Forest Village: Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong Sustainable Village Programme

Challenges and Objectives

The 300+ years old villages Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong are two upland Hakka villages in the northeastern part of the New Territories in Hong Kong. Due to their remote location, the two villages had been abandoned and had experienced a decline in sustainability over the past few decades. The success of rural revitalisation at the nearby Lai Chi Wo village has opened new possibilities for the two villages. The Centre for Civil Society and Governance at The University of Hong Kong (HKU-CCSG) launched the “Forest Village Programme” in 2021 with the following aims:

• Restore mosaics of land uses of “Forest Village Ecosystem” to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services 
• Conserve upland forest species and protect their habitats
• Formulate sustainable management strategies and promote an adaptive repurposing of tangible and intangible rural assets to support the sustainable development of the villages
• Foster a sense of community stewardship and facilitate collective local actions among stakeholders in nature and cultural conservation

Collaboration Partners and Roles

The programme was initiated by HKU-CCSG and supported by the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme under the Countryside Conservation Office. HKU-CCSG oversees the design and development of the programme, as well as the coordination of the work between the co-organiser and partners. Association for Sha Tau Kok Culture and Ecology (ASTKCE) is the main co-organiser. It coordinates capacity building activities for local communities and to manage on-site daily operations. It also helps implement volunteering and education programmes. 

Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong villagers are the land owners. They help reflect upon the effects of their land management strategy on the preservation of nature. They were actively involved in planning the conservation management of the lands. Ecologist Dr. Michael Lau is the scientific research partner of the programme. He advises conservation management measures and citizen scientist programme. Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong (OWLHK), Ms Human Ip, and Hong Kong Tree Society are the education and event partners. OWLHK plays an important role in executing biodiversity monitoring and the citizen scientists programme. Ms Ip is the mural-curator and the documenter of the programme. The Hong Kong Tree Society assists in establishing a butterfly garden and devising conservation initiatives for butterflies.

Revitalisation Activities

On nature conservation, major activities include farmland restoration, habitat enhancement, conservation of rare species, biodiversity monitoring and citizen scientists programme, and ecosystem services review. On cultural conservation, major activities include cultural mapping and oral history collection, village houses adaptive reuse, and camping.

Adhering to the community-based principle, the programme engages local villagers, members of nonprofits, scientists, architects, artists and concerned citizens in activities to conserve, revitalise and enhance the natural, cultural and landscape values of Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong. Engagement activities include participatory planning workshop, community capacity building events, volunteering events and training, education events and exhibitions, sustainability design hackathon, and the Forest Village Fest. A self-guided tour App was developed to help the public explore the ecology and culture of Lai Chi Wo, Mui Tsz Lam and Kop Tong.

Revitalisation Outcome

Over 217,900 sqm of various habitats have been managed and conserved, leading to increased biodiversity and ecosystem services. Conservation trials of rare and uncommon local plant species has been going well. Farmland restoration and management works have rejuvenated the villages through crop production and other farming-related activities.

Some dilapidated village houses and structures have been restored, enhancing the village environment for community engagement. Part of the abandoned farmland has been transformed into a camping ground. Public activities and events celebrating Hakka culture and the rural landscape have attracted over 3,300 participants.

Over 100 citizen scientists and over 100 volunteers have been engaged in the volunteering activities and training. The two revitalised villages have received over 16,200 walk-in visitors and over 250 campers.