Campus Greening and Wildlife

CUHK’s luxuriant campus boasts the highest greening ratio of any local university.  The campus is home to over 300 plant species, over a third of all tree species found in Hong Kong.  Over 60% of the campus is covered in vegetation.  The campus is also home to a wide variety of fauna.

Transforming Barren Rocks into a Garden

Four decades ago, it would have taken a major effort of the imagination to visualise the lush green campus that greets us today.  In the 1970s, CUHK’s campus resembled a barren moonscape, as much of its topsoil had been removed for the construction of Plover Cove Reservoir.  During the past four decades, through the painstaking efforts of CUHK’s nursery team, the campus’s tree cover has been re-established, and its ecological health has been restored.  Every year, new trees, shrubs and flowering plants are planted on campus.  More than 60% of the campus is now covered in vegetation, including both natural woodlands and landscaped areas such as natural slopes and roof gardens.

CUHK in the 1970s and 2013

 

Aerial view of the campus in 1967 and 2005

CUHK’s trees are cared for by experienced staff of the Landscaping Section of the Estates Management Office (EMO) by irrigation, trimming, fertilizer application and pest control.

Tree assessment by EMO technician with sonic tomography

CUHK’s hilly campus has approximately 300 registered slopes.  We take a proactive approach to slope management, going beyond the statutory requirements, to strive for much higher standards in the preservation of existing trees, slope greening and landscaping.  Associated improvements such as the addition of shortcut steps and the widening of pavements are also made wherever possible, to make the campus more pedestrian-friendly and driver-friendly.

After slope stabilization – shortcut steps have been added and the slope has been greened

 

After slope stabilization – the pavement has been widened and new trees have been planted
The House Swift is the most well-known bird on campus.  Over 200 swifts have built their nests under the concrete eaves of the University Library, and it is now home to the largest swift colony in Hong Kong.

When planning the Library Extension, the University commissioned an avian specialist to conduct a 17-month study and monitor the health and population of the swift colony nesting there on a monthly basis.  Mitigation measures were implemented to protect the swifts during construction.  A review after the completion of the Library Extension project concluded that the House Swift Preservation effort had been a great success.

More information:

Library Extension Project – Swift Conservation

Further details of the mitigation measures taken to conserve the swift colony can be found below:
Conservation Measures
Installation of Nest Boxes

House swift colony at the University Library

Swift nests under the University Library’s eaves

Swift nest built using artificial nest box as base
Although CUHK was severely deforested at the time of its establishment, efforts to reforest the campus have helped its fauna to re-establish themselves during the past four decades.  The Chung Chi Stream and Weiyuan Lake, widely admired for their scenic beauty, have also been recognized as an important habitat for certain aquatic animals and plants.

Our strategies for enhancing biodiversity are:

Camphor trees, mountain figs, Chinese banyans, ivy trees and other native tree species providing nectar, flowers, sap, fruits and shelter have been planted to attract more birds and butterflies.
The natural home-made pesticide Rotenone is used to control pests, so as to minimise damage to the environment.

Visit the Trees and Birds at CUHK webpage to explore the plant species and avifauna on CUHK campus