporting the enforcement of wildlife trade law locally and internationally. The lab also conducts market surveys, and investigates fraud and mislabeling. It has taken actions to protect wildlife such as sharks, pangolins and hippopotamuses.
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of courses and research.
Teaching
21
courses
2,275
students enrolled
Research
55
papers (in 2017)
Initiative
Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre (LFSEEC) was jointly established by HKU and the Environmental Protection Department and aims to conserve nature through education rooted in partnership with the university, government and wider community. Housed in revitalised historic buildings walking distance from the HKU campus, LFSEEC is surrounded by lush greenery and home to a wide range of wildlife species. In 2017, LFSEEC hosted LFS and HKU BioBlitz, a series of 24-hour citizen scientist events to identify as many species as possible in the Lung Fu Shan area and at HKU to raise public awareness and cultivate a sense of appreciate for local and urban ecology. Participants were encouraged to upload photos of plant and animal sightings, and identify the species with the help of ecological experts.
The centre hosts year-round exhibitions, and offers guided ecological tours, green workshops and other special programmes, allowing visitors to learn about local ecology and environmentally-friendly practices. LFSEEC is committed to engage the community in addressing environmental challenges through collaborative and constructive actions.
Operations
Situated on a hillside, the HKU campus boasts a rich diversity of plant and animal species. To better protect this biodiversity, HKU maintains a catalogue that identifies and tracks the vast range of floral species that decorate the campus. This valuable knowledge not only helps maintain an aesthetically pleasing environment for visitors’ enjoyment, but also it is also serves as public education. LFSEEC also created an online map with photos, locations, and educational information on the various species of plants and animals that can be found across campus, allowing anyone to go on a self-guided ecological tour or to simply revel in a moment of recognition upon passing. Through this type of public nature education, HKU hopes to develop a sense of appreciation for local diversity and to demonstrate the importance of conservation.