The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shenzhen aim to lay a foundation for jointly building a national-level botanical garden by creating an in-depth integration model of ecological cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony on Monday attended by Tse Chin-wan, secretary for environment and ecology of the HKSAR; Dai Jintao, vice-mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government; and Liang Xiaodong, deputy director of the Forestry Administration of Guangdong province.

The pact calls for stronger collaboration by both sides in collecting and protecting plant diversity, building and conserving ecological corridors, and enhancing synergy and capability in scientific research, science promotion and education, as well as horticultural exhibitions. This will lay the foundation for the creation of a national botanical garden by both cities in the future.

The two sides will jointly conduct regional plant resource systematic surveys, establish an integrated conservation system for rare and endangered wild plants, and advance regional native vegetation restoration and ecosystem remediation.


Under the accord, the HKSAR and Shenzhen will also launch in-depth collaboration projects in plant taxonomy, nature conservation and ecological restoration, promote talent exchanges, and strengthen nature education among residents.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com