STORY: Mai Po Nature Reserve in HK: Wonderland in bustling city 
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 11, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:50
LOCATION: HONGKONG, China
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WEN XIANJI, Director of Mai Po Nature Reserve and Flyway Program of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong

STORYLINE:
   
Located on the northwestern corner of the hustle and bustle metropolis of Hong Kong, the 380-hectare Mai Po Nature Reserve provides a paradise for many creatures, especially for 60,000 to 90,000 migratory birds.

Lying halfway along the East Asia-Australasia Flyway, a packed route taken by 50 million waterfowl every year, Mai Po is a vital "supply station" for many migratory birds.
   
To forge a bird-friendly sanctuary, the conservation team, led by Wen Xianji, adopts the method of active management.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): WEN XIANJI, Director of Mai Po Nature Reserve and Flyway Program of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong
"Before coming to Mai Po, a lot of people, including myself, reckon Hong Kong as a bustling metropolis. Few people know that there is a large environmentally well-protected area in Hong Kong.
My name is Wen Xianji. I'm the Director of Mai Po Nature Reserve and Flyway Program of the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF-HK). Mai Po Nature Reserve covers an area of 380 hectares. Together with its adjacent wetlands around the Inner Deep Bay, Mai Po was recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1995. The WWF-HK has been delegated to take charge of the preservation of Mai Po since 1983. Our main task is to protect the migratory birds.
This is a bird hide for the visitors to observe the birds without disrupting them. That large stopover habitat outside is for the birds to rest upon when tides rise. Many wild ducks choose to dwell there in winter. A black-faced spoonbill is strolling in the water.
The number of migratory birds wintering in Mai Po has grown from around 10,000-20,000 in the 1980s to more than 50,000-60,000 annually in recent years, and the number can reach 90,000 at peak times.
We adopt the method of active management to better protect Mai Po, which means remolding the natural environment to cater to the needs of birds. We need to control the water level, as birds' preferences for the depths of water vary. We also need to promote the water quality, facilitating water flow to provide enough food for birds.
Mai Po also plays an important role in promoting experience and enhancing public awareness. Every year, more than 30,000 visitors and students come to Mai Po. We want to share our management experience with the Chinese mainland and overseas countries and tell them how to better protect the wetlands.
This guideboard explains the flyway to visitors. For birds heading towards Siberia to breed, their flyway covers more than 5,000 kilometers. So they have to get enough food before embarking on such a long journey.
From the perspective of nature preservation, we consider human beings as a vital part of the whole ecosystem. Human beings can live in harmony with nature."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)