New Urban Forestry Advisory Panel established

The Development Bureau announced the establishment of the new Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) today (January 3).

The panel comprises a diversity of local and overseas expertise including urban forestry managers, urban arborists, urban and restoration ecologists, forest pathologists, a soil scientist, landscape architects, horticulturalists and a geotechnical engineer.

The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, said that the inter-disciplinary panel reflects a more holistic approach to the strategies and policies associated with urban forestry in addition to the previous focus on urban tree management.

"This composition will offer fresh perspectives and in-depth professional experiences and insights on urban forestry from policy to implementation. Advice will be drawn from their collective network to bring international and regional knowledge for local applications," Mr Chan said.

With the new UFAP covering urban tree management amongst other things, the work of the Expert Panel on Tree Management is included under the UFAP after its term expired at the end of 2016.

The new UFAP will advise the Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section of the Development Bureau on a wide range of urban forestry matters beyond the details of tree management including:

- strategies in relation to urban forestry encompassing urban arboriculture, urban ecology and urban landscapes;
- an urban forestry applied research and development regime within a practical and measurable framework; and
- policies and measures concerning the promotion of positive capacity building on the urban forestry related industries and trades.

Following is the membership of the UFAP commencing January 1, 2017, for a term of two years:
 
Chairman
Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, Development Bureau
 
Non-official members         
Dr Paul Barber                     
Dr Philip G Cannon    
Mr Chan Yun-cheung     
Professor Chau Kwai-cheong  
Ms Cecilia Cheung So-mui      
Mr Kingsley Choi Lim-cho  
Mr Mark Duntemann    
Mr Kevin Eckert    
Dr Billy Hau Chi-hing   
Mr Evans Iu Po-lung                    
Professor Cecil Konijnendijk   
Mr Patrick Lau Hing-tat 
Dr David Lau Tai-wai   
Mr Frank Rinn  
Mr Ian Shears    
Dr Wong Fook-yee   
Professor Xing Fuwu  
Professor Zhang Qixiang
 
Official members
Head of Tree Management Office, Development Bureau
Chief Leisure Manager (Passive Amenities), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Senior Conservation Officer/Technical Services, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
Senior Landscape Architect/District (Urban), Highways Department
 
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:00

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