A research team led by Professor Thomas Chung has been granted HK$12.5 million by the Lantau Conservation Fund (LCF) to conduct a three-year conservation project. This is another grant received by Professor Chung from LCF, following the over HK$10 million received last year for the “Regenerating Shui Hau” project.

Lantau Mountain Camp was established in the 1920s on Hong Kong’s highest mountain ridge — between Sunset Peak and Yi Tung Shan. In recent years, increasing popularity for its scenic autumnal grasses and recreational hiking is however engendering negative environmental impact, overuse of trails and intrusion into resident privacy.

Conceived with Camp residents, this project co-creates a sustainable conservation plan through participatory initiatives. Restoring a strategically located cabin as a working “support station” will provide much-needed visitor emergency essentials and facilitate pilot conservation research for public benefit. The Camp’s built and cultural heritages will be conserved, the area’s biodiversity recorded, and visitor behaviour tracked. A digitalised platform for collection and analysis of ecological values and visitor impact management will be developed to enable social engagement, stakeholder capacity-building, and public education.