Mai Po Nature Reserve: Gold Star Wetland Centre
In their own words
Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR), long renowned as the "Bird Paradise" of Hong Kong, is a wetland of global significance. In 1995, the reserve and the Inner Deep Bay wetland were recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. It is also a Flyway Network Site under the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership.
MPNR includes a remarkable diversity of wetland habitats, including traditional gei wai shrimp ponds, mangroves, intertidal mudflats and reedbeds, which provides essential habitat and crucial staging site for waterbirds.
In addition to its international recognition and diverse wetland habitats, MPNR features remarkable education facilities including the newly built WWF Jockey Club Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre, Mai Po Education Centre, birdwatching hides and nature trails. In particular, the new WWF Jockey Club Mai Po Peter Scott Visitor Centre provides comprehensive visitor services to facilitate nature lovers to explore Mai Po. It is equipped with wetland themed roving exhibition, a sizeable multi-function classroom and conference rooms to enable a wide range of training and educational activities. In addition, it includes accommodation facilities and a cafe allowing multiple-day training events to be organized.
The judges loved
its excellent program for education, monitoring, and collaboration with diverse wetland stakeholders, making it a great example of synthesising the conditions of protected area, urban area, and aquaculture.